Auto Dealers Streamline Service Operations with Safe Payment Solutions

Managing an auto dealership’s service operations in good times is stressful enough. The coronavirus pandemic demands even more from service techs, requiring them to adopt business practices that adhere to health and safety standards. And it all must be done without compromising the service experience.

Customers are interested in fast, contactless and germ-free ways to pay. And many are opting for curbside dropoff and pickup. Let’s see how new in-person and remote payment features help streamline service operations without compromising audit controls or complicating the service processes.

Fewer Touchpoints, Faster Payments

The COVID-19 health crisis has introduced new business models to support social distancing, including reconfigured service lobbies, touch-less service, and curbside delivery and pickup. Payment acceptance methods have also evolved to accommodate healthy interactions. Controllers and service managers are discovering that these new payment practices can save time and keep their operations running smoothly.

Speedy, Paperless In-Person Payments 

Customer-facing devices such as PayJunction’s ZeroTouch Terminal can be safely placed on the customer’s side of the counter so that staff does not have to handle credit cards. Contactless payment methods allow customers to pay with the simple wave of a card, smartphone or wearable device.

The card brands no longer require signatures and receipts for most in-person payments, resulting in a faster checkout process. Customers can opt for no receipt, or choose to receive a digital version via email. 

Secure and Compliant Remote Payments

Customers who call in to order parts or who are scheduling routine maintenance such as an oil change may opt to pay up front over the phone and use curbside pickup. Manually keying transactions on a Smart Terminal is much more secure than using a computer keyboard, and it reduces the PCI scope, simplifying the compliance process. Controllers will love this!

Customers who are offsite while their vehicle is being serviced may need to be contacted if an inspection results in additional parts or labor. Creating and sending a request for remote invoice payment via email minimizes downtime for technicians. The customer simply opens the email, taps on the “pay now” button and enters card details into a secure form.

If your dealership has repeat consumer and wholesale customers, or offers maintenance plans, the ability to securely store customer and payment information in the cloud drives efficiencies by automatically charging the card on file while not compromising PCI compliance standards. You can easily collect fees for one-time, installment or recurring payments.

Save Time While Improving Your Service Offerings 

In addition to a convenient and healthy payment experience for customers, service and parts managers benefit from streamlined operations.

• Everything in the PayJunction solution is digital. Work orders and invoices are linked with customer payment details and securely stored in the cloud, eliminating the need to manually print, store and retrieve paper records.
• All payments captured in-person, over the phone or online are consolidated in one management console, simplifying end-of-day procedures, reconciliation and reporting across departments and locations.

The PayJunction solution reduces the complexity and time associated with payments. We’ve helped dealerships save as many as 29 hours a month ... that could be as much as $17,000 a year!

Controllers Take Note

Under the lens of audit and compliance, our technology puts controllers at ease and lowers the total cost of accepting payments. Controllers can:

• Track each payment from checkout, to research, to reconciliation.
• Proactively analyze financial data and gain insights into customer trends across departments and locations for better informed decisions.
• Gain visibility into system access, user roles, and duty separation in the payment processes to mitigate risk.

You need a safe payment solution that delivers a better customer experience and improves service operations.