CDK Global says it’s about to make running a dealership a whole new experience.

The automotive retail software provider has launched the CDK Dealership Xperience, an open and integrated platform designed to provide a foundation of built-in functionality that unifies workflows at the dealership into a single experience.

In a news release, the company said the new platform “transforms how dealers sell and service cars and operate their businesses simply in a modern and digital world … resulting in increased employee proficiency and elevated consumer experiences.”

CDK Global president and CEO Brian MacDonald said the new technology is an extension of the “digital transformation” that has revolutionized other industries, bringing it to auto retail.

“For automotive retailers to successfully adapt and thrive alongside rapidly changing consumer expectations, they must fundamentally change and simplify how their dealerships operate,” he said. “Similarly, it means changing our approach and investing in a new platform that integrates workflows across all areas of the dealership.”

The CDK Dealership Xperience platform is centered on the Foundations Suite, which includes:

• CDK’s DMS technology paired with digital retailing, e-signing and a desking toll designed to shorten the deal process for dealers and consumers.
• Accounting capabilities, digital document archiving and AI-assisted business management.
• Online service scheduling, digital service recommendations and receiving with parts scanning designed to maximize efficiency in fixed operations.

The Foundations Suite integrates with three other new CDK products — the Modern Retail Suite, the Fixed Operations Suite, and the Intelligence Suite — which the company said will expand dealers’ business potential and accelerate performance.

CDK is providing the Foundations Suite to its existing DMS customers with free implementation at the time of contract renewal.

“With the CDK Dealership Xperience, we’re leveraging our depth of experience and unique ability to deliver solutions at scale to ensure all dealers are equipped to handle the needs of the changing automotive retail landscape,” MacDonald said. “We believe in the value and impact dealers have on our industry every day, and we’re proud to continue investing in their success.”