Digital Dealer
The Future of Technology
Sandi Jerome
Almost every technology experiences a certain level of "full circle." For example, we started out with antennas on our televisions, moved forward to cable, and now the future appears to be just another form of antennas-satellite receivers. Soon we'll go one stepfurther with two-way satellite communication and on-demand television programming.
Our in-house computer systems are experiencing this same "full circle." We started out with batch processing to a data service, then we went online to our providers and now we have a big computer system in the dealership. We're traveling in that circle again as we allow data services to extract certain batches of data to use on the Internet, in CRM products and credit processing. The circle will be complete when we remove the computers from the dealership and go back online with an ASP provider.
ASP stands for Application Service Provider. Microsoft is testing this form of software delivery by working with more than 25 Application Hosting Services for licensing Online Office. Soon, you'll never have to buy the latest version of Microsoft Office-your ASP will upgrade it automatically for you online.
One of the biggest detriments to this new technology is the digital divide. Online ASP requires accessible broadband technology. Microsoft recommends at least a DSL line and some DMS bids that I've seen for an ASP platform require a T-1. Getting a T-1 at a reasonable price is not easy in rural areas. But there can be savings when you move to broadband technology especially with IVD (integrated voice and data circuitry.)
Is your dealership ready to switch to an ASP platform or should you keep the expensive CPU that you might have just upgraded? What about other Internet-based software? Do you have a future selling vehicles via the Internet or will your true cost savings come from buying with business-to-business software?
Are you suffering from technology overload? With all the ASP, T-1, IVD, CRM, RAID, DSL acronyms being thrown at dealers today, our publisher, Mike Roscoe, has found a new solution for dealers: Digital Dealer magazine. Starting with the premier, 2001 NADA Convention & Exposition, January/February issue, Digital Dealer will be published bi-monthly. This new high-tech publication will launch dealers into the next millennium, focusing on the hottest technology issues, products and services. Covering everything from the Internet to software to DMS systems to the most leading-edge technology, this new magazine forges into territory that will inform and educate dealers, allowing them to make technology decisions as never before.
Each issue of Digital Dealer will give dealers an overview of the latest technology products and services, show them how better to utilize their existing computer systems and review software by departments, i.e., F&I, Special Finance, Internet, Sales, Used, Service, Parts and Body Shop. Profiles of dealers who are using technology to "turn up the volume" will be included, as well as information on new products & services and personnel moves on the tech side.
My own "full circle" is about to end and a new one is about to begin. I sadly regret that I will no longer be a regular contributor to DEALER magazine, but I'm excited to accept the challenge of being the first editor of Digital Dealer. I hope to bring to this new publication an invaluable combination of automotive experience and industry-specific computer skills and technology knowledge unique in this industry. Please continue to send me e-mails with your technology questions to sjerome@dealeronline.com and I promise to address them in upcoming issues of Digital Dealer. The future is here!
Sandi Jerome is the editor of Digital Dealer. sjerome@dealeronline.com
