DMS (Dealer Management System)
The dealership's core operating system for accounting, sales, service, parts and customer records. CDK Global, Reynolds & Reynolds, Tekion, Dealertrack, PBS and Autosoft are common DMS platforms.
A BDC or AI that does not write to the DMS leaves the store blind. Alpha Drive AI connects to the DMS through authorized integrations so appointments, ROs and consent records land where managers already look.
In practice
The DMS holds the customer, the vehicle, the RO, the deal and the accounting. Every other system in the store, including the CRM, the scheduler and any AI, is judged by whether it reads from and writes to the DMS reliably. Integrations are governed by the DMS vendor and usually require authorization, which is why Alpha Drive connects through techWall rather than scraping screens.
Why a BDC needs DMS access
Without it, the BDC or AI cannot verify the vehicle, check history, quote from real op-codes, confirm an RO or attribute revenue. With it, the appointment booked on the phone becomes an RO the manager can find.
Also called: dealer management system.
Read the chapter: Dealership integrations →
Related terms
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