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Was May the Beginning of a Steadier Buying Experience?
Moving through the fourth year of the Ease of Purchase Scorecard, we’ve tracked both steady movement over months as well as one-off monthly spikes here and there. May indeed seems to be the recovery of one of those spikes. April’s Ease of Purchase score of 81% was historically low and fell from a solid 88% in March. It seems May has bounced back with a respectable 87% but it’s unknown if this is the beginning of consistent performance or just another spike.
4 Min Read•Jun 1•David Thomas
Understanding the Three R’s of Service Department Marketing
Dealerships are under increasing pressure to find reliable ways to drive sustainable revenue. While vehicle sales can fluctuate based on market conditions, Fixed Operations remain a steady and essential contributor to dealership profitability.
4 Min Read•May 28•CDK Global
AI vs. AIVA: What the Difference Means for Dealers and Developer Partners
Artificial intelligence shows up in many conversations across automotive retail today. Dealers hear about it in pricing tools, service recommendations and customer...
3 Min Read•May 18•Emily Ghioto
Video: How AI Helps Dealerships Overcome Sales Challenges
Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a powerful differentiator for dealerships. In a panel discussion at CDK Live NADA 2026, industry...
2 Min Read•May 15•CDK Global
Vehicle Recalls Completed, Customers Retained: What Dealers Need To Know
For many franchised dealerships, recall visits are often viewed as a necessary operational burden — high volume, low margin and disconnected from long-term customer value. But according to our most recent Service Shopper 5.0 Study, recalls may be one of the most overlooked and powerful opportunities to drive customer retention, increase Service revenue, and strengthen long-term relationships.
4 Min Read•May 14•CDK Global
Document Management Mistakes That Could Cost Car Dealers $10,000
Nobody thinks about documents until they need them. And that's a problem.It happens in every department, every day. A Repair...
4 Min Read•May 12•CDK Global
Bestselling Car and Truck Prices Stabilize in April
New car sales in April dipped a bit compared to last year but it likely wasn’t due to prices on...
4 Min Read•May 8•David Thomas
Video: How Dealerships Can Improve Fixed Ops and Service Loyalty in 2026
Service customers’ expectations are changing, making it more critical than ever for dealerships to understand their customers, especially as vehicle...
2 Min Read•May 7•CDK Global
Visiting 1 Store a Key Factor in Buyer Satisfaction
The CDK Ease of Purchase Scorecard tracks a number of factors driving satisfaction for car buyers each month. One thing that’s become apparent after years of inventory struggles is that more people are completing their purchase by visiting just one dealership.
4 Min Read•May 6•CDK Global
Dealership Loyalty Programs: What Service Customers Really Want
Loyalty programs have become a cornerstone of customer retention strategies across industries, rewarding repeat business with exclusive perks and discounts....
4 Min Read•May 4•CDK Global
April Delivers Another Shock to the Buying Process
April witnessed another whipsaw in customer experience at the dealership. Historically, April has been a rather pleasant month with our...
3 Min Read•May 1•David Thomas
Dealership Analytics and KPI Reporting With CDK Intelligence Suite
Successful dealerships today are defined by more than instinct. They rely on data‑driven decision-making to improve customer experience, increase productivity and remain competitive. According to CDK’s 2026 Friction Points study, 73% of dealers say customer experience remains their top strategic priority for the year ahead, while nearly half are investing in technology to improve productivity in pursuit of that goal. As a result, actionable dealership analytics, KPI reporting and goal tracking have become essential to competing and winning in today’s marketplace.
6 Min Read•Apr 30•CDK Global
