Agora Data and Black Book now are working together to help independent dealerships.
Through a news release distributed on Wednesday, Black Book announced the integration of its VIN-specific valuations and insights into the Agora Data product suite.
The data integration allows Agora Data to improve the precision and effectiveness of its auto dealer financing capabilities.
Agora Data empowers auto dealers and finance companies with access to liquidity, affordable capital, and sophisticated tools to help grow their businesses and build wealth.
“Our market leading platform offers auto dealers a competitive advantage via analytics, affordable capital, and bulk loan purchasing. We are combining our $76 billion of market data with Black Book’s current and forecasted valuation data to offer our customers precision insights that can help them save time, maximize profits, and reduce risk,” Agora Data chief executive officer Steve Burke said in the news release.
Black Book data is available in Agora Data’s suite now.
Black Book president Jared Kalfus said, “We’re proud that our VIN-specific data is enhancing Agora Data’s products, Innovative companies like Agora Data are leading positive change in the industry among so much uncertainty.”
For more information about Agora’s suite of dealer resources, including its free technology platform with real-time data, visit www.agoradata.com or call (877) 592-4672.
Advanced Business Computers of America (ABCoA), which has developed complete software solutions for independent dealerships and finance companies since 1983, recently added Berkshire Risk Services to its long list of integrations.
With a mission to pioneer an all-in-one buy-here, pay-here ecosystem, ABCoA explained what blending Berkshire Risk Services into Deal Pack, its DMS and loan management system, means for users.
“The Deal Pack product line is packed with features designed to help businesses run more efficiently while managing to maintain an intuitive and user-friendly design,” the company said in a news release. “Written by accountants and perfected by industry leaders, Deal Pack comes equipped with a built-in accounting module, allowing businesses to handle all of their needs within one system.
“Deal Pack’s integration with Berkshire Risk Services gives its users peace of mind knowing they can manage the risk of uninsured property losses automatically,” ABCoA went on to say.
Two technology platforms used by buy-here, pay-here and independent dealers are now integrated to make customer relationship management and other dealership management segments work more efficiently.
On Monday, Selly Automotive CRM announced its real-time integration with Frazer Computing, which provides dealer management software to more than 22,000 dealers.
The company explained the integration allows Selly dealers to send customer, sales and inventory data between the Frazer DMS and Selly CRM systems, all in real-time.
“I’m so excited to finally get this integration out from beta to retail ready,” Selly Automotive CRM founder and chief executive officer Zach Klempf said in a news release “We have been working closely with the Frazer team to build this integration and have beta-tested it thoroughly before putting it into the hands of Frazer dealers.
“This is the first CRM integration that Frazer will support and we’re very excited to partner with them. Mike has built an impressive and enduring independent car dealer software business with a world-class investment in customer support,” Klempf continued.
And Frazer Computing founder and president Michael Frazer added, “We love the Selly product. It’s a great fit for Frazer dealers. It includes the great pricing and powerful features that Frazer dealers have come to expect in other Frazer partnerships.”
For dealers interested in learning more about the Selly and Frazer integration, visit https://offers.sellyautomotive.com/frazer for more information. Dealers also can watch a video overview of the integration available here.
Independent dealerships that also have their own repair bays now can use complementary tools to keep their retail and service operations running smoothly.
This week, shop management software provider Omnique announced a partnership with Auto Master Systems to create a fully integrated sales and service solution
The firms highlighted the all-in-one solution can give expanded flexibility and features to independent dealerships looking to maximize operational efficiency and boost profits.
“Especially for busy dealerships who love their management system but need a more compelling way to operate their service department, this new partnership will bring sales and service together through seamless systems integration,” Omnique general manager Cavan Robinson said in a news release.
“We’re confident the Omnique-AMS collaboration will take dealership technology to the next level.”
The firms went on to mention independent dealers can enjoy enhanced features of the integrated systems such as:
• Integrated workflows to quickly create customer repair orders, assign technicians, and track job status
• Streamlined ticketing and estimating operations to eliminate manual data entry
• An integrated accounting system with automatically posted expenses and parts return credits
• Cloud-based processes that allow maximum flexibility for 24/7 remote operations from any device
“Auto dealerships will love the upgraded digital tools in this intuitive system that’s engineered for efficiency,” AMS vice president of sales Mike Downey said.
“They’ll spend more time selling and less time on data entry,” Downey said. “This solution underscores our commitment to the success of independent dealers everywhere.”
