According to Wards Auto, car dealerships are beginning to utilize e-transactions, even letting customers use electronic signatures instead of signing a paper document. Filing cabinets will become computer file folders and external hard drives. Documents can be password protected, and there will be less risk of sensitive customer information being stolen.

While this all sounds well and good, many dealerships will not start using e-transactions for another couple of years. Running a successful dealership is hectic enough, and it is tough to find the time to learn a whole new way of processing transactions, not to mention training staff how to do it as well. However, there are several compelling reasons why dealerships need to make the time to learn and train how to process paperless transactions.

First, as stated before, it is more secure for the customer. Paper documents are easier to steal and can be damaged or destroyed in a fire, flood, or other severe weather. They also require much less storage space. Thousands of transactions documents can be stored on a hard drive compared to bulky filing cabinets.

Secondly, paperless transactions are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Dealerships can spend less money on paper, ink, and other printing supplies, and they can brag that the dealership has gone green.

Finally, electronic documents are the way of the future. At some point, dealerships will have to get on board. By continuing with business as usual, they are just delaying the inevitable and letting their competition get a head-start. The dealerships that learn paperless transactions now will have a decided advantage later on.

Looking for more news and tips for your dealership? Check out Special Finance Group on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and go to http://www.specialfinancegroup.com to find out about our Complete Special Finance Solution and how it can benefit your dealership!

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A new study by Redshift Research shows that consumers are even more dependent on the internet during the beginning stages of car shopping than many in the industry believed. Over a third of consumers check out car dealerships’ websites and research car makes and models online, and 18 percent spend time on car manufacturers’ websites. Chris Green of Motoring.co.uk, which sponsored the study, claims that engaging online customers is “the only way to win in this challenging market.”

While the study did not comment on sub-prime credit consumers, this target group is very likely to go to the internet first when looking for an auto loan. They know that they have poor credit, and they know that going to dealership after dealership and getting turned down will only serve to frustrate them and hurt their credit with numerous inquiries. By searching for dealerships willing to work with sub-prime clientele, they can cut down on their time hunting for a car and an auto loan.

The beauty of Special Finance Group is how they connect these online car shoppers with dealerships within their network, particularly customers with poor credit. Special Finance Group has a strong online presence through their website, their Facebook page, and numerous other social networking sites, and dealerships enrolled in Special Finance Group’s Complete Special Finance Solution get connected with car shoppers ready and eager to buy, bringing in hundreds of thousands in additional sales.

You can learn more about Special Finance Group and what the Complete Special Finance Solution can do for you by checking out http://www.specialfinancegroup.com, liking Special Finance Group on Facebook, and following Special Finance Group on Twitter.

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