Firm Offers Systems Package for Dealerships

When it came to hitting the market with a slew of software applications for car dealerships, Scott Barrett says his 88-year-old boss, Jim Moran, taught him something important: patience.

Barrett, president of JMsolutions, recalls talking ambitiously to Moran about marketing a package of system applications for virtually every dealership operation, including sales; finance and insurance; service; and inventory management.

Barrett says Moran, chairman of JM Family Enterprises Inc., a $9.5 billion dealership-services firm, advised him: “We’re here for the long-haul; we’re here for value; it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Says Barrett: “I found that amazing coming from an 88-year-old man. It was a lesson in patience.”

Still, JMsolutions has been like a teenager experiencing a growth spurt.

In addition to expanding its product lineup eight-fold in less than two years, the company rapidly is increasing its customer base. “We grew 100% last year and expect to do the same this year,” Barrett says.

The firm added 711 customers last year, bringing the total to 1,500. On the client list are six of the largest dealership groups in the U.S., including AutoNation Inc., the nation’s biggest dealership chain and an original JMsolutions’ customer.

About 18 months ago, the newly created subsidiary sold a single software product, AAX, a used-vehicle inventory management system.

Scott Barrett

Now there are eight different system applications, each sharing a uniform computer-screen interface.

“Our vision was always to have a suite of products,” says Barrett. Several of them were developed in-house, others acquired.

Dealers can purchase one, some or all. Individual prices ranging from $500 per month to $2,500 per month, Barrett says.

To him, the ideal high-volume dealership would be operating with this complete package of JMsolution products:

AAX
The original offering and still the firm’s “cornerstone,” this inventory management system now applies to new vehicles, as well as used units. It provides buy-sell recommendations, appraisals, values, forecasts and an “ideal-inventory” model.

Mobile AAX
Using a portable hand-held device, it lets inventory buyers and appraisal specialists download auction run lists, access Black Book values and scan VIN bar codes.

DealerUps
Acquired in December, this customer-relationship management tool allows dealers to keep in touch with buyers. It also monitors the sales process, offers an electronic version of the desk log and lets the dealer principal or manager “see exactly where you are with a customer,” says Barrett.

ProFi Menu
It’s an electronic version of a menu for sales presentations of F&I products and services.

ProCal Desking
This deal analyzer structures and professionally presents deal options to customers. Figuring in down payments, interest rates, selling prices and trade values, “it allows the desking manager to put together multiple deals for the customer,” says Barrett.

PinPoint
Dealers and managers use this reporting system to monitor sales results, penetration levels and customer traffic.

Xchange Lane
It brings systematic inventory management to wholesale and auction operations.

The Bird Dog Club
If dealers offer their customers cash spiffs for referrals, this system automatically pays them. The idea originated from Alabama dealer Gary Linam after he was “embarrassed when a customer approached him at a baseball game and said he was still waiting for a promised $100 referral check,” says Barrett.

Barrett says about 25 dealers have purchased the entire systems package. The AAX inventory manager is the most popular single item, with about 1,500 subscribers.

About 22,000 dealerships are in the U.S. today, but all of them aren’t would-be customers. “These tools are not for the likes of a small dealer out in Texas,” Barrett says.

Rather, he says, the potential customer base consists of about 7,000-8,000 dealers who run big operations and need a systematic approach to business.

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