Kerridge’s American parent ADP is countering retailer criticism over the cost of its Autoline dealer management package by launching an entry-level version. It is looking for single-site dealers to begin pilots.

Autoline Select is a core dealer management system available with a list of options to enable dealers to choose the level of functionality that best suits their business. Dealers will save money on installation costs, training and support due to the lower levels of back-up required.

ADP vice president, marketing and channels strategy, Vittorio Bozza, estimates dealers will be able to save up to 30% over the price of the full Autoline package.

“It’s about the total cost of ownership,” he said. “Dealers buy the functionality that they require which reduces the price and also drives the level of installation, training and support that is required.”

Autoline Select is an extension to the old Kerridge Connect system and will be targeted at the single-site, single-franchise dealer. ADP said many dealers are using only part of the dealer management system which makes its product appear expensive compared to rivals with a more modular design.

“Autoline is still our main system that has full functionality, but Autoline Select is designed for a specific market,” said Bozza.

The pilot is likely to last for six months with a full market launch around March next year.

ADP has just started piloting ADP Exchange, a product that allows dealers to trade from their dealer management system to a third party. It has signed up a large UK retailer which is selling parts from a main distribution hub to its trade customers.

Two new products are in the development phase. Business Intelligence will be an evolution of the product offered in America that drives management reports from the DMS, while the American version of Digital Marketing will be shown to a group of UK customers this month to assess how it can be developed for the UK.

Digital Marketing is about exploiting new ways for dealers to promote their business and capture leads.