The Latest and Greatest from DIS

How Do Dealers Really Feel About AI? A Look at the Numbers

Everyone has an opinion AI: why it works, why it doesn’t, and how you should be using it. AI is all around us, but how many dealers have really bought in?   The numbers show that the equipment industry is still divided.   In a survey a 2025 survey of farm and heavy equipment dealers across North America, Dealer Information Systems, Inc. (DIS) asked whether dealers are currently using AI. The results were split: 49% have not adopted AI, while 28% are already using it […]

Is it Time to Evaluate Your DMS? Ask These 10 Questions [2026]

Should I stay or should I go? Every three to five years, you should sit down and evaluate your DMS. Based on this evaluation, you will either decide to stick with your provider, or you will start laying down the building blocks to make a necessary change. After all, depending on the size of your […]

Plugging Profit Leaks to Keep Your Dealership Afloat in 2026

The heavy equipment dealership landscape is shifting fast, and the pressure is on. Inventory imbalances, tightening margins, labor shortages, and rapid digital disruption are forcing dealers to rethink how they operate. When the current storm passes, the dealerships that survive and thrive will look very different from those that came before. The good news? You […]

Dealership Inventory Counting Tips: Getting the Count Right

The value of inventory counting cannot be overstated. Think of your inventory as an ecosystem that needs to be kept in balance, where both understocking and overstocking can have costly consequences for your dealership. Maintaining that balance is why it’s important to manage your inventory count. Inventory counting may sound like it’s straightforward, but it’s […]

Fixed Absorption: Your Dealership’s Recession Shield [Infographic]

If your dealership isn’t already focused on reaching fixed absorption, it’s time to start. It’s a key strategy for building a resilient business capable of weathering economic downturns. Although fixed absorption has been a standard in the auto industry for years, the equipment sector still has opportunities to catch up. As profit margins continue to […]

2025 DIS User Conference Recap: Building Blocks for Success in San Antonio

We’ve wrapped up another DIS User Conference and we’re delighted to say that this was the best one to date!   The User Conference is where DIS users come together to make connections, share knowledge, and discuss all things dealership management software. We had whopping total of 115 attendees join us at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in […]

Infographic: What Will the Successful Dealership of 2030 Look Like?

Over the past five years, we’ve faced a global pandemic and have seen the emergence of AI in the workplace. It’s time to start thinking about what else could be coming your way in the next five years to best prepare for your dealership’s success. Having the right tools and strategies in place can help […]

Moving Iron Podcast: Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges and Business Continuity Planning

Data is Your Goldmine: How Dealers Can Stay Ahead

Here’s What Should Be in Your Dealership’s Business Continuity Plan [Templates]

John Andersen’s 5 Building Blocks for Dealership Management Success [Video]

      Equipment dealership consultant John Andersen shares his biggest building blocks for building better dealers. About John Andersen John Andersen has 35 years of practical experience in the heavy equipment dealership market space. As a founding partner of PFW Systems, and chief evangelist with many of the industry’s leading DMS providers, John is […]

John Andersen Talks Construction Dealer Technology Innovations On the Uptime Podcast

Introducing Kubota Smart Supply with DIS

Kubota Smart Supply is an inventory tool that helps plan your inventory levels for Kubota and other OEM brands. Smart Supply works with Kubota-certified DBSs, like DIS, and uses advanced forecasting techniques to plan the most effective inventory levels for optimal over-the-counter fill rates. The system will create stock order recommendations for dealers to review […]

John Andersen on the Moving Iron Podcast: Data Is The Low-Hanging Fruit

  John Andersen, an industry consultant and one of the original founders of PFW Systems, was interviewed on the Moving Iron Podcast on behalf to DIS to discuss the need for innovation in the equipment business. In this interesting discussion, John emphasizes meeting customer expectations and creating a positive customer experience. John also highlights the […]

Who Do You Want on Your Dealership’s Change Management A-Team?

