Dealers should think of their customers’ service experience as a way of achieving more customer loyalty and retention, said Xtime vice president and general manager Tracy Fred.

An efficient check-out process, the technology company adds, is also important in keeping consumers happy and coming back.

To help with that, Xtime is partnering with CenPOS, which is now part of Elavon, to help customers improve their experience through faster online and in-lane payment options.

With the CenPOS payment product, which integrates into Xtime’s Spectrum Platform, dealers can more easily capture and report customer payments either in the service lane from a tablet device or any service department workstation.

“The powerful combination of CenPOS and Xtime’s single platform gives both service management and advisers a more streamlined and easy-to-use solution that meets consumers’ demands and saves them time and energy throughout the entire service experience, from write-up to payment,” Fred said in a news release.

All U.S. and Canada-based franchise dealership customers can immediately use the CenPOS payment functionality, Xtime said. That, according to the company, creates more convenient, reliable payment options without the need for a large investment or significant process change.

“Giving our service advisers the ability to own the experience from start to finish on one platform is pivotal in the way we intend to do business in the future,” said Del Grande Dealer Group fixed operations trainer Chance Wiseman. The group is based in San Jose, Calif.

Wiseman continued, “This one key change in technology will drastically streamline the active redelivery process. Another opportunity Xtime is providing us to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Xtime says that with CenPOS, dealership customers gain more control over their experience. Customers have the choice to make payments remotely thorough their computer and smartphone. Or, they can pay onsite at the dealership with the Xtime Engage Tablet Reception application.

The company sourced the 2019 Cox Automotive Service Industry Study in noting that consumers who are most satisfied spend two and a half hours or less at the dealership for service. Through Xtime’s new integration with CenPOS, dealers considering Xtime’s Engage payment product will soon be able to choose between multiple merchant processing providers.

“With extensive expertise in providing payments for the auto industry, together with Xtime, we can offer rich, secure solutions that are specific to the needs of this industry,” said CenPOS director of business development Joey Orozco. “By streamlining service check-out, dealerships can increase customer satisfaction and save their customers valuable time.”