The Cobalt Group Includes Desking and F&I Capabilities into CRM Solution
SEATTLE -- The Cobalt Group, a provider of customer relationship management (CRM) and e-business software and services to the auto retail market, acquired certain assets of automotive software provider Auto Town. Cobalt will integrate Auto Town F&I 3.0 into Cobalt Prospector, its CRM solution, to provide new desking and F&I capabilities.
SEATTLE -- The Cobalt Group, a provider of customer relationship management (CRM) and e-business software and services to the auto retail market, acquired certain assets of automotive software provider Auto Town. Cobalt will integrate Auto Town F&I 3.0 into Cobalt Prospector, its CRM solution, to provide new desking and F&I capabilities.
With the addition of Auto Town F&I 3.0, dealers can use Cobalt Prospector through every phase of a customer's car buying process. It can be used to capture customer and prospect information from walk-ins, phone calls, or the Internet, move the prospect through the sales and financing process, conduct the negotiation, perform the trade appraisal, finance the purchase, and record the sale in the dealership's accounting system. The solution automatically schedules all follow-up activities, and it is entirely Web-based. Coordinating with the dealership accounting system, it automatically captures valuable financial data and hands the deal off electronically from the salesperson to the sales manager to the F&I manager. It presents financing options to the customer and records the entire deal.
The combination of Auto Town F&I 3.0 and Prospector lets dealers to flow customer data directly into the F&I process without tedious and costly rekeying of data. Auto Town dealers said that the time needed to finance and complete a purchase is cut from over an hour to less than 20 minutes, reducing the time the customer spends in the F&I office and greatly increasing customer satisfaction.
"Customers don't want to spend hours in the dealership waiting for F&I numbers," said Jerry Daniels, executive vice president of the Coggin Automotive Group.
For more information about Cobalt Prospector, contact Cobalt at (866)439-2258 or e-mail sales@cobaltgroup.com.
More F&I

Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →
Humble and Hungry: 12 Rules for an F&I Life
Dustin Gingerich, with a decade in the F&I business under his belt, shares his thoughts on leadership, building trust with customers, and the importance of learning and innovation.
Read More →
Focus on the Opening
F&I managers must learn as much as possible about their customers, starting before they walk into their offices. The bulk of today’s consumers expect that, and good results will follow.
Read More →
F&I Reaches for the Sky
The increasingly important profit center continued making gains in the first quarter, according to StoneEagle data, ancillary products proving more popular as consumers hold onto their buys longer.
Read More →
Timing the Market Can Hurt Long-Term Program Performance
For dealer-owned reinsurance entities, avoiding volatility entirely can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long term surplus growth. Missing just a handful of strong market days can materially impact cumulative returns—an important reminder for long horizon trust and investment strategies.
Read More →
The 90/10 Rule
In this video, Ryan Ruff explains the rule that elite sales professionals use to turn ordinary conversations into unforgettable customer experiences.
Read More →
Your Office Is Talking
What’s the atmosphere saying about you to your customers? You can make minor adjustments and additions that transform your space into one that creates trust with the people on the other side of the desk.
Read More →
F&I Training Fundamentals
How can auto dealerships help F&I managers fulfill their vital role in the most effective ways? Industry expert Rick McCormick shares his insights on the best ways to train these professionals and help them maintain good habits.
Read More →
Not Just Any Tire Will Do
More consumers and businesses are opting for all-season options for various reasons as safety, sustainability and convenience push practical change.
Read More →