I've been offered an IT position at a dealership, and while I have basic IT knowledge, I don't have any formal certifications. People often come to me when they need help fixing their computers. I'm looking for advice on essential technical skills that would help me set up and maintain the IT systems at a dealership. I know that each dealership can be quite different, but I'm specifically interested in what might be crucial for this type of job. We work with CDK and Dealerlogix for our dealership management software, and we mainly use Windows computers for desktops. I notice a lot of the advisors and techs use iPads, so I have some familiarity with iOS too. What do you think are the top 4-5 technical areas I should focus on? Thanks!
4 Answers
From what I've seen, if CDK goes down, the whole dealership can't operate effectively, so understanding that system is crucial. Beyond that, being good with networking, backups, and general troubleshooting is key. You'll want to be familiar with the basics of computer hardware and software, as well as maintaining Wi-Fi networks for both customer and employee use. If the dealership has specific tech or software objectives, make sure to connect with the current IT person to grasp what tools they rely on the most.
You sound confident, and that’s great! Don't underestimate the power of Google. Many complex problems can be solved by looking things up online. There are tons of YouTube videos and forums dedicated to troubleshooting common issues, especially in dealership systems. Just get really good at finding information quickly.
It sounds like you’re stepping into an interesting role! Make sure you understand the dealership's specific IT environment. If they're using cloud services versus on-site hosting, that changes things up quite a bit. Getting familiar with their objectives can also help you streamline processes right away.
I'd recommend getting familiar with managed service providers (MSPs) if they use one. I provided services to a large dealer group, and a lot of the issues revolved around network stability, printing, and backup systems. Hands-on experience with those areas can really make a difference!
Totally agree! It’s a pretty solid gig, and sometimes it can be less stressful than other IT jobs. Just stay proactive and make sure you understand their systems.