In the high-pressure world of auto sales, brand uniformity is wealth. For the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), a dealership is fundamentally more than just a point of purchase; it is a physical manifestation of brand promise. Still, balancing uniformity among their hundreds and thousands of locations is a logistical tightrope with growing networks and changing market requirements. Manually managing all these locations is succumbing to the pressure.
This is where Autosmart Audit’s automotive network audit software comes in. By digitizing and simplifying dealership audits, this technology is changing how OEMs and their dealer groups work together to make sure that every handshake, showroom display, and service bay meets the standard of the brand set by the OEM.
What are OEM audits?
OEM audits are examinations of a dealership’s practices, facilities, and financials to make sure they follow the rules, not just random spot checks. These aren’t just administrative boxes to check; they’re vital health checks for the brand’s ecosystem.
Audits can be intrusive, and they stretch across a broad range of dealership life. Some standards audits might look at the cleanliness of your dealership, placement and content of signage, or even the availability of specific demo vehicles. Then there are financial audits, which dig through warranty claims, sales incentives, and parts inventory to root out fraud. Then there are process audits, confirming that the customer journey from their initial test drive through to their final handover is consistent with the manufacturer’s ideal experience.
Traditionally, the audits meant regional managers schlepping from location to location with clipboards and spreadsheets. It was a sluggish and defensive response. And a lot of that data was outdated by the time it got collected and analyzed.
But the situation has changed now, with modern automobile technology and customer service standards; this simplistic approach isn’t comprehensive enough. The automotive industry is beginning to move toward using automotive network audit software to make these static inspections dynamic, real-time data feeds.
Gap Between Dealerships and OEMs
Gap Between Dealerships and OEMs
Even though everyone wants to sell cars and make their customers happy, there is usually a palpable level of disdain between OEMs and the dealers who work for them. This friction typically arises from miscommunications and a lack of visibility.
For the OEM, the problem is transperancy. Without an enterprise automotive network compliance solution, the headquarters is always in the dark as to what’s happening out of sight. They depend on infrequent visits that provide just a snapshot of compliance, leaving wide gaps with the dealership.
For the dealership, the friction comes in the form of added administrative work and a sense of unfairness. Dealers are often sandwiched between competing priorities of various divisions inside the OEM. When those processes are manual, and they’re handled over email threads, in Excel spreadsheets, or with paper forms, it’s chaos. Because the data is siloed, dealers might find it difficult to tell precisely what is being asked of them.
This discrepancy leads to inefficiencies in their operation. Resentment brews when a dealership falls afoul of an audit because it misunderstood the rules. If an OEM cannot spot a systemic problem in the region because its data is still stuck across different spreadsheets, it means losing money. This juxtaposition emphasizes the importance of a dealership compliance software that serves as a single source of truth for both sides.
Benefits of Our Audit Management Software
Adoption of a digital solution not only saves paper but also transforms the working relationship in the network. Here’s how automotive network audit software delivers value:
Centralized Visibility and Control
The first and most immediate benefit from doing this is being able to see the bigger picture. With multi-location audit management, the OEMs can see instant compliance data across their entire network. A regional manager can access their dashboard and see which dealers are behind on facility upgrades or which area is doing well. This represents a shift from reactive to proactive management.
Standardization of Processes
Manual audits are subject to human judgment. What one auditor might consider a strict grading showroom, another might regard with leniency. Dealer audit automation software standardizes the criteria. Auditors enter their findings on digital checklists using a mobile or computer device, including photo or video documentation. It means that a dealership in Texas is being held to the same standards as one in Toronto, or Jeddah, or Mumbai, building trust and fairness within the network.
Increased Efficiency and Cost Reduction
The physical expense of manual audits is high. Travel costs and the time dealers spend preparing for audits are all included. Scheduling, execution, and reporting are streamlined with automation features. Auditors can do assessments faster, and the software automatically generates reports, saving personnel time from data entry and travel.
Rapid Remediation and Accountability
Under a manual system, if one dealer fails a certain standard, the follow-through can be messy. Emails go unread; deadlines are forgotten. A robust automotive network compliance solution includes built-in workflows for non-compliance. When a failure is flagged in the system, it can automatically generate a corrective action plan for the dealer, set deadlines, and trigger alerts if the issue isn’t resolved. This completes the compliance loop, ensuring problems are properly fixed.
Data-Driven Insights
Digitized audit data becomes a mineable source of information about trends. OEMs can ascertain if a brand standard is failing, for example, indicating the standard may be unrealistic or poorly communicated. This feedback loop enables the OEM to modify its tactics according to on-the-ground realities.
Automotive Network Audit Software
A generic auditing tool is unlikely to capture the intricacies of the automotive industry. Our specialized dealership software is tailored for the complexities of dealer networks. The ideal solution is mobile-first, recognizing that auditors and dealerships aren’t at desks. It has offline functionality for lot checks in areas with poor connectivity.
A Software that Works For You
Understanding your needs, we have customized our automotive network compliance solution that promotes cooperation, not just enforcement. Our dealer management software also provides dealers with self-assessment tools to review their own practices and correct issues before the official review. This empowers the dealer network and shifts the culture to one of continuous improvement. In this age of customer experience being the key differentiator, you simply can’t compromise on automotive network audit software. With our dealer audit automation software, audit management software, and other software, OEMs can bridge the gap with dealers, making every location a brand ambassador.
Benefits of Our Audit Management Software
