CDK Global vs Salesforce for Automotive

Carsforsale.com

AutoManager

DealerCenter

Carsforsale.com is an automotive shopping and dealer management software that helps vehicle dealers in listing their cars for sale, and offers reporting and analytics, dealer training and support, inventory distribution and inventory leads and exposure.

AutoManager is a dealer management suite that includes DeskManager, WebManager, & AutomotiveCRM.

DealerCenter is a dealer management system for independent car sales, with mobilized features for inventory tracking, desking, lending and document management

BDC Manager

Customer service is on the higher side when you call in, but the reps for the stores have not been the best.

General manager

Our company has been with them for nearly 30 years and every time the contract comes due they treat us like a new customer.

General Manager

There has been a work-around implemented to work out the issue however.

CDK delivers unified, secure dealership software solutions for automotive dealerships that need to manage Sales, Service, Parts, Inventory, Accounting and customer engagement in one place. 

Accounting

Contact Database

Contact Management

Document Management

Financing Management

For Automotive Dealerships

Forecasting

Interaction Tracking

Inventory Management

Lead Management

Lease Tracking

New Car Dealer

Reporting/Analytics

Sales Floor Management

Service Department

Used Car Dealer

CDK Global

Web-based

Windows

iPhone

iPad

Android

Dealertrack DMS

Frequent bugs and technical issues

89% of reviewers feel negative about Bugs and Issues. Reviewers report persistent glitches, system crashes, and error messages that disrupt daily operations. Some users say workflow and settings change unexpectedly, causing confusion and inefficiency. They mention problems with service department scheduling, unreliable reporting, and complicated processes for certain tasks. Users find that technical issues often require time-consuming troubleshooting, and they express frustration with recurring bugs that impact their ability to serve customers and complete work efficiently.

Slow and unresponsive support

40% of reviewers feel negative about Customer Support. Reviewers indicate that getting help often involves long wait times and repeated follow-ups, with support staff sometimes lacking product knowledge. Some users say issues remain unresolved for extended periods, and communication from the support team is inconsistent or absent. They report that most changes require contacting support, which can be a drawn-out process. Users feel the overall quality of customer service has declined, making it difficult to address problems promptly.

Comprehensive employee management tools

Collections Manager

We switched from Dealertrack DMS for our Powersports department and it has been a game changer with our customers, part management, invoicing, accounting, etc.

Regional IT Director

All the while we can hold different departments accountable and achieve goals per department and store and platform under one tool.

91% of reviewers feel positive about Employee Management. Reviewers indicate the software allows them to efficiently oversee multiple departments, manage payroll, and hold teams accountable within a single platform. Some users say it streamlines operations for service and parts departments, while others appreciate its all-in-one approach for handling tasks like invoicing and accounting. They find that upper management involvement and clear staff roles contribute to smoother workflows. Users report that training new employees is straightforward, and they value the ability to track departmental goals and performance easily.

Intuitive and simple interface

80% of reviewers feel positive about Ease of Use. Reviewers indicate the software is straightforward to navigate, with most users finding it easy to learn and manage daily tasks. Some users say the interface is user-friendly and self-explanatory, making it accessible for both new and experienced staff. They appreciate that it simplifies finding information and performing routine operations. Users report that the system’s simplicity reduces the learning curve and allows them to work efficiently without frequent confusion or need for extensive training.

Assistant Parts Manager

Just the other day I tried to find where I could delete something out of the system, vendor codes/sources, and it took me almost an hour to figure it out even with the "launch code search" function.

HR Manager

They will create a case, assign someone to assist you, and they will not close the case until you are satisfied with the outcome.

Outside sales

Way to navigate around the stystem to get the result your looking for

It gets the job done but with a disconnect on all sides.

There are not a lot of great comprehensive choices for dealer management systems.  

The desktop tool and trend reporting functions are efficient.

Inventory control specialist

Great experience for the time I used CDK, it was a little difficult to learn the system at first, but once setup, it was a very smooth operation.

We had an issue where certain leads from our own website would come in based out of a Wisconsin address.