When it comes time to implement change at your dealership, more often than not, you will come up against some (or a lot of) resistance from your team. That’s where having the right people leading the change can make a big difference. It’s important to include a diverse group of stakeholders who can provide different […]

The 7 Steps for Real Change Management Dealers Should Follow

The need for change at any dealership is inevitable. From installing and training new technology processes to carrying a new product line, and more, as a manager, you will be responsible for change management. Here are the seven steps of change management that you should follow to make the process as smooth as possible. Step […]

Why is Change Management So Important for Your Dealership?

The real question you should be asking yourself is: can you afford to not think about change management? Change management is important because it helps organizations effectively plan, implement, and manage changes to their operations, processes, and systems. Change is a constant in today’s business environment. The better equipped your dealership is to embrace and […]

7 Agriculture Equipment Dealer Statistics to Watch in 2024

Want more Ag equipment industry trends? The DIS 2024 Ag Equipment Industry Trends Report is a comprehensive overview of what dealers will be focusing on in 2024. We’ve compiled insights from surveys, Ag industry experts, and Ag DIS dealers across North America.

2023 DIS User Conference Recap: Big Ideas in the Big Easy

We were thrilled to be able to gather again for our annual user conference! Once again, we were able to connect with dealers and industry experts to share knowledge, network, and take part in insightful discussions on dealership management best practices. In total, 120 attendees joined on November 15-16 at the beautiful Loews Hotel in […]

How to Use Dealership Data to Drive Profitability & Customer Satisfaction

For years, you have been selling and supporting advanced technology proven to help customers capture and convert collected data into profitable decisions. And the same opportunity exists for dealerships to capitalize on their own data. But data doesn’t magically turn into dollars. Defining operational goals and understanding how to achieve them requires precise measurement and […]

How to Make Your Dealership Customer Experience Stand Out [Best Practices, Tips, and More]

Creating a memorable dealership customer experience is possible with each customer interaction. Each one shapes how customers perceive your business, influences their level of satisfaction, and ultimately, how loyal they are to you in the long run. To create a truly captivating dealership customer experience that keeps customers coming back, it’s essential to seek out […]

How to Achieve a Successful Digital Transformation in Your Service Department

As technology evolves and reshapes the way we do business, it’s increasingly important for dealers to adapt and embrace digital tools to stay competitive. However, digital transformation is not just about incorporating new technology into existing processes – it’s about redesigning how we work. To gain insight into this process, this blog post leverages insights […]

Preparing Your Service Department for the Busy Season [5 Best Practices]

For many dealerships – and especially their customers – spring involves far more chaos than calm. The frenzied ramp-up to ensuring equipment is ready to roll requires consistent communication at the dealership, on the road, and in the field. Savvy managers are adept at preparing parts and service staff for the peak season. And proactive […]

Celebrating Women in Dealerships: Inspiring Success Stories and Advice

Despite progress being made toward greater gender equality in the workforce, it’s no secret that there aren’t very many women working in dealerships. But that hasn’t stopped women from choosing to pursue careers within dealerships – nor should it. From service writers to Chief Financial Officers, women are thriving in different roles within dealerships and […]

6 Reasons to Move Your Dealership from an On-Premise Server to the Cloud

If you’re thinking about moving to the cloud but aren’t sure if it’s the right choice for your dealership, consider the following: Is your in-house server always down or crashing frequently? Are you struggling to keep up with your dealership’s growing data storage needs? Do you find that you’re having to spend increasingly more time […]

How to Make Your Dealership’s Customer Service Ready for the Digital Future

What comes to mind when you envision the digital future of dealerships? Robotic shop techs? Drone-delivered parts? Flying machinery? Maybe these are visions of a dealership in the more distant future. But the foundation is being laid today with autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (A.I.), and the Internet of Things (IoT). These digital advancements are changing how […]

5 Expert Tips for Running a Profitable Ag Equipment Dealership Using Technology

When the average person thinks about an autonomous, self-driving vehicle, the first thing they’ll think about is a Tesla rather than an autonomous tractor. But before Tesla, the seeds of the first driverless tractor were planted in the early 20th century by Frank Zybach, the inventor of center-pivot irrigation and who patented an automatic tractor […]