To learn more, visit omnique.com or auto-master.com.
Coinciding with its appearance this week during the Texas Independent Auto Dealer Association’s 2020 Virtual Conference & Expo, Agora Data announced an integration with Advanced Business Computers of America (ABCoA) Deal Pack and its dealer management software solutions.
Agora Data chief executive officer Steve Burke highlighted the addition of Deal Pack expands Agora’s integrated DMS partnerships to cover more than 80% of the buy-here, pay-here community.
“Great partners make great solutions,” Burke said in a news release. “Deal Pack and Agora bring industry-changing solutions to BHPH dealers and auto finance companies by providing a range of operational options and more insights to help grow their business.
“Already in action, Agora is helping Deal Pack members identify ways to increase profits, convert loans to cash and access low-interest funding through capital markets,” he continued.
To get started, Agora suggested members connect to AgoraInsights, its portfolio and loan valuation tool.
Using Agora Insights’ 360-degree view of the business, combined with Deal Pack’s fully integrated sales, finance, and service modules, BHPH dealers are empowered with the resources needed to develop plans for their biggest asset — their loan portfolios.
“At ABCoA, we believe integrations help to create an even more complete solution for our customers,” ABCoA president Jonathan Hedy said. “The Agora platform was designed by a team with extensive experience in retail-auto lending and BHPH originations. Our integration with Agora provides access to liquidity and incredibly powerful analytics, giving our dealers a whole new level of control over their portfolio.”
This integration arrived after Agora Data interacted with Lone Star State operators digitally during TIADA’s annual event that shifted because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“At this crucial time for the world and our industry, we know our dealers want to be educated on the latest regulations and discuss the most pressing issues,” TIADA executive director Jeff Martin said in a separate news release.
And Burke added, “TIADA continues to be a valuable resource to auto dealers across Texas. Agora is pleased to be a resource to BHPH dealers and provide solutions for their financing needs.
“Like many businesses, auto dealers have had to adjust their business strategy. Agora is happy to be that trusted resource where we can come together to share information, solutions, and new ideas for moving forward to support the future of BHPH,” Burke went on to say.
For more information, contact Agora at (877) 592-4672 or contactus@agoradata.com.
Buy-here, pay-here operators who use DealerSocket now have a streamlined path to tools from Agora Data.
On Tuesday, Agora, a Texas-based provider of data, analytics and liquidity solutions for the BHPH industry, announced an integration with DealerSocket’s IDMS web-based dealer management system (DMS).
The companies highlighted this integration will increase dealer visibility into portfolio and loan performance, as well as create access to much-needed capital and cashflow. The addition of DealerSocket further expands the number of Agora integrated DMS partnerships.
“Access to reliable analytics is the difference between success and failure in today’s market,” Agora founder and chief executive officer Steve Burke said in a news release. “Trying to run a business without all of the information is like trying to build a puzzle without knowing what the picture is — it’s possible, but far more difficult.”
AgoraInsights is Agora’s portfolio and loan valuation analytics suite that is designed to empowers BHPH dealers to manage more effectively their most significant asset — their loan portfolio — and confidently manage liquidity negotiations. By combining this technology with DealerSocket’s innovative IDMS, the companies say dealers will now have a more holistic picture and greater control of their business operations.
Historically, dealers have relied on book value guides to buy and sell vehicles. Now, BHPH dealers can leverage AgoraInsights to understand the current value of their contracts. Additionally, they can gain the ability to compare their underwriting strategies with their industry peers through Agora’s benchmarking analytics.
“The partnership with Agora’s Insights platform provides incredible opportunities for our dealers to be empowered to better manage their business. More importantly, they gain access to capital through various finance channels,” DealerSocket vice president of product Jeff McCurry said.
“Agora’s program is one of a kind and is an exciting addition to the IDMS platform,” McCurry added.
For more information, contact Agora Data at (877) 592-4672 or email contactus@agoradata.com.
Dealerships that use Textmaxx Pro now have additional capabilities with a particular DMS.
The national text message communication platform recently integrated its services with Commercial Software (ComSoft), a dealership management and marketing software solution company based in Raleigh, N.C.
Officials highlighted Textmaxx Pro’s state-of-the-art business-to-business and business-to-consumer communication services will be directly available through the ComSoft dealership management software, giving thousands of users the ability to use texts to communicate with their customers for sales and service promotions, advertising, marketing, payment reminders, collections and any other services.
