How Tom’s Truck Center Streamlines Operations and Simplifies Payments

We’re really happy with SimplePay. It’s just a couple clicks. That’s all you really need.

The Challenge

Tom’s Truck Center operates locations in Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, and Garden Grove, California. Serving the commercial truck market means repair orders and parts transactions often carry significantly higher ticket values than those typically found in automotive dealerships. As a result, merchant processing fees can have a meaningful impact on profitability.

Like many dealerships, Tom’s Truck Center relied on a third-party payment solution that was not fully integrated into its CDK workflow. This created challenges related to surcharge management, payment flexibility, and operational efficiency.

Tom’s Truck Center’s VP of Accounting began searching for a long-term payment solution that would integrate seamlessly across the dealership’s CDK environment.

The benefits are across the board. From accounting to parts to sales to service, we all use it. It made total sense for integration and visibility. We haven’t had any issues. It’s in the name, SimplePay. It’s simple and powerful.

It helps streamline our day-to-day duties at the dealership. It’s really efficient.

Reduced Errors, Automated Compliance

One of the most impactful features of CDK SimplePay has been Auto Reconciliation. Payment data is embedded directly within CDK workflows, providing greater visibility and virtually eliminating manual entry requirements.

The auto-reconciliation process speeds up our Back Office work and reduces the risk of errors that come with more manual processes.

Digital payment capabilities have also transformed how Tom’s Truck Center collects payments and closes repair orders. Through Invite to Pay functionality, customers can securely pay online or through mobile devices, creating a more convenient payment experience while accelerating collections.

What I really love about SimplePay is that we can send out payment links and customers can pay whenever they want online or through mobile.

We send the link as soon as the truck is done. We’re able to collect the money, close the accounting, and close the RO. It helps with the whole Accounts Receivable process.

Another significant benefit has been SimplePay’s compliant surcharge automation. Previously, advisors were responsible for manually managing surcharges, resulting in inconsistencies and missed revenue opportunities. With SimplePay, surcharges are automatically applied to every repair order, ensuring compliance and consistency across the dealership.

Before SimplePay, we had to manage surcharges line by line, and advisors would apply it sometimes and sometimes they wouldn’t, so we weren’t capturing that income consistently.

It saves Advisors time. They can stay focused on other things while knowing the process is being handled consistently.

Easy to Implement, Easy to Use

When Tom’s Truck Center implemented CDK SimplePay, the deployment process was straightforward and efficient. With support from CDK’s Virtual Implementation team, the dealership completed implementation in only a few hours.

It was easy to adopt. There really weren’t any curveballs.

Today, SimplePay supports operations across 12 payment terminals, including nine terminals at the Santa Fe Springs location and three terminals in Orange County.

Employees adapted quickly to the new solution, and the combination of seamless integration and ease of use improved efficiency, increased accuracy, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

SimplePay took a huge amount of work off our plate. SimplePay is exactly what we needed.

Greater Continuity, Increased Flexibility

SimplePay seamlessly integrates within the CDK ecosystem and can be used throughout the dealership. This provides continuity across Accounting, Parts, Service, and other departments while supporting both Front Office and Back Office operations.

The integration with our DMS, Accounting, Parts and Service departments gives us continuity throughout the business while ensuring we receive the support and innovation we expect.

The dealership also values the flexibility provided by stored payment methods at the account level. Customers with multiple vehicles can select the most appropriate payment method without requiring the physical card to be present.

Additionally, ACH payments have become an attractive alternative for customers, particularly given the higher average ticket amounts common in the commercial truck industry.

ACH is a great alternative. With higher average ticket amounts, the surcharges can be significant. ACH gives customers an easy way to make payments while avoiding those additional costs.