8 Ag Equipment Industry Statistics to Know in 2023

Doing more with less might as well be the universal motto for farm equipment dealerships heading into 2023. Escalating equipment costs and interest rates combined with a scarcity of essential parts and qualified talent rank among the top challenges dealerships anticipate in the coming year according to the 2023 Ag Equipment Industry Trends report. But […]

5 Ways Service Automation Tools Can Improve Technician Retention

Reliable, reputable service is one of the highest-margin sources of recurring revenue for dealerships. But the ability to capture that potential is only as good as the stability and efficiency of your team. Dealerships can’t afford to lose talented service and precision ag technicians due to outdated or obsolete technology infrastructure, especially with quality, qualified […]

Dealership Cybersecurity 101: Dealership Network Strategy, Best Practices, and More

Dealership cybersecurity is more important than ever. In the past, hackers focused their efforts on large enterprises, but it’s becoming just as common for small businesses and individuals to be targeted. Now, there are new cybersecurity vulnerabilities that didn’t exist a few years ago. Social engineering schemes directed at obtaining sensitive data have become the […]

DMS vs. ERP: Which Solution is Right for Your Dealership?

Chances are your dealership has become more discerning with how, where and when to invest in advanced technology solutions designed to increase business efficiency. As companies are asked to do more with less, having a versatile, scalable business management system that meets the specific needs of your dealership is critical. Can you afford to expect […]

Digital Tools to Help Transform Each Part of Your Dealership’s Service Department

Now that we’ve covered the different ways that you could begin to bring digital solutions to your service department, this guide will give more specific tools and solutions for each area of your service department. We’ll dive deeper into the specific kinds of tools you can offer technicians, the service office, and customers. Different tools […]

8 Ways to Implement Digital Changes in Your Dealership’s Service Department

Dealership service departments across all industries are moving away from traditional methods of record-keeping, such as pen, paper, and even whiteboards, to computers and digital records. There are more ways than ever for dealerships to use technology to grow their business and remove older, less accurate, and slower processes. But which technologies should dealers bring […]

How Farm Equipment Dealers Use Software to Manage Their Business

Technology has expanded into every nook, cranny, and corner of our lives more than ever before. The farm equipment industry is no different. Older methods that may have worked for dealers to keep track of and manage different departments are becoming outdated and costly. Farm equipment dealers are adapting to trends in the agriculture industry […]

5 Benefits of Adopting Cloud Computing at Your Dealership

According to a Gartner report, 85% of businesses will migrate from on-premise to cloud hosting by 2025. But many dealers are reluctant to make the switch. For some, it’s because they worry moving to cloud computing will be expensive. Others are simply used to their on-premise server and aren’t sure they can trust their system […]

What is Dead Inventory? [How to Avoid It, Get Rid of It, and Organize New Stock]

Once you’ve finished counting inventory at your dealership, there is still important work to be done. That’s because your inventory count should have revealed what your slow-moving parts are and what items you can safely label as “dead inventory” or “dead stock.” If your dealership has dead inventory on its hands, you’re wasting hundreds and […]

Five Keys to Understanding Your Dealership Network

Networks are complicated things, and can intimidate even tech-savvy people. In this article we cover the main components of your network, and where things most often go wrong.

What is a Dealership Management System? [Features, Picking One, and More]

Between everything that goes on at your dealership – from customer service to work orders to invoices – your dealership relies on all its different departments to work together. Nowadays, it’s more important than ever that your management system scales with your business, so a dealership management system (DMS) is a tool you might be […]

How to Select the Right Dealership Management Software [2022 Guide]

Did you know that industry-specific dealership management systems have been around for more than 35 years? In that time, they’ve advanced quite a bit. So, it’s strange then to see so many equipment and machine dealerships go for the more “generic” systems on the market. If your dealership system covers only a handful of areas […]

8 Dealership Management System Features to Look For [Updated for 2022]

Dealership management software is the core and backbone for nearly every agricultural, lift truck, construction, and truck refrigeration dealership in today’s world. Systems like this constantly evolve to make dealerships more productive and profitable. If you haven’t given your system much thought lately, that’s a good thing. It probably works! But for those of you […]

