What is the difference between a DMS, CRM, and ILM?

A DMS is a widely used acronym in the auto dealer industry that stands for dealer management system. It is traditionally a software platform dealers use for managing their vehicle inventory, deals (cash, finance, wholesale, buy here pay here (BHPH), etc.), customer information, credit reports and printing paperwork. A DMS in many ways is considered the "back-end" part of running a dealership.

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management and is a term that refers to the practices, strategies, and technologies businesses use to manage and analyze their customer interactions. This can range from managing customer appointments to sending automated emails to clients. The goal of a CRM is to improve business relationships with customers and ultimately increase sales.

ILM (Internet Lead Management) allows a dealership to manage their internet lead follow-up process through customizable messaging channels (such as email, phone call, and text messaging).