At the recent AIMExpo, one theme kept surfacing in conversations with dealers: growth is still happening, but the dealerships winning right now are the ones using their data.
In a recent interview with Motorcycle & Powersports News, Aaron Carver of Lightspeed shared how Lightspeed DMS is helping dealerships increase service revenue, act on real-time benchmarks, and simplify operations through deeper OEM integrations.
If you’re running a powersports, RV, marine, golf, or trailer dealership, here’s what you need to know.
Service Department Growth: The Strongest Revenue Driver Right Now
Over the past year, Lightspeed has seen consistent growth in dealership service departments.
That’s good news. But it’s not happening by accident.
Text Marketing That Drives Retention
Inside Lightspeed DMS, dealers can run a retention report showing customers who purchased units but haven’t returned for service.
From there, they can:
- Launch targeted text campaigns
- Invite customers back for service
- Track revenue generated by each campaign
The key difference? Dealers can see exactly how much revenue those campaigns produce, customer by customer.
That level of visibility turns marketing from a guess into a measurable growth tool.
Service Tech Video: Faster Approvals, Higher Revenue
Another major innovation highlighted was Service Tech Video.
Here’s how it works:
- A technician identifies an additional issue while working on a unit.
- They record a short video explaining the concern.
- The video is sent directly to the customer via text.
- The customer responds instantly with approval.
Instead of playing phone tag or sending emails that go unanswered, dealers get real-time decisions.
This approach:
- Builds trust
- Improves customer experience
- Increases service upsells
- Reduces delays
For today’s dealership, that combination directly impacts the bottom line.
Real-Time Industry Benchmarks: Know Where You Stand Today
Waiting until the end of the month to evaluate performance is too late.
That’s why Lightspeed Industry Benchmarks give dealers visibility into how they compare to others—month-to-date and across departments.
Dealers can:
- Compare sales, parts, and service performance
- See where they stand against approximately 4,000 powersports dealers
- Make adjustments before the month closes
If it’s the 15th and numbers are trending low, you still have time to correct course. If you’re outperforming peers, you know you’re on track.
That’s actionable data, not hindsight.
OEM Integrations That Eliminate Friction
A powerful DMS should reduce extra steps—not create them.
Lightspeed has built integrations across OEMs and aftermarket partners to keep everything inside one system.
Key Integrations Dealers Rely On
VIN Decoding
- Instantly verify warranty status
- Access live OEM service bulletins
- Pull vehicle details directly into sales or repair orders
No more logging into multiple portals to find critical information.
Live OEM Promotions
- View current incentives directly within a sales deal
Parts Locator
- Check distributor warehouse inventory
- View stock at other dealership locations
- Source obsolete parts across the Lightspeed network
If a customer needs a hard-to-find part, your team can locate it fast and set clear expectations.
That saves time—and saves the sale.
Listening to Dealers—and Building What They Ask For
Lightspeed doesn’t innovate in isolation.
Dealers can submit suggestions and vote on product ideas inside the platform. The most requested improvements rise to the top, guiding product development.
This constant feedback loop helps Lightspeed:
- Remove operational friction
- Improve profitability tools
- Adapt to changing market conditions
Looking ahead, Lightspeed is exploring how to bring dealer data into AI-powered tools—built responsibly and in partnership with the dealer network.
As Aaron noted, the data belongs to the dealers. Lightspeed’s role is to help turn that data into smarter decisions.
Why Lightspeed DMS Continues to Lead
From service revenue growth to real-time benchmarks and deep OEM integrations, the focus remains the same:
Give dealers the tools to act faster and operate smarter.
Whether you’re in powersports, marine, RV, golf, or trailers, the right technology should:
- Simplify workflows
- Increase service profitability
- Strengthen customer communication
- Deliver real-time visibility across your dealership
That’s what Lightspeed DMS is built to do.
Ready to See What Lightspeed DMS Can Do for Your Dealership?
If you’re evaluating your current dealership technology—or looking for ways to grow service revenue and improve efficiency—it’s worth seeing Lightspeed in action.
Schedule a demo and explore how Lightspeed DMS can power your dealership forward.
Because in today’s market, insight isn’t optional. It’s your advantage.
Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a leading provider of cloud-based software for dealerships and Original Equipment Manufacturers (“OEMs”), serving the Powersport, Marine, RV, Trailer, Outdoor Power Equipment, and Golf Car industries. Lightspeed’s Dealer Management Solution (DMS) enables dealerships to optimize their end-to-end business operations, including sales, parts, service, rental, accounting, and CRM. When implemented into their daily operations, Lightspeed helps dealers increase their profitability by selling more units, service, and parts, all while creating a more streamlined experience for customers. For more than 40 years, Lightspeed has been empowering 4,500+ dealers across North America with the tools and technology they need to manage their dealerships. For more information, visit www.lightspeeddms.com.
