Fixed Ops Magazine 2023 Vol 20-3 - 61

you must have the infrastructure in place to ensure its
success. Otherwise, it could lead to negative consequences
for both your dealership and the vendor.
Vetting vendors is a systematic process that involves
identifying your dealership's needs, researching potential
vendors, conducting reference checks, scheduling
meetings, and asking the right questions. By
taking the time to evaluate the potential benefits and
integrate new technology into your existing processes,
you can ensure a successful long-term partnership.
As you evaluate potential vendor partners, be sure to
ask the right questions to avoid unexpected costs. Do
you know how they bill? What is included in their fees?
Do they take a percentage or charge a flat fee? Is there
an integration fee? Are there additional charges for extra
third-party feeds? Could you save money by signing
up for ACH instead of using a credit card? Do their
costs go up after a certain time period?
TIPS FOR BUILDING SUCCESSFUL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH VENDORS
Effective communication is crucial when working with
vendors. To ensure that you, your team, and your vendor
are aligned, it's important to establish clear channels
of communication and encourage open dialogue.
By keeping everyone informed of any changes or issues,
you can avoid misunderstandings and work together
to find solutions. Just as any relationship needs
constant work, set it and forget is not the way to handle
a partnership. Regularly scheduled meetings are
vital to a successful outcome. Both parties must pull
their weight: the dealer must not leave the vendor out
to dry and the vendor must continually see the dealer
as a client partner. While there may be bumps in the
road during the installation and onboarding process,
having a running checklist of items can help minimize
surprises. Consider using a shared, secure platform
such as Google Drive or OneDrive to keep everyone
updated and to enable collaboration.
Additionally, take the time to understand your vendor's
goals and objectives and compare them to your dealership's
goals. What does success look like to you vs
them? Misunderstandings and cancellations often result
from failing to take this step. Knowing the goals of each
campaign is essential. Take the time to sit down and
have this conversation. What metrics are important to
you and why? Does this align with your vendor partner?
How will they be tracking this? Understand how they
MAY JUNE 2023 || FIXED OPS MAGAZINE
61
Fixed Ops Magazine 2023 Vol 20-3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Fixed Ops Magazine 2023 Vol 20-3