Dealer Technology Solutions That Are Shaping the Industry [Podcast]

Shane Waldemar, General Manager at DIS, appeared on the WEDA Connect podcast to talk about how DIS is meeting—and setting—trends in the market with technology. In the interview, Shane and host Mike Kraemer discuss: The biggest problems dealers are facing right now Technology DIS is developing to address those problems How dealers can use data […]

5 Best Practices for Documenting Service Procedures at Your Dealership

“Why am I paying so much for this? It doesn’t look like much work.” — how many times have customers said this to you, forcing you to reassess your initial quote? A proper technician work order documentation process can help you avoid such a situation. Service or work order documentation includes all the information about […]

5 Best Practices to Improve Service Productivity and Efficiency

Your dealership technicians might seem busy but the real question you should be asking is: are they productive and efficient in their work? It doesn’t matter if your technicians clock in long hours. What matters is if their efforts contribute to the profitability of your dealership. The two key elements you need to focus on […]

5 e-Commerce Dealership Best Practices Customers Expect

At this year’s Kubota Connect event, a big focus is being put on their K-Commerce DMS integration. They’re not alone in this—dealership e-commerce has been a hot topic in the industry for the past few years. The pandemic only added fuel to that fire. According to Statista, e-retail sales accounted for 18% of all retail […]

5 Expert Tactics for Improving Dealership Performance in 2022

Despite the challenges dealers have faced over the last two years—from technician shortages to supply chain backlogs—the equipment dealer industry is still trucking forward. What’s more, many of the challenges dealers faced in 2020 and 2021 have led to some exciting changes in the industry. More dealers are adopting technology to improve service efficiency, enhance […]

10 Ways to Use Technology to Cope with the Technician Shortage

Dealers are experiencing a technician shortage. That isn’t news – labor shortages are one of the biggest construction industry trends this year. But it’s an issue that dealers across virtually all industries have been facing for the last few years. There are a number of reasons why the shortage is happening, which have all been […]

6 Construction Industry Trends Equipment Dealers Should Follow in 2022

The last year has been challenging for dealers across virtually every industry—and the construction industry was no different. But despite supply chain challenges and social distancing guidelines, the construction industry is still plowing forward. No doubt, this is an exciting time for construction equipment dealers. Increased investments in development, consumer habits, and technological advancements are […]

How to Ensure Consistent Productivity in Your Dealership’s Service Department

You know what isn’t easy? Retaining consistent productivity within a dealership service department, especially with today’s technician shortage. According to Gallup, 70% of workers feel disengaged from their workday, which costs the US between $450 billion and $550 billion annually. It seems many employers have their work cut out for them, yet consistent productivity is […]

How to Manage Multiple Dealership Locations [Best Practices]

Managing and running a dealership at one location is hard enough. What about creating a cohesive atmosphere, uplifting environment and unifying employees, all while driving sales across multiple dealership locations? Whether you are a dealership with several locations, or a dealership thinking about expanding and opening new ones, here are best practices for how to […]

How DIS Helped Mason Machinery Avert a Disaster [Podcast]

We are proud to let you know that DIS’ dealership management software has played a role in helping Mason Machinery avert a disaster – according to Farm Equipment’s “Our Dealer Story” podcast brought by HBS Systems’ Editor/Publisher Mike Lessiter. An interview with Mason Machinery Lessiter sat down to chat with Eric Mason, the General Manager […]

How to Execute an Inventory Count Efficiently

Do you have full control over your equipment dealership’s inventory? “Control” in this scenario refers to managing all aspects of your dealership’s inventory – from purchasing, shipping, receiving and tracking, to storage, turnover and reorders. And in order to have complete control, you must know how to conduct a proper inventory count, which – as […]

What is Third-Party Software?

You use third party software every day... in fact, if you are viewing this - you are using it right now! In this article, find out more about what it is, how it interacts with your business system, and how to avoid trouble.