How people, processes, and technology helped Patriot Automotive Group persevere through hardship:
For Jason Owens, owner of Patriot Auto Group in Limerick, Pennsylvania, the automotive industry is part of his family’s heritage. His father worked as a used car manager at a Ford store nearly a century ago. Owens grew up immersed in dealership life and developed his own love for the ‘car business’ at an early age. He got his start at his father’s store where he learned firsthand how to serve customers and oversee operations.
Soon after starting his first job, Owens knew he wanted to follow the same path as his father. That decision eventually led him to open his own dealership, which he has been running for over 20 years.
Getting Started
From day one, Owens knew choosing the right DMS for his dealership was a critical decision that would either set them up for success or setbacks. He carefully evaluated several systems, including CDK, Reynolds, and other vendor platforms. It quickly became apparent that while some solutions came with a lower price tag, they also came with limitations. “It costs less because you get less,” Owens recalled.
For Owens, compromising on the quality of the DMS was never an option. “Everything is designed around the DMS, it’s not something you want to be cheap on,” he pointed out.
The Benefits
Ultimately, Patriot Auto Group chose Reynolds, a decision that has shaped their business for the past two decades. Owens viewed the way Reynolds connects systems and departments as a major advantage.
The unified structure streamlines operations, enhances customer experience, and boosts overall profitability. With Reynolds, the dealership group has confidence that their system can warehouse information for three stores and hundreds of thousands of customers while still performing seamlessly. “Every day it continues to amaze us,” Owens said.
Support When It Mattered
Over the years, Reynolds helped Owens and his dealership through a series of nationwide crises. From a recession to industry disruptions to the pandemic, Reynolds has been a dependable partner through every major obstacle the dealership has faced. Owens credits the long-term collaboration as a key part of their success.
“We know that no matter what happens, we can prevail through our partnership with Reynolds.”
Reynolds’ reliability proved invaluable during one of the most challenging periods the industry has ever seen: COVID-19. When the pandemic hit, Owens knew Patriot Auto Group had the tools and resources to weather a period of lower revenue without jeopardizing operations. That stability alleviated the fear and stress many dealers experienced. “It was good for us to know that when we were still at work, so was Reynolds,” he said. The support team always answered calls, despite the chaos and no matter what issues arose, the team always had Reynolds in their corner.
After more than 20 years, the relationship between Patriot Auto Group and Reynolds continues to bring Owens the confidence, consistency, and technology his dealership needs to prosper.
