Running a dealership is easy. You simply have to run your sales, service, parts, F&I, used vehicle, OEM compliance and HR systems well.
Creating a Dealer Management System (DMS) is just as easy. You simply have to integrate with all the dealer departments to deliver content in a way that users can work with it. And don’t forget to comply with all the OEM standards.
None of the above is true, of course.
Running any business in South Africa is a challenge, but few have the level of complexity of a dealership.
While the business itself is complex and fast moving, dealer principals find themselves between the manufacturer on the one side and clients on the other, which means that no day goes perfectly according to plan.
This truth is at the heart of the development of Pinewood’s Dealer Management System (DMS).
Managing a dealer is complex, so a DMS should not add to that complexity. If anything, it should streamline processes, take effort away and work with users finding an excellent balance adapting DMS processes to business requirements.
To make its DMS as simple and powerful as possible, Pinewood has a dedicated OEM integration team. This team of dealer specialists work with over 50 OEMs globally, from Toyota to Ford, Bentley and newcomers such as Chery. It even covers motorcycle brands such as Moto Guzzi and KTM and truck brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Isuzu and DAF.
The OEM team works with manufacturers to create the best workflows and ensure that it integrates seamlessly with the DMS. This is in stark contrast to management systems that simply integrates OEM systems through an API (Application Programming Interface).
The focus on workflow means that the Pinewood DMS simplifies and streamlines dealer processes, rather than simply bringing different workstreams together through an API with little or no thought to how it affects a staff member’s workflow or workload.
To learn more about Pinewood’s DMS and how it integrates with OEM’s systems, visit pinewoodsa.co.za/overview/manufacturer-integrations/
Read the second article in this series to learn about the wide range of time-saving manufacturer integrations here.
* This article was written by the Dealerfloor team in partnership with Pinewood DMS South Africa.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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New vehicle sales in 2026 continued their positive trend in April, with the 47 979 units sold marking the best April figure since 2013. This represents a remarkable performance by local automotive retailers despite a host of economic headwinds and a challenging trading environment.
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