Well let’s begin with the good since it is the first on the list, there are many CRM solution vendors out there. One good feature that every one seems to share is the incoming 1-800 phone tracking capabilities, any respectable CRM solution will offer this feature of recorded phone call from their targeted 1-800 numbers for advertising tracking purposes. The CRM solution providers often are partnered with a voice over IP solution provider to offer their clients this service. Voice over IP call tracking got to be one of the biggest improvements found in today’s CRM or DMS systems for dealers. Another good feature is sales reporting and performance tracking, almost all of the CRM solution vendors offers some sort of way to track their advertising spending, or sales performance. This can go as far as the best selling model for the month, even export to Excel file format. The last good feature of today’s CRM we are going to discuss here is the ability to manage, transfer lead from sales person to sales person. With different security access levels, a manager can access sales person’s lead and manage and transfer them at his will. This level of sophistication is light years ahead of the older systems.  Read more...

We all have heard of the saying “functionality over design”, but how can this phrase apply in today’s automotive CRM industry? After been in the Canadian automotive industry for the past 7 years, I have encountered many CRM solutions from the software vendors. There are a wide range of selections of software available in the Canadian market, but very few are catered towards the smaller dealers. Many CRM solution vendors are in a rat race to become increasingly more complex, this unnecessary growth in complexity usually forces the end user to make mistakes rather than profit. A poorly designed CRM solution often enforces many artificial business rules that are not a reflection of the real business world.

No two automotive dealerships are the same, hence no two business rules can apply exactly the same way. It is better to build a CRM offering the end users the option to manage the inventory and customer quote rather than trying to outsmart a human. Keep in mind a CRM system should be there to help the end user to run their business more efficient rather than forcing the end user for product training. The key concept when it comes to a successful CRM solution is the business models itself, as long as the business model is accurate, the vendors should leave as much options open as possible. A CRM solution that can be used to reflect the true relationship database model will be the most successful. Linear business process is a dangerous design and can cause a lot of headaches for the end user down the road.  Read more...

Advanced Technology Solutions for Automotive & Semi Conductor Industries

An ever-increasing range of leading-edge technologies emerging into the manufacturing, more so in the automotive & semi-conductor sectors, make them two of the most exciting and dynamic manufacturing sectors in the world.

Automotive & Semi-conductor industries are facing an extremely challenging business environment today with increase in product heterogeneousness, higher dependence on outsourcing, and a growing need to collaborate with an unending list of business partners. Moreover, with the automotive electronics market exploding and semiconductor consumption booming worldwide, the tremendous opportunity for semiconductor companies brings with it the increasing pressure to keep pace with the shortening development cycles and the need for newer and more innovative products. However not all the products that hit the market are successful since the consumer today is extremely particular about price and performance, leaving semiconductor companies to grapple with the triple challenges of increasing complexity, shorter timelines and increasing risk. In fact the need to excel by improving quality, creating product differentiation while meeting safety and other regulations has kept both the industries on their toes.

This kind of situation has given impetus to Advanced Technology Solutions, solutions that enable the automotive as well as semi-conductor industries to attain performance advancements and improved efficiency. Partnering with an organization offering industry specific advanced technology solutions in the focused areas of Automotive Electronics, Engineering Design, Product Engineering, Auto Infotainment & Telematics, Instrument clusters, Industrial automation, Powertrain, Chip design, Embedded software, Analog mixed signal design, Electronic design, Physical design, Semiconductor design outsourcing, ASIC/SoC development, Vlsi design, FPGA design solutions, and support services such as Verification & Validation, Offshore testing and Automotive embedded software, is a viable option that can leverage the technology expertise in automotive electronics & semi-conductor solutions. It further helps in accelerating product development cycles and push the envelope of innovation.