Scaling Smart in a Consolidating Industry
Discover why Lightspeed DMS is the trusted dealership management system for multi-location dealers across marine, RV, powersports, trailer, and golf cart industries.
The Future of Dealerships Is Multi-Location, and Lightspeed Is Leading the Way
The dealership landscape is shifting fast. As consolidation picks up speed across the marine, RV, trailer, and powersports sectors, multi-location groups are becoming a dominant force. According to 2024 data, the top 10 dealership groups now represent 9.3% of all U.S. dealerships, an all-time high.
And while most dealerships still operate between one and five stores, the trend toward enterprise-scale operations is undeniable.
One competitor recently claimed that 1 in 3 of their RV dealers are now multi-location. But here’s the broader truth: 25% of all Lightspeed dealers, across more than 4,500 powersports, marine, RV, trailer, and golf cart dealerships, operate multiple locations. That’s not just one vertical, that’s momentum across the entire recreational industry.
And it’s not just a stat, it’s real-world success:
- Cart Mart, an award-winning golf cart dealership with nine locations across the U.S. and Mexico, credits Lightspeed for helping bring structure and accountability as they’ve grown.
- RIVA Motorsports, a powerhouse in both marine and powersports, runs four South Florida locations, all managed through one unified DMS.
- Mountaineer RV, with multiple rooftops across West Virginia, uses Lightspeed to simplify operations and make faster, smarter decisions across their growing footprint.
- Bish’s RV, OneWater Marine, RideNow, and Silverline Trailers, long-time Lightspeed customers, represent some of the largest and most successful multi-location dealerships in their respective industries.
Whether you’re running one location or scaling to 2, 60, or even 100+ rooftops, Lightspeed can handle it because our dealers are already doing it and thriving.
A DMS Built to Scale
In 2024, over 500 dealership rooftops changed ownership, a clear sign that consolidation is far from slowing down. Dealers need a platform that adapts, connects, and scales with them. Lightspeed provides:
- Centralized inventory management with real-time cross-location visibility
- Multi-store reporting and dashboards for clear, data-driven decisions
- Service scheduling and technician tracking across rooftops
- Integrated follow-up tools to retain leads and improve communication
- Role-based access and permissions for secure operations
- Cloud-based access across locations and devices
- Mobile-ready tools for sales, service, and parts teams in the field
It’s everything a growing dealership group needs, without the bloat or complexity of a generic enterprise system.
Trusted by Growing Dealers Across Industries
Lightspeed empowers dealer groups to:
- Streamline operations with shared tools for inventory, service, and parts
- Deliver frictionless customer experiences with centralized records and communication
- Make faster decisions with real-time visibility into location performance
- Adapt quickly using scalable modules and responsive support
- Automate processes like job assignment, inventory syncing, and follow-up tasks to reduce overhead and speed up service
From Cart Mart to Mountaineer RV, our customers are proving every day that Lightspeed is the DMS built to grow with you, not around you.
Deep Industry Roots, Broad Enterprise Reach
With more than 40 years of experience across marine, powersports, RV, trailer, and golf industries, Lightspeed is more than software. It’s a strategic partner.
Our growing integration ecosystem connects seamlessly with OEM systems, lenders, marketing platforms, and third-party tools. That means our dealers don’t have to change their entire tech stack. They just need the right system to tie it all together.
Looking Ahead: The Next Era of Dealership Operations
The next generation of dealership success will be powered by:
- Connected operations across rooftops, departments, and systems
- Real-time insights to support faster, smarter business decisions
- Frictionless service and sales workflows that customers feel
- Automation that reduces manual work and boosts team efficiency
- Cloud-native infrastructure that scales as fast as your business does
Lightspeed isn’t waiting for the industry to evolve. We’re already helping dealers lead the way.
5 Takeaways for Growing Dealer Groups
1. Scalability Is a Competitive Edge
Investing in scalable systems early reduces future roadblocks and friction.
2. Unified Data Leads to Better Decisions
Real-time reporting across rooftops keeps leadership in sync.
3. Consistency Builds Trust
A single DMS ensures every customer touchpoint is on-brand and on-point.
4. Automation Frees Up Teams to Focus on What Matters
Less manual entry. More time for growth.
5. The Right DMS Is a Growth Partner
Lightspeed doesn’t just support expansion, it powers it.
Conclusion: Scale with Confidence
The dealership model is changing fast, and the winners will be those who scale smart, operate efficiently, and deliver consistently across every location. Lightspeed DMS is built for that kind of growth.
Ready to scale your dealership group with confidence? Let’s talk.
Michael Matson
Michael is a nature-loving adventurer who grew up on the scenic North Shore of Lake Superior. An avid snowboarder, car racing enthusiast, and passionate competitor in disc dog competitions, Michael’s love for the outdoors is matched by his decade of experience in the automotive and recreation industry. This combination makes him a valuable addition to Lightspeed’s RV team as a Regional Account Executive.
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