CDK Foundations Suite: The Core of a Connected Dealership

In This Article

What’s the CDK Foundations Suite?
Core Capabilities
Who’s the Right Fit for the Foundations Suite? 
What’s New in the Foundations Suite?
How It Powers the CDK Dealership Xperience Platform
Addressing the Industry’s Top Pain Point: Integration
Real-World Impact
Enhanced Customer Experience
Why Dealerships Choose CDK Foundations Suite
Experience the Difference

In today’s fast-evolving automotive retail landscape, dealerships are under pressure to deliver seamless customer experiences while managing increasingly complex operations. Disconnected systems, manual processes and data silos can hinder growth and efficiency. That’s where the CDK Foundations Suite comes in — a comprehensive, integrated solution that forms the backbone of the CDK Dealership Xperience (DXP) platform.

What’s the CDK Foundations Suite?

The Foundations Suite is a unified dealership management solution that integrates essential workflows across Sales, Service, Accounting, Inventory and customer engagement. It’s designed to eliminate the inefficiencies of bolt-on systems and provide a single source of truth for dealership operations.

Core Capabilities

• Modern Retail: Includes online digital retailing, desking with rates and residuals, credit checks and e-signature capture to streamline the buying process.
• Accounting and Inventory: Offers multicompany Accounting, general ledger, Accounts Payable/Receivable, and comprehensive inventory management.
• Fixed Operations: Supports Service and Parts invoicing, Technician workflow, OEM integrations and parts scanning.
• Service Scheduling: Enables online appointment booking, texting confirmations and rideshare integration for customer convenience.
• Document Management: Centralizes digital deal jackets, forms and document storage for easy access and compliance.
• Shared Services: Provides real-time reporting, business intelligence and tools for seamless third-party data integration.

Who’s the Right Fit for the Foundations Suite?

The best dealership software decision depends on the needs of the dealer. So, who should use the Foundations Suite?

• Large Dealer Groups: With multicompany Accounting, centralized processing, and consolidated reporting, it simplifies managing multiple rooftops and OEMs.
• Franchise Dealerships: Seamless OEM integrations and compliance-ready forms help meet manufacturer standards with ease.
• Digitally Focused Dealers: From online retailing to e-signatures and real-time texting, the suite supports a fully digital customer journey.

While it’s particularly well-suited for enterprise and larger groups, it’s still beneficial for dealerships of all sizes.

Independent, used car or smaller dealer group? Learn more about Fundamentals Suite.

What’s New in the Foundations Suite?

The latest version of the Foundations Suite introduces several enhancements designed to improve dealership efficiency and customer satisfaction:

• Digital Deal Jacket (Scan and Archive): A fully digital solution for storing and retrieving deal documents, eliminating the need for off-site storage or manual filing.
• Rideshare Integration: Dispatch Uber or Lyft rides directly from the service application, offering customers a convenient alternative to loaner vehicles.
• Texting for Appointments: Send appointment confirmations and updates via SMS, allowing customers to modify bookings in real time.
• Technician Workflow Enhancements: Technicians can now electronically locate and manage jobs, improving labor tracking and shop efficiency.
• OEM Updates and Integrations: Enhanced communication with OEMs for vehicle queries, warranty claims and recall monitoring.
• “Data Your Way” Access Tools: Easily import/export data to and from CDK systems without additional fees, improving third-party integration flexibility.

How It Powers the CDK Dealership Xperience Platform

The CDK Dealership Xperience is an open, integrated platform that modernizes how dealerships operate, sell and service vehicles. At its core is the Foundations Suite, which provides the essential tools to run a dealership efficiently and profitably. It also serves as the foundation for advanced suites such as:

• Modern Retail Suite
• Fixed Operations Suite
• Intelligence Suite

This modular approach allows dealerships to scale and customize their technology stack based on their unique needs.

Addressing the Industry’s Top Pain Point: Integration

According to CDK research:

• Forty-one percent of Sales, F&I and BDC Managers cite “lack of integration” as their biggest operational challenge.
• Dealerships use an average of 10 to 15 bolt-on systems, which increases complexity, cost and risk.
• Disconnected systems lead to increased wait times, data rekeying errors, conflicting reports and higher security vulnerabilities.

The Foundations Suite solves these issues by:

• Eliminating redundant data entry and reducing human error
• Providing a unified data environment across departments
• Enhancing security by minimizing third-party system dependencies
• Streamlining workflows from digital retail to Back Office Accounting

Real-World Impact

CDK has years of experience powering dealers across North America. As more customers choose the Foundations Suite, they’re sharing their stories. "By utilizing CDK across the enterprise, it makes our life a lot easier," said Matthew Phillips, CEO of CarPros Automotive Group based in California.

Watch testimonials that put a real-world framing on the impact of CDK at the dealer:

• CarPros Automotive Group
• McGovern Automotive Group  

Enhanced Customer Experience

Today’s consumers expect a digital-first experience. The Foundations Suite delivers on this expectation by:

• Allowing customers to start their purchase journey online and complete it in store seamlessly
• Offering 24/7 online service appointment scheduling
• Sending appointment confirmations and updates via text
• Providing e-signature capabilities for faster deal closures

These features not only improve customer satisfaction but also increase dealership revenue by reducing friction in the sales and service processes.

Why Dealerships Choose CDK Foundations Suite

• Efficiency: Automate and connect every part of your dealership to reduce manual work and increase productivity.
• Scalability: Manage operations across multiple locations and brands with ease.
• Customer Experience: Deliver a modern, digital-first journey that today’s buyers expect.
• Support: Enjoy the simplicity of working with one trusted technology partner for all your dealership needs.

Experience the Difference

The CDK Foundations Suite is more than just a software package. It’s the operational core of a smarter, more connected dealership. Whether you're looking to improve efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction, or scale your business, the Foundations Suite provides the tools and flexibility to help you succeed.

Ready to see it in action? Schedule your demo today.