ALBANY, N.Y. — This week, Auto/Mate Dealership Systems announced the integration of its dealership management system (DMS) with SMI’s DriveService and DriveSales solutions.

For auto dealers using both solutions, the integration ensures that customer information updated in the DMS will be updated in SMI's customer communications.

"The key to a successful integration is for the dealer's data to be transferred instantly, securely and seamlessly between a DMS and a third-party solution provider," said Mike Esposito, president and CEO of Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. "Our Open/Mate platform makes it very easy and inexpensive for any third-party vendor to integrate with our DMS, resulting in more vendor choices and cost savings for dealers."

SMI's products are designed to increase customer engagement and response, proven to translate into higher closing rates on service recommendations in the fixed-ops department, officials said. Following an inspection report, personalized communications encourage customers to share their information, offer choices regarding their service recommendations and build trust between the customer and service advisor.

"Integration between our service solutions and a dealership's DMS makes both technologies more accessible," said Garrett Jockel, CEO of SMI. "Technology should never get in the way of maximizing fixed ops profitability; it should make it easier."