SmartGroups is gaining momentum not just in assembling and moderating 20 groups of independent dealers.

The company announced this week it has partnered with automotive retail technology company CDK Global to integrate its systems with LinUs, SmartGroups’ proprietary patent-pending benchmarking software.

Through the partnership, SmartGroups said LinUs will be fully integrated with CDK’s dealer management systems and customer relationship management software, using their data directly to provide the used-vehicle industry’s most precise financial comparisons and industry benchmarks.

“SmartGroups are 20 groups reimagined, thanks in part to LinUs, an industry-first for independent dealers that completely integrates with most DMS software,” SmartGroups founder and chief executive officer Justin Osburn said in a news release. “That provides SmartGroups members with the most accurate data available in the independent space and a clear picture of where their dealership stands.

“We’re very excited to partner with CDK, a leader and innovator in dealership technology and automation,” Osburn continued.

As a member of the CDK Global Partner Program, one of the largest third-party partner programs in the industry, SmartGroups is part of a marketplace of applications and integrations developed by CDK Global to help automotive dealers succeed.

The CDK program provides its partners with access to a diverse CDK ecosystem through the ability to integrate with a range of CDK applications, as well as with CDK dealer and third-party websites.

“We’re pleased to introduce SmartGroups and its groundbreaking LinUs technology as the newest member of the CDK Global Partner Program,” said Sandy Orlando, senior vice president of data and Fortellis at CDK Global.

“LinUs is a welcome addition to our vibrant program that provides dealers with a range of partner choices and the assurance that their programs can be seamlessly integrated with our applications,” Orlando added.

Using data extracted directly from DMS and CRM tools, LinUs can gives dealers an at-a-glance view of operational data and important metrics about their dealerships, as well as live access to data from their fellow 20 group members across the country.

The tool also includes real benchmarks created by aggregating the user base and calculating based on the period being researched.

Osburn to be featured at upcoming state IADA conventions

Building the relationships with independent dealers and CDK isn’t the only thing Osburn has accomplished recently.

Osburn, who also founded Automotive Reinsurance Concepts, will be appearing at the Florida Independent Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo, coming up Oct. 2-4 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, and the Ohio IADA Convention on Oct. 15 at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio.

Osburn has served as a dealership sales professional, F&I manager, general manager and owner, and most recently was the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association’s retail 20 groups moderator/consultant and lead instructor for NIADA’s Certified Master Dealer course.

He'll be speaking twice at the Ohio event, with sessions in the morning and afternoon explaining four steps dealers can take to double their sales volume in 60 to 90 days. In addition, he said, those basics can lead to a similar effect on net profitability.

“Increasing volume and increasing profit are not the same conversation, but they cannot be completely separated from each other,” Osburn said in another news release. “I’ve seen the volume-related basics I’m going to unpack dramatically increase profit along the way.”

In Florida, Osburn will talk about 20 groups and why dealers should be involved in them, as well as 20 Group best practices, costs, the commitment involved and how being a member can help dealers improve their dealership operations.

Ohio’s Independent Auto Dealer Conference and Expo features dealer education on topics addressing retail, buy-here, pay-here, wholesale, finance, compliance and more, as well as more than 35 industry partners and vendors offering the latest products and services in digital technology, marketing, financing, F&I, service, accounting and much more.

The FIADA Convention and Expo includes hands-on workshops and one-on-one meetings designed to help the state’s independent dealerships operate more efficiently and profitably, plus regulatory compliance education highlighted by a training session on the FTC’s newly updated Safeguards Rule.

For more information or to register for the Ohio event, visit www.ohiada.org/event/oiada-expo-and-convention or call (614) 863-5800. Visit www.fiada.com for more information or to register for the conference in the Sunshine State.