Western Auto Dealer Completes Roll-Out of Arkona DMS

Published: January 17, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Chapman Automotive Group, a collection of 20 auto dealerships in Nevada and Arizona, has completed a multi-site roll-out of a new OS/400-based dealer management system from Arkona, the software vendor announced last week.

Chapman's implementation of Arkona's Dealer Management System (DMS) began four years ago when the DMS was installed at one of Chapman's Phoenix dealerships. Since then, the solution has been introduced to all 20 of Chapman's regional locations, from its Mercedes-Benz of Tucson to Chapman Dodge Las Vegas, and 1,200 Chapman employees use the DMS every day.

Chapman has benefited financially from the Arkona DMS implementation, says Allen Elggren, Chapman's controller. "Arkona has proven to be an ideal fit for our dealerships, representing 14 manufacturers, and our dealer group," Elggren says. "Our ability to consolidate, when needed, for group financial reporting, and then to use a common manufacturer's statement for all our dealerships and the group, has significantly improved our analysis and control. All this is done using the ARKONA software, without moving data to spreadsheets or other reporting products."