Introduction to Showroom CRM

The Showroom CRM module enables and promotes the sale of new and used vehicles.

It has the following functionality:

• Allows new vehicles to be configured according to the rules defined within the Franchise Data module, either using a step-by-step process or via the Enquiry Builder.
• Allows enquiries and quotes to be generated on used vehicles using similar processes as for new vehicles: step-by-step or using the Enquiry Builder.
• Enables the fast ordering of configured vehicles for dealer stock based upon recorded data of the most popular vehicles.
• Creates vehicle records in the Marketing or Vehicle Stockbook modules.
• Facilitates assessment and valuation of used vehicles, with the ability to interface to used vehicle valuation systems.
• Administer the purchase of used vehicles and the subsequent quotation for resale, both on order and in stock.
• Calculates quotes for finance schemes on the sale of a vehicle.
• Enables the user to effectively follow-up the major events in a quotation cycle (e.g. Enquiry, Quote and Order) by generating contacts which are recorded against customer records.
• Maintains a history of each customers activity with the company.

To access the Showroom:

1. From the AUTOLINE MASTER MENU, select the Showroom CRM option from the Module list.

2. Where appropriate, select your showroom company from the Company list.

3. Click OK.

   The SHOWROOM MAIN MENU is displayed.

Relationship with other modules

The Showroom CRM module utilises data and functionality from four other modules of the Autoline system: Franchise Data, Vehicle Stockbooks, CRM (Marketing) and Nominal Ledger.

Franchise Data provides the structure of the franchise, its vehicles and their component options and accessories. As such a knowledge of that module's operation and the exclusions rules relating to the configuration of vehicles options is necessary in order to gain a full understanding of the Showroom system.

Vehicle Stockbooks can be used to manage the vehicles which are quoted upon by the Showroom system.

CRM provides the database of customers, the ability to create contacts and follow-ups, allows demonstrator vehicles to be booked and, optionally, manages vehicles instead of Vehicle Stockbooks (see the MKV mode page). The Showroom module can populate a customer's vehicle record with the basic vehicle identity and accesses the CRM module to allow customer records to be created or amended at the point of quotation.

Note: As part of the change from Marketing to CRM, customers are no longer referred to as Targets but as Customers.

An understanding of the operation of order management will be required. If a central marketing database is employed, an understanding of the interrelationship between the local and central database, should be gained, and the elements involved in the transfer of data thereof.

Nominal Ledger features are integrated to allow the invoicing and crediting of vehicle invoices.