Discover Hidden Gems
In life, the adage “you learn something new every day” rings true. But, as my experience with Lightspeed taught me, this learning comes with a caveat: you must be paying attention.
In November 1995, I encountered Lightspeed Unix for the first time. It was a revelation, akin to stepping into a “Star Wars” universe, for me, as a young 20-year-old just being exposed to software and computers in any meaningful way for the first time.
Over the course of the next 16 years, I worked for three different dealerships in the Salt Lake City area. In 2005, I went through the conversion process from Unix to NXT at one of the three stores. A couple of years later. I went to work for the third (of three) stores, still on the Unix platform only to convert to NXT once more a year later.
In March of 2011, I joined the customer support department with the Lightspeed organization. Over the next 13 years I supported and watched Unix be retired. I supported, trained on, and watched NXT be retired. I supported, trained on, and now consult with Lightspeed EVO only to see it simply “evolve” into a product labeled as “Lightspeed.”
The Key to Learning: Paying Attention
The reason I’m sharing this brief history of Bryan and Lightspeed is to emphasize the point of this article. I can easily say that over the course of the nearly 30 years that I have worked with and for Lightspeed, I have learned something NEW every… single… day. For those keeping count, that’s roughly 10,900 things learned over 30 years!
Reflecting on my journey, I realized that the essence of learning lies in paying attention. With Lightspeed, it’s easy to get comfortable and overlook new features or details. But, as I discovered, staying attentive is crucial.
Discovering Hidden Features: The NPA Integration
Recently, I was collaborating with National Powersport Auctions on a webinar featuring integrations between NPA and Lightspeed. During this collaboration I was pointed to a button found on any Major Unit record in Lightspeed. This button has existed there for years. It’s existed in plain sight and though it stared me in the face every single day, I didn’t see it.
The button I am referring to allows you to send any Major Unit in your Sales Inventory to the National Powersports Auction. Why on earth would you want to do this? Well, imagine you have a unit or units in you inventory that you have not been able to sell. You’re paying interest on them, and they are depreciating as they collect dust on your showroom. Wouldn’t you rather send that inventory to auction where you can recoup your investment and stop bleeding money each month?
Navigate to the Value Guide tab on any Major Unit Inventory record and note the button on the bottom left side of the screen labeled: “Consign to NPA.” Yes, I know, you never saw that button before (neither had I). Press that button, enter the applicable details on the pop-up window and voila, your old, tired Major Unit is sent off to auction where it will be exposed to thousands of potential buyers!
Wanna know more about National Powersport Auctions and Lightspeed integration? Then take a moment to watch our on-demand webinar: Smarter Ways to Manage Inventory and Maximize Profits
Empowering Users: An Insider’s Guide to Lightspeed
This revelation prompted the Lightspeed Blog Team to launch a new series: “An Insider’s Guide to Lightspeed.” Through this series, we aim to shed light on the untapped potential and hidden features within Lightspeed, making you exclaim, “Whoa! Lightspeed Does That?!”
As we embark on this journey, stay tuned for our next installment of “An Insider’s Guide to Lightspeed.” Together, we’ll uncover more hidden gems and unlock the full potential of Lightspeed.
Bryan Tierney
When I think back on my childhood, some of my fondest memories are the Saturdays I spent with my dad at the local motorcycle shop. There was something special about walking through those doors and being surrounded by all the shiny new bikes on the showroom floor. The atmosphere of the shop was intoxicating, and I knew from a young age that I was hooked. As I got older, my love for the Powersports Industry continued to evolve. I landed a job behind the parts counter of that very same dealership and started my career using Lightspeed. It's hard to believe that was over thirty years ago! Over the years, my role with Lightspeed has changed many times, but the feeling I get when I’m in a dealership or at an industry event, always takes me back to those Saturdays with my dad. There's something truly special about this industry and the people within it, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be a part of it.
