Short answer
Dealership ERP software is a single platform that runs the whole dealership business: vehicle inventory, sales and CRM, finance, HR and payroll, attendance, marketing and reporting. A traditional dealer management system (DMS) focuses on selling and servicing vehicles. An ERP extends to the rest of the business so you do not need separate tools for people, money and marketing.
What a DMS covers
A dealer management system is the core back-office platform of a dealership. It typically connects inventory, deals, financing, accounting and reporting so departments work from the same data.
What an ERP adds
An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is designed around the whole organisation, not just the sales floor. For a dealership that means the same database also runs people, attendance, payroll, marketing and multi-currency finance.
- ✓Employee records, attendance and payroll
- ✓Marketing campaigns and social media management
- ✓Multi-currency pricing, costs and reporting
- ✓Investor or partner reporting and role-based access
DMS plus point tools vs one ERP
Many dealerships assemble a DMS, a payroll provider, a time clock, a marketing platform and a social scheduler. Each tool has its own login, data and invoice, and information is re-typed between them. One ERP removes that duplication and gives owners one view of cost, profit and staff.
When an ERP is the better fit
An ERP tends to fit best when you run several branches, employ a sizeable team, deal across borders or currencies, or report to investors. A single small lot with a handful of cars may be fine on a lightweight tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is a dealership ERP the same as a DMS?
Not exactly. A DMS centres on vehicle sales and service operations. A dealership ERP covers those and also people, payroll, attendance, marketing and multi-currency finance in one system.
Do I need an ERP if I already have a DMS?
Only if you want to replace the extra tools around it, such as payroll, time clocks and marketing software, or if you operate across several branches or currencies.
Can an ERP be cloud based?
Yes. Showroomsoft is cloud based, so teams can use it from any device without servers to maintain.