“We are proud to be able to integrate with Chip Cooper and the ComSoft DMS platform,” Textmaxx Pro chief executive officer Chris Leedom said in a news release.
“ComSoft has used Textmaxx Pro with its dealer clients since our company’s inception, and now their dealers can better communicate with their clients via the most effective form of communication today — texting.”
ComSoft explained its dealership management and marketing software solution can serve operators of any size with thousands of dealership clients across the country already on its platform.
In addition to dealership management software, ComSoft also offers dealership websites, marketing feeds, integrated partners and a mobile app.
“Our dealer clients are very familiar with the Textmaxx platform as we’ve used it for several years to communicate directly with them,” ComSoft president Chip Cooper said. “We’re very pleased to make Textmaxx Pro available to our clients following a brief, but intense 60-day integration period.”
Textmaxx Pro brand manager David Leedom said texting has become the preferred method of communication for nearly every demographic in the U.S. and beyond. Leedom estimated some 292 million people in North America — about 80% of all residents — use text messaging daily.
Despite having a phone in their hand or pocket, people will respond more quickly to a text message than a phone call or voicemail, Leedom added.
“Despite this acceptance among consumers, only 14% of businesses use texting to communicate with their clients and prospects,” Dave Leedom said. “Automotive retailers who utilize a strategy to communicate using texting will definitely have an edge over their competitors in the marketplace.”
Textmaxx Pro has integrated with a number of automotive retailer software platforms including Frazer Dealer Management Software and CDK Global. Chris Leedom said the company expects to complete at least 15 other platform integrations in 2020.
Textmaxx said it will offer its services to ComSoft’s dealers on a month-to-month subscription basis with no long-term contracts.
October is here, and for one buy-here, pay-here industry service provider, it’s already tax season.
Tax Refund Services, better known as Tax Max, announced on Tuesday that it is teaming up with the Buy-Here, Pay-Here Center on Autotrader. The provider of tax-solution software that can enable dealers to use a shopper’s future or current tax refund as a down payment is collaborating with the vehicle listing provider to introduce new value-added package options.
These possibilities are designed to enhance a dealer’s online presence and ability to increase sales by adding an additional tax refund filter on top of the existing inventory platform, creating more value at no additional cost per lead to the dealer.
Several other Tax Max programs are incorporated the suite of features of the Buy-Here Pay-Here Center on Autotrader, including:
— The ability for dealers to list their payment-focused inventory
— A customizable dealer page that geo-targets online shoppers in the area
— A local market dealer dashboard
— A toll-free number
Combined, the new offerings are geared to connect dealers and credit-challenged consumers who are ready to buy, ultimately generating additional leads for operators.
“Tax Max and the Buy Here Pay Here Center on Autotrader teams up two established and trusted brands for the credit-challenged automotive community,” said William Neylan III, president and chief executive officer of Tax Refund Services.
“We understand that many buy-here, pay-here dealers are having difficulty increasing foot traffic and getting the down payment necessary to get the deal structure in line to what makes a consumer successful,” Neylan continued. “This will help solve this pressing issue by helping to make dealers more efficient, effective and profitable.
“Most importantly, this will help credit-challenged consumers become more successful in their vehicle purchase,” he went on to say.
Dealers have many options with Tax Max by utilizing various programs such as the 1st Quarter program with the Refund Advance (up to $6,000 same day), 4th Quarter program, tax season 365 with the Irregular Payment, collection program and repairs program.
“Tax Max provides another huge digital opportunity for dealer clients to distinguish their dealership and inventory from the competition in an environment that matches a buy-here-pay-here shopper's priorities, which is focus on finance approval, overall price, down payment, and payment amount,” Autotrader product manager Thomas Wadley said.
“This integration provides dealers with the tools necessary to ensure they can help any customer, especially the shoppers who desire to use their tax refund as a down payment,” Wadley went on to say.
For more on the Buy-Here Pay-Here Center on Autotrader, visit buyherepayhere.autotrader.com.
Partnerships continued to develop in the buy-here, pay-here dealership space on Tuesday; this time involving Frazer Computing and SpinCar.
The providers of dealer management software (DMS) for independent stores and digital automotive merchandising software announced a partnership that brings the opportunity for personalized digital merchandising.
