Technology was supposed to make things easier. Instead, it’s made dealership operations more complex, more fragmented… and more vulnerable. In a dealership environment where every second and dollar count, fragmentation isn’t just annoying — it’s expensive.
In 2025, every system you choose either builds momentum or builds friction. Every integration, every contract, every platform… it either empowers or holds your team back.
Margins are shrinking. Customer expectations are rising. The dealerships that thrive won’t be the ones doing more, they’ll be the ones doing what matters most… with less.
Here are the 10 tech challenges that could define your profitability in 2025 and how to stay ahead of them.
Top 5 Takeaways
- Margins are tight. Mistakes are expensive. 2025 adds new pressure to Dealer profits. It’s no time for tech that drains profit or drags your team down.
- Disjointed tools = disconnected customers. Clunky third-party integrations kill momentum and frustrate buyers, proprietary monolithic platforms aren’t the answer.
Dominion DMS keeps your systems and your buyers… in sync! - Locked-in contracts lock out growth and kill agility. Dominion DMS gives you freedom to choose and change when you need to.
- Cyberattacks are up 87% and rising. Legacy systems can’t keep up. Dominion DMS fortifies your defenses with a ground-up cloud native approach and keeps you running.
- Change feels risky. So does standing still. Dominion DMS makes transition simple, so you can move forward without looking back.
Is your technology ready for 2025?
Dealers face growing financial pressures from tariffs, shrinking margins, supply chain instability
and shifting consumer demand. If fixed ops takes a hit, you need a system that protects your
profits, safeguards your data and boosts productivity.
Here are the top 10 technology challenges that could impact your dealership’s profitability in 2025.
10. Delayed and inaccurate vehicle information
Nothing erodes customer trust faster than selling a vehicle that’s already marked as sold. If CRM and DMS don’t align, it can feel like a bait & switch to customers.
9. Inaccurate payment information
Inconsistent payment data is a common issue. Dominion DMS syncs CRM or Desking tools and DMS systems for accurate, upfront payments and a first-class experience.
8. Burdensome and inefficient data throttling
Slow updates and constant data re-entry frustrate employees and stall customer interactions.
Dominion DMS ensures fast, seamless data flow through strong 3PA integrations, which streamlines workflows and boosts productivity.
7. Long-term DMS contracts
If you’re locked into a long-term DMS contract, but discover a 3PA that could transform your operations, you’re stuck with limited choices:
1) Stick with your outdated tech stack
2) Pay for the new app on top of your existing solution’s bill
3) Write a hefty check to exit the contract
VUE DMS offers flexible terms (with no evergreen), so you can easily integrate new apps without being tied down.
6. Pressure from current DMS provider
Some DMS providers lock you in with an ‘all-in-one’ platform, limiting your choices. At Dominion DMS, your tech stack is your call, not your DMS provider’s. Your Tech Stack – Your Way!
Dominion DMS believes in freedom of choice, offering 300+ partners to choose from. We’re always adding more – no stagnation here. If a vendor isn’t on our partner list, just let us know. We’ll work with them to get that integration rolling.
5. Costly OEM technology upgrades
It’s common for DMS providers to hike fees for mandated OEM compliance and upgrade costs. Dominion DMS keeps VUE fully compliant — without the hefty price tag… helping you capture valuable OEM incentive dollars while keeping costs low.
4. Ransomware vulnerability
Dealerships are prime targets for cybercriminals, with financial info, licenses, SSNs and vehicle histories all up for grabs. A ransomware attack can cripple operations fast. Dominion DMS, powered by Microsoft Azure, keeps your data and systems protected with the latest security measures.
3. Failure to spot software security gaps
New software can open security risks. Our team thoroughly vets third-party apps to close vulnerabilities and keep your data safe.
2. Having all your eggs in one basket
Relying on one DMS for all your software needs is risky. If it goes down, your dealership could grind to a halt.
Multiple systems boost stability. Even if your DMS crashes, your CRM keeps customer interactions flowing. OEMs and vendors love this flexibility. It keeps your business moving when tech stumbles.
And the NUMBER ONE ‘technology challenge’ in 2025….
1. Fear of change
Worried a new DMS will disrupt your dealership? With Dominion DMS, the switch is smooth, fast and refreshingly simple.
Our fresh approach to DMS transition is VOX (VUE Onboarding eXperience); an intuitive design with step by step ‘wizards’ to get your team up to speed quickly. Start with our DMS, then upgrade other 3PA systems on your terms & schedule. Watch your dealership adapt and thrive.
Technology isn’t just a set of tools. It’s the engine that powers your next chapter. The right DMS doesn’t just connect your systems. It frees your business to move faster, work smarter and adapt boldly.
Dominion DMS doesn’t just power operations… it powers opportunity. Let’s build the future of your dealership together.
