Dealer Education Seminar
The 6th Annual Dealer Education Seminar hosted by Wise Information Technology was a very profitable time for all who attended. It was a full day complete with a broad variety of presentations ranging from compliance issues to profitability considerations to input on how to take better advantage of AutoAction© software. Our mission is for dealers to be reputable professional and profitable using our technology.
Our President and CEO, Ramzi Sabra started the seminar by welcoming our dealers, the government agencies and our integration partners. He announced that the year 2020 marks our 20th anniversary and gave thanks to all our customers for their loyalty and faithfulness all these years. Ramzi stated the he believes that it is Jesus Christ who made AutoAction© what it is today. He then welcomed and introduced Ryan Winkelmann of BJS Autohaus and one of our customers as the emcee of the event.
After that, we were brought up to date on current compliance issues with outstanding presentations from Nayelli Sandoval and Hunter Owen, Financial Examiners with the OCCC, David George, Chief Investigator with the DMV, as well as from Steve Levine, who is Chief Legal and Compliance Officer with Ignite Consulting Partners. All of this served to help our dealers better understand what is required by the State of Texas to conduct business according to the laws in place.
Our audience also had time scheduled into the day to speak with numerous vendors onsite who were able to offer a variety of products ranging from GPS tracking devices, to funding for potential deals to checking credit as well as other services too. All of this gave our AutoAction© users a better idea of things they can do to improve their current profitability—something all dealers would like to be able to do in this very competitive market.
One of our vendors Michael Jackson, Founder of Auto Search Technologies, gave a very impressive presentation about social media, and how people—especially Millennials—make purchasing decisions. This was helpful for many of us who do not keep up with these well known marketing trends that others have been observing for some time. This in turn can be helpful for dealers as they try to engage this particular age group in our culture as they purchase cars.
A big highlight of the seminar was a dealer panel moderated by Ryan Winkleman of BJS Autohaus. On the panel were Eddie Gonzalez of Mega Motors, Eddie Richards of Legacy Trucks and Cars, Samantha Hornstein of A-1 Used Cars and Dinora Rodriguez of Munoz Auto Sales. Different questions were posed to the dealers by Ryan, as well as by the seminar attendees regarding various issues they have to deal with in running a successful business. This was especially helpful as each person present was able to better understand the successes and struggles of actual dealers, and how they can grow their own dealerships in a right and proper manner.
Ramzi made a very helpful presentation of some pertinent items in AutoAction© that can help the dealers be more knowledgeable in their use of AutoAction©. More specifically he covered the repo letters in AutoAction© and when to use each one. Ramzi went on to show how AutoAction© is now integrated with Goldstar GPS, which many dealers are currently using. He also explained the newest feature in AutoAction© where mass emails can now be sent out from the Past Due Accounts and CRM section, as well as all the forms needed for a particular deal.
Ramzi also spent time showing some very helpful items related to Repay and credit card processing. These include the ability to have a customer pay online in the privacy of their home. To make things easier, customers can be scheduled for auto pay, if they wish. Furthermore, we now possess the capability to have convenience fees charged for people who phone in or pay online. And finally, he showed how AutoAction© is integrated and ready to go with Web Dealer, provided a dealer has currently signed up with them.
Our attendees enjoyed the different presentations and gave us great feedback about the seminar which we hope to build upon next year. We are hoping next year will be even better! We hope our dealers to be reputable professional and profitable after attending our seminars! Check out our previous seminar here!
Yours truly,
Stephen Watts