Automotive dealer management software (DMS) provider Pinewood DMS South Africa and value-add services provider to automotive dealerships Ampersand Communications have partnered to launch a consolidated offering called Motify.

The companies affirm that Motify is a people-driven auto-tech business that provides customers with a single point of reference for all their digital needs.

Pinewood and Ampersand already share multiple stakeholders and clients and will, through Motify, work to accelerate their shared vision of transforming the automotive industry through service delivery.

Pinewood founder, Ampersand director and now Motify MD Julie Caldicott comments that, at a time when all business sectors are undergoing radical digital transformation, the automotive sector cannot afford to be left behind.

“Motify will help dealerships and service centres amplify their digital transformation efforts by making their digital offerings easier to use, more integrated and more customer-centric,” she states.

Pinewood services more than 30 manufacturers with its DMS, focusing on vehicle sales, parts, workshop and accounts management. The DMS integrates different divisions for more lean and effective operations.

Ampersand is, in turn, known for its value-add services to automotive dealerships in South Africa, with a focus on customer satisfaction and retention, marketing and brand strategy development.

Motify combines these portfolios to offer customers access to a broad set of value-added services, including processing consultancy, proactive workshop bookings, aftersales marketing campaigns, business intelligence and application programming interface integrated website development.

“We believe that Motify has the potential to fundamentally transform the way auto-dealerships operate in South Africa and to put people at the heart of the industry. We can’t wait to see how big a positive impact it has on both existing and new customers,” Caldicott concludes.