A new concept in financial analysis helps dealerships cut through information overload by providing key data in a user-friendly format conducive to executive decision-making, according to Crowe Chizek, a top 10 U.S. public accounting and consulting firm and industry leader in serving dealerships.

Crowe Dealer OnCall, part of the new Crowe DealerWerks suite available from Crowe Chizek, gives users quick insight into how their business is performing, according to Crowe Chizek.

The Internet-based technology allows dealers to keep tabs on their business from anywhere by going online to see how various departments are performing in terms of revenue, cash management and controllable expenses. Every aspect of performance is evaluated against high-performance benchmarks.

The solution uses color-coded indicators, so dealers can evaluate specific aspects of their business at a glance. To enhance Crowe Dealer OnCall's service, Crowe Chizek consultants help dealers develop action plans that are recorded in the system for enhanced accountability among dealership management teams.

"We designed Crowe Dealer OnCall and Crowe DealerWerks to help dealerships be more profitable and competitive," said David Jarrett, managing executive of the Dealership Services Group of Crowe Chizek. "Dealerships nationwide have achieved sharp improvements in their bottom line with the help of these solutions. The various components of DealerWerks help improve dealerships' financial performance."

Features of Crowe Dealer OnCall, according to Crowe Chizek, include:

* Information is delivered in a concise, focused format. "Crowe Dealer OnCall information can be looked at and understood quickly. This helps dealerships focus on areas for profit improvement, particularly those areas that have the greatest impact on the dealership's success," Jarrett said.

* Internet-based delivery allows for quick turnaround and easy access. "Crowe Dealer OnCall is the only product of its kind on the market that is Internet-based," Jarrett said. "This allows for Crowe Dealer OnCall to issue its report in as few as two business days. The Internet-based solution also makes the information accessible from anywhere."

* The service is customized. Crowe Dealer OnCall is customized for each dealership, whether it's a single store or multi-location group. Crowe Chizek says it will work with each client to determine which benchmarks are most appropriate.

* Crowe Dealer OnCall helps create action plans and accountability. "Crowe Dealer OnCall goes one step beyond analysis," Jarrett said. "The who, what, when and how all can be documented within the system, shared with those responsible, and monitored appropriately."

Crowe DealerWerks

Individuals managing dealerships will have the tools they need to direct their operating procedures, inventory practices and tax strategies as efficiently as possible with Crowe DealerWerks, according to Crowe Chizek.

The complete Crowe DealerWerks package includes five programs:

* Crowe Dealer OnCall is a financial analysis tool designed to allow dealers to see how various departments in the dealerships are performing against a range of benchmarks.

* Crowe Dealer RPM (Retail Product Management) is an inventory management system designed to help dealerships achieve maximum profitability from effective management of their new and used vehicle inventories, according to Crowe Chizek. The system analyzes historical sales performance to determine the buying preferences of the dealership's customers, such as identifying colors and options that are most likely to sell quickly. Crowe Dealer RPM also identifies slow-moving inventory, so dealers can sell it before incurring steep carrying costs. Crowe Dealer RPM provides the information dealers need to increase sales, boost profits and reduce interest costs by analyzing sales performance to determine what vehicles customers want from dealerships, according to Crowe Chizek.

* Crowe Dealer eAuditor is an electronic audit tool designed to help dealers pinpoint opportunities for improvement on internal controls and operational efficiencies. eAuditor identifies benchmarks for process and control improvements by dialing into a dealership and downloading accounting records into an electronic analysis tool. According to Crowe Chizek, this gives dealers an economical way to find and fix problems that can have a big impact on profitability. eAuditor can be integrated into an automated internal audit system encompassing planning, electronic testing and fieldwork results.

* Crowe Dealer Policies and Procedures Guide allows users to standardize business practices incorporating proven industry practices and control procedures. Crowe Chizek says it has built a policies and procedures manual template that incorporates the best practices, policies and procedures of several of the more than 350 dealerships they serve. This template then is customized to meet each dealership's specific needs. The result, according to Crowe Chizek, is a concise, easily updated document that details what the dealership's employees need to do to safeguard assets, boost cash flow, improve operating efficiency and measure compliance.

* Crowe Dealer Tax Optimizer is designed to help dealerships reduce taxes and maximize cash flow through techniques such as accelerating deductions for inventory costs, optimizing LIFO benefits, deferring tax on interest assistance and accelerating depreciation on remodeling or construction. Crowe Chizek says its industry specialists can introduce dealers to several innovative tax and accounting strategies that apply specifically to dealerships.

About Crowe Chizek

Crowe, Chizek and Company LLP (www.crowechizek.com) provides business solutions for assurance, consulting, e-business, financial and human capital, marketing, outsourcing, tax and technology.

Founded in 1942, Crowe Chizek is a top 10 U.S. public accounting and consulting firm offering client-focused services through nearly 1,400 professionals in 12 offices.

Through its work with more than 350 dealerships nationwide, Crowe Chizek's Dealership Services Group says it has developed the experience needed to solve the critical issues facing dealerships.