Their business model feels borderline criminal and was probably easier to execute when Reynolds and CDK were pretty much the only options.

Sales Manager

I like that CDK has many important functions that add value to our daily operations.

Service manager

Ease of use and customizable options make this the obvious choice

There is a reason why the company net value is dropping like a rock.  

sales and leasing associate

Customer birthday calls since we can scan driver's licenses into the system.  

Parts Manager

About the only thing I like about this is creating credit memos but even this process needs some work.

Logistics

It also is buggy on computer and if you hit one wrong key it can make a bigger task than originally

President 

This software does not have a proper scheduler that functions for a service center.

It can work for making POs and other accounting managements

I was using it daily until a couple of months ago as of late I only use it to do inventories.

Internet Sales Manager

Being newer to the Auto Industry 2 years ago, and realizing how critical Eleads is for every level, whether sales, desking, inventory management, service, prospect searching, and navigation in general has been great.

SALES MANAGER

Integration with inventory cost sometimes isn't the best

The system alerts us when we get the car a customer is looking for!

We are not happy with what they promised us as far as for our service department and they don’t seem interested in solving their issues anytime soon.

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Missing some integrations and tools that other CRMs had built in from the beginning.

Admiration/ Reception  

Information about each vehicle such as the year, make, model, vin, color, warranty start date, etc.  

The financial and dealership side is the only value that we found in this program.

Also keeps information on the sale of each vehicle such as the customer who purchased it, their contact information and so much more.  

BDC MGR

ELEAD CRM integrates very well from CDK DMS.

ELead is an essential tool for our dealership.

Reports of all kinds are provided and are something used daily to track performance in a multitude of categories.

General Manager 

Some quoting features on buyers orders are hard to convert to the actual buyers order when the vehicle arrives.

Accounting clerk

Sales Associate

I feel the search capabilities for a salesperson to maximize their database and prospecting are not satisfactory.  

The development department has been working on it but we are not receiving any updates.  

I feel most dealerships use Eleads as it can integrate with other systems fairly easily compared to other CRM's.

The ability to create self reports - customizations

Email Marketing and OEM Manifest list uploads are difficult and could use some attention.

I'm unable to customize the workflow myself - Elead must do it but elead rarely returns calls.

New Car Sales Manager

It becomes frustrating while working a deal when information is not consistent and stops work flow.

Service Writer

I have always like the way the system is produced from the Service personnel's prospective & The way  CDK tries to customize the product for each of the specific user's or Locations.

Also once in a while it will say that a new vehicle could not be entered because it already exists when it doesn't.

I like that I can have more than 1 customer record open at once.

Does what I need it to do, has some deep features and customization

SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN] has been the ultimate breath of fresh air and even no longer being in charge of our account, still helps out when someone else can not get something solved.

I like the ability to customize every process as needed.

Dealership Management

Customization

Switching Providers

Reporting

Customer Support

Search Functionality

Employee Management

Bugs and Issues

Integrations

Large Enterprises

Mid-size Business

Small Business

Autorox

Autorox Garage Management Software with a Customer Engagement Platform for appointment scheduling, service tracking, and offers. Stay connected with SMS/WhatsApp updates. Multi-outlet monitoring and white-labeling for custom branding and website development services.

OEConnection is an auto dealer software designed to help businesses manage and track original equipment parts. It enables repair facilities to locate, source, and purchase original equipment parts as well as streamline billing operations via a unified platform. 


CAMS DMS

CAMS is a cloud-based dealer management software that assists auto dealerships with VIN decoding, cost tracking, profit and loss analysis, and customer data management. Features include vehicle inspection forms, garage register, roll back calculations, document storage, and transactional audit.

Salesforce Automotive CRM is an auto-dealer management software that helps businesses manage customer engagement, monitor performance, team collaboration, and more from within a unified platform.

CDK Global vs Salesforce for Automotive Comparison (2026)

CDK Global

Salesforce for Automotive

Overview

Video & Screenshots

Pricing

User reviews

Key features

Integrations

Alternatives