An Open DMS System

Thank you to Mark Abouzeid of Chico Volkswagen for helping me add unique features to DealerSTAR.  Mark is one of the few dealers that I know that was a former technician and shop owner.  The features he suggested and I added were;

• Recommended service; prints on the repair order above the signature line and can be searched on for mailers - for example all the customers that had brake jobs recommended to them.
• The system stores estimates so when the customer does come back in for the brake job that was quoted, the parts department doesn't have to look up the parts all over again.
• Spell checker throughout the system - that way customers don't have repair orders that say replaced filtper!

If you want to read about Mark and his success at Chico Volkswagen, please go to Dealer Magazine.  Thanks again, Mark and if anyone has suggestions for DealerSTAR, please complete the response form or email me; sandi@dealerstar.com

Service Department

Technician’s labor is the inventory for the service department.  The day starts for DealerStar service as each technician “clocks” into the system with a biometric device (thumb or hand scan.)  Along with logging in the start time for payroll time keeping, DealerStar asks the technician how many hours are planned to work and hours the technician plans to flag. From this information, a labor inventory is created for the day.  At all times, the advisors, technicians, and service management are aware of how many hours are unsold during the day by each technician.  This display can be seen by technician or team.    Throughout the day the technician can use a simple touch screen to update the status of jobs and select trouble, cause, and correction codes. 

Other Features: 

• Browser style view of your open repair orders and their status
• Up to the minute "labor hours sold" metrics - right on the top of the page
• Customer retention with a complete follow-up program for coupons, reminders
• Full appointment system that integrates with your website for online appointments
• Suggested service prompts throughout the appointment and write-up process
• Integration with factory labor time guides
• Notifies technicians when parts have arrived
• Easy technician terminal system - or simple dispatch view for smaller shops
• No need to keep a repair order open for Warranty claims

DealerStar uses a different concept when it comes to Warranty administration.  As soon as the work is completed, the repair order is closed to a warranty work in process account.  Technicians can be paid and the estimated amounts are shown on DOCS.  The warranty administrator then brings up the warranty repair order to convert it into a warranty claim and transmit.  Any adjustments required either before submission or after payment are their own source entries.  A warranty administrator can easily pay additional flag time – or back flag and those corresponding accounting entries are automatically created along with moving the claim amount from work in process to either paid status or a factory receivable.