The advantage of switching to digital documentation

Article written in conjunction with Keyloop.

Keyloop

According to research from global strategy consultants, OC&C, 94% of retailers believe they are inefficient. Every small inefficiency in a retailer’s workflow can have a series of knock-on effects, eroding productivity and overall business margins.

Within the automotive retail space, digital tools and automated processes can help streamline workflows and improve efficiency across the business. The open platform capabilities of the industry’s latest Dealer Management Systems (DMS) provide the ideal platform for a highly efficient, customer-first approach. They also allow customer-facing digital solutions – including those from third-party providers – to be embedded with their back-end operations.

With more than 25,000 retailers and 80 manufacturers worldwide using its platform, Keyloop says its solutions cover all facets of a dealer’s operations, as well as every customer touchpoint. The business is creating a future where every customer interaction is an unforgettable experience.

Dealer systems are now evolving beyond the traditional DMS. Keyloop is bringing to market a new end-to-end platform that helps motor retailers manage and optimise the full vehicle sales and aftersales process – from initial enquiry through to ownership and retention. All of the functionality draws upon information held in the system’s Active Data Core, which gives users in all departments a single, comprehensive record of customer interactions and transactions.

By maintaining one central system, retailers can drive strategic change, scale their operations and respond more quickly to day-to-day challenges and – crucially – evolving customer expectations. After extended test drives, customers now rate the ability to sign documents online as a retailer’s important offering. Tools that facilitate digital signing and document submission for financing and ownership simplify a consumer’s in-store visit. Furthermore, the latest digital signing solutions focus on reducing the number of clicks required, easing the burden on customers.

Digital document management, which enables secure file storage and access, is fast becoming a staple of the after-sales process. Digitalisation means that every customer signature is captured, while all technical reporting is completed and tracked with time stamps, directly improving warranty claims and cost recovery processes and eliminating the possibility of errors.

The centralised nature of systems from Keyloop enables customers to review contracts, orders and services remotely – all held within a single data repository. From a dealer’s perspective, meanwhile, remote access supports centralised administration and the live auditing of jobs. Easy-to-use interfaces, combined with automated checking processes, ensure efficient and error-free approvals.

Not only do these solutions save time in the dealership and improve overall customer service and satisfaction, when it comes to sustainability and cost savings, the complete digitalisation of these aftersales processes cuts paper and ink usage by up to 80%.

Keyloop South Africa recently hosted a webinar exploring Keyloop Docs, the business’s digital solution for storing, accessing and signing sales and service documents, which improves both business efficiency and customer satisfaction.​

The webinar running order is below:

  • Evolving consumer expectations
  • Service Docs overview
  • Service Docs walkthrough
  • Sales Docs overview
  • Sales Docs walkthrough
  • Q&A

​To watch the Keyloop webinar on demand, please follow this link: https://keyloop.com/en-za/events/keyloop-webinar-docs

More Industry News stories

SAGMJ Announces 2026 Car of the Year Semi-finalists

SAGMJ Announces 2026 Car of the Year Semi-finalists

The South African Guild of Mobility Journalists (SAGMJ) has announced the long-awaited semi-finalists for the 40th edition of the prestigious 2026 Car of the Year (COTY) competition, held annually since 1986.

  • 10 December 2025
OMODA and JAECOO offer customers free vehicle check

OMODA and JAECOO offer customers free vehicle check

As the holiday season approaches and many families prepare for long journeys, OMODA and JAECOO South Africa are offering a complimentary 15-minute Holiday Vehicle Health Check to help ensure every trip is a safe one.

  • 10 December 2025
NADA on the question of whether South Africa turned a corner

NADA on the question of whether South Africa turned a corner

As South Africa navigates a shifting and often unpredictable economic landscape, the National Automobile Dealers’ Association (NADA) says there are growing signs of improvement that could support increased confidence across the new-vehicle market, even as several structural challenges remain.

  • 10 December 2025