Dealers using the Frazer DMS now can benefit from a direct integration with SpinCar’s digital merchandising platform to seamlessly create and syndicate virtual vehicle walkarounds, photos and videos to their own dealer websites, as well as to a number of leading third-party marketplaces, including Cars.com, Autotrader and Facebook.
Existing Frazer customers can contact their regional Frazer representative to activate SpinCar’s suite of digital merchandising solutions and data-powered innovations.
Since 1985, Frazer has provided a DMS to independent dealerships across the nation. The company insisted it has become a trusted partner to dealers of all sizes, and its dealer management software is currently used by more than 20,800 dealers across all 50 states to manage all facets of their business.
SpinCar’s digital merchandising platform can enable dealers to deliver more personalized interactions at every touchpoint. By bringing interactive vehicle walkarounds and feature walkthroughs to automotive retail websites, dealers are able to recreate the in-person sales experience for online shoppers. SpinCar believes these personalized online experiences can generate greater shopper engagement and proprietary first party behavioral data that helps them build trust with consumers.
SpinCar’s newest product, Feature Tour, can help dealers educate online car shoppers with personalized, multimedia experiences that showcase the unique features of a vehicle that are most relevant to each individual consumer.
“SpinCar has established itself as the leading provider of digital merchandising capabilities to the auto industry, and this partnership provides us with the opportunity to deliver even greater value to the thousands of used car dealers that trust Frazer to power their businesses,” Frazer Computing president Mike Frazer said.
“We look forward to working with SpinCar to help independent used car dealers drive superior business results through more engaging online experiences and more personalized interactions at every touchpoint,” Frazer continued.
SpinCar chief executive officer Devin Daly added, “Independent auto dealers play a major role in the used car market, and Frazer is a key enabler of their success. With more than 90% of consumers starting their car buying journey online, personalized digital merchandising is critical to building trust and engagement with shoppers before they ever set foot in a physical dealership.
“As the market for used cars becomes increasingly competitive, independent dealers need to continue to take advantage of new technologies to differentiate themselves. We are thrilled to be partnering with Frazer to bring these advanced digital merchandising capabilities to independent dealers around the country,” Daly went on to say.
For the third time already this year, PassTime is integrating with another technology provider to help buy-here, pay-here dealerships and subprime auto finance companies.
This week, PassTime and BlytzPay announced an integration partnership. PassTime — a solutions company that provides automotive GPS devices — and BlytzPay — a mobile, text payment solution than can allow customers to communicate and pay via text — will be able to offer integrated solutions to dealers and finance companies.
With integrated functionality, BlytzPay’s technology can target what officials said is an ideal industry for adoption. PassTime indicated its customers will be able to provide early warning notifications to mitigate delinquent payments and keep vehicles on the road.
“We are very excited about partnering with BlytzPay. The technology is innovative and will be a complementary add for our auto dealers and finance company customers as a valuable communication and payment tool,” PassTime president and chief operating Chris Macheca said.
“The ability to expedite payments, and with a timely cash option, allow our customers to offer a billing service consumers can utilize anytime, anywhere,” Macheca continued.
BlytzPay explained that it can provide a financial solution for customers to maintain current installment contracts with payment methods that are convenient to them. BlytPay can provide its users convenience without driving back to the dealership, finding an ATM, paying high fees at a cash loan store, or loading a pre-paid debit card, all of which the company believes are common hurdles within the auto financing industry.
With multiple ways to pay, including a cash option, which is an accommodation that benefits both dealer and driver, BlytzPay chief executive officer Robyn Burkinshaw highlighted that customers are able to avoid delinquency and keep vehicles on the road.
“From BlytzPay’s inception, we knew the advantages, convenience, and serviceability of our technology would transform payments, particularly within the auto industry. We have seen the difference a mobile point of sale solution makes in the hands of dealers trying to collect from often hard to reach customers in a timely way,” Burkinshaw said.
“The PassTime/BlytzPay partnership is a significant step toward creating efficiencies, connection, and inclusion for dealers and their customers,” she went on to say.
Burkinshaw added the BlytzPay integration with PassTime can allow dealers and finance companies to include payment versatility to consumers in conjunction with the use of PassTime’s GPS and automated collection technologies. She also mentioned the integration also could tap into dealer management systems to provide customers even more options in managing payments, inventory and their GPS devices.
The alignment with BlytzPay arrived after PassTime also landed relationships with AFS Dealers as well as Solutions by Text (SBT) last month.
