IT Assessments Are information technology (IT) problems slowing your business down? If your dealership experiences frequent network crashes, slow Internet or complaints from employees about technologies that don’t work properly, it’s time to do IT assessments of your infrastructure. The world of technology evolves at a rapid pace, so if your dealership hasn’t been keeping … Read more
A recent article in Automotive News states the era of online car sales has arrived. Some dealerships already offer customers the ability to transact most, if not all, of the purchase experience online. AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson said that in January 2017, 30 percent of AutoNation’s new-vehicle sales were transacted online. Experts predict this trend is about … Read more
If you’re like most dealers when I say the term ‘collaboration tool,’ you may have no idea what I’m talking about. However, when I say the term ‘Instant Messaging’ you know what I’m talking about, but you may not like it. Remember a decade or so ago, when IM apps were all the rage in … Read more
Every so often we get a call from a client that goes something like this: “We just closed on a new dealership,” or “We’re finalizing a deal right now and want to integrate their IT network/software systems into the rest of our group’s. How long will it take?” When I tell them 60 to 90 … Read more
You’ve probably heard the term DDoS in the news recently when it comes to cyber security. So, what is a DDoS? DDoS, or “Distributed Denial of Service” is a type of cyber-attack that is meant to be very disruptive. Our dealership cybersecurity glossary explains what one looks like at a dealership. DoS stands for “denial … Read more
Recently I met with a prospective client who was about to sign a five-year contract with a vendor that was going to charge a lot of money for a new phone system and carrier service. I hope I talked him out of it, because that dealership was about to spend thousands of dollars per month … Read more
Another world-wide ransomware attack was released in late June called “NotPetya”. This virus is essentially an advanced version of the “WannaCry” virus that hit several weeks ago. The malware infects after a user clicks on a link and then blocks access to your computer’s data and demands payment to gain access again. How does this … Read more
Web-filtering tools, A.K.A “content control software” can do a lot more than its traditional role of blocking unwanted content such as gaming, streaming and adult sites. Web-filtering has many “unseen” benefits such as blocking harmful content from your dealership. Blocking sites known for hosting dangerous content, like phishing scams, also helps to protect your business and customer data. … Read more
Is there someone in your family who hardly ever answers the phone, but will almost always respond to a text? Don’t take it personally. This same person probably prefers to make dinner and travel reservations online, and only answers the phone if they feel it’s imperative to do so–like if it’s their boss calling them … Read more