cdkglobal-Auto-Dealer-Software-favicon

CDK Global Auto Dealer Software

Unified auto dealer software powering customer support and dealership operations

Globe Linkedin Youtube Facebook Twitter
  • Overview
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • Pros
  • Cons
  • Reviews

CDK Global Auto Dealer Software Overview

  • Updated January 27, 2026

CDK Global Auto Dealer Software is an industry‑leading platform designed to support automotive dealerships with end‑to‑end customer engagement and operational tools. It combines CRM, dealer management, fixed operations, and digital retail solutions into a unified ecosystem.

With decades of automotive expertise, CDK helps dealerships improve customer support, streamline workflows, and deliver consistent, modern buying and service experiences.

Key Features

  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Centralizes customer interactions, inquiries, and follow‑ups to improve responsiveness and long‑term dealership relationships.
  • Dealer Management System (DMS): Provides a core operational backbone covering sales, service, finance, and customer support workflows.
  • Fixed Operations Suite: Enhances service and parts departments with tools that improve communication, efficiency, and post‑sale customer satisfaction.
  • Digital Retail & Modern Buying Tools: Connects online and in‑store customer journeys for seamless support throughout the purchasing process.
  • Intelligence & Analytics: Uses advanced analytics, AI, and machine learning to identify performance gaps and optimize customer support operations.

Price

Plan Price
CDK Global Dealership Software (All Suites & Modules) Contact Sales (Custom Quote – Pricing Not Publicly Disclosed)

 

Pros

Competitor

Pros
Reynolds & Reynolds Compared to Reynolds & Reynolds, CDK Global offers a more modular ecosystem that allows dealerships to adopt customer support, CRM, and operational tools incrementally. CDK’s user experience is often seen as more flexible across departments, while its analytics and AI investments provide broader visibility into customer interactions and service performance.
Dealertrack Against Dealertrack, CDK Global stands out with deeper dealership‑wide integration beyond finance and compliance. CDK provides stronger customer support workflows across sales, service, and fixed operations, making it easier for multi‑location dealerships to standardize processes and deliver consistent support experiences.
Auto/Mate Compared with Auto/Mate, CDK Global delivers a more enterprise‑grade platform suited for larger or growing dealer groups. While Auto/Mate is simpler, CDK excels in scalability, advanced reporting, and cross‑department customer support capabilities that handle higher operational complexity.
Tekion Versus Tekion’s cloud‑native simplicity, CDK Global offers a more mature ecosystem with decades of dealership‑specific workflows. CDK’s advantage lies in its extensive support network, established integrations, and proven ability to manage complex customer support and operational needs at scale.
Lightspeed DMS Compared to Lightspeed DMS, which focuses on niche dealership segments, CDK Global provides broader automotive coverage and deeper customer support tooling. CDK’s unified platform better supports multi‑rooftop operations, enterprise reporting, and long‑term customer relationship management.

Cons

Competitor

Cons
Reynolds & Reynolds When compared to Reynolds & Reynolds, CDK Global can feel less tightly controlled in terms of standardized workflows. Some dealerships report that CDK’s flexibility comes with additional configuration effort, which may increase onboarding time for customer support staff unfamiliar with enterprise systems.
Dealertrack Against Dealertrack, CDK Global may appear more complex and costly, particularly for smaller dealerships. Dealertrack’s focused finance and compliance tools can be faster to deploy, while CDK’s broader platform requires more training to fully leverage customer support features.
Auto/Mate Compared with Auto/Mate’s simplicity and lower price perception, CDK Global can feel heavyweight. Smaller dealers may find CDK’s extensive feature set overwhelming, leading to underutilized customer support tools if internal resources or training are limited.
Tekion Versus Tekion’s modern, cloud‑first design, CDK Global is sometimes viewed as less intuitive. Some users report slower interfaces or steeper learning curves, which can impact frontline customer support efficiency during the initial adoption phase.
Lightspeed DMS Compared to Lightspeed DMS, CDK Global is generally more expensive and complex. Dealerships that do not require enterprise‑level customer support and analytics may find CDK’s depth unnecessary relative to Lightspeed’s more streamlined approach.

Verified Customer Reviews

  • Capterra (Rating: 4.1/5): Users praise CDK Global for its comprehensive features and ease of use compared to other automotive systems, while noting its strong support for dealership workflows.
  • Software Advice (Rating: 4.1/5): Reviewers highlight powerful reporting, invoicing, and customer management tools that help identify lost sales and improve customer follow‑up.
  • G2 (Rating: 3.9/5): Many dealers report high satisfaction with CDK’s customer success and support teams, citing improved goal tracking and operational alignment.
  • Reddit: Some service advisors express frustration with system speed and complexity, pointing to usability challenges in high‑pressure service environments.
  • SoftwareReviews: Reviewers note reliability and AI‑driven insights, especially for teams looking to improve dealership‑wide customer experience and support consistency.