By: Lawrence Papoff

PBS Systems wants all dealership documents signed and preserved electronically. According to Lynn McNeill, PBS’ senior V-P, the first area targeted for e-signing is the service department, where warranty and customer pay work will be signed for electronically.

                He points out that computerization has not made for fewer hard copies. It has encouraged their proliferation. E-signing, PBS hopes, will stem the tide.  “The benefits to the dealership are obvious and significant,” McNeill told AutoWorld. “There is no need to print copies… Those with electronic signatures can be filed electronically. You avoid the need to file extra copies and save paper.”

                Of course, the customer can walk away with a signed, hard copy, but the store retains an e-signed version for electronic storage. The signature is tamper-proof, he says, and it means the end of filing cabinets filled with work orders and invoices. Many customers will prefer an electronic version for their files, he says.   He admits that there’s reluctance to recording customer par work invoices electronically, but there is a Windows based program that will do it.

                As for the legalities, not to worry. “We will meet all the statutory requirements for encrypting signatures,” he pledges.   The feature is part of the fourth generation of PBS’ AristoGold, DMS software. It is being piloted in two Calgary-area dealerships and will be available mid-June. Next on the list after the service departments are parts and sales.

                “The banks won’t accept an e-signature, but there’s no reason why the dealership can’t have the bill of sale signed and stored electronically,” McNeill says.

                PBS is a Calgary-based DMS provider with over 20 years’ experience and 500 dealership clients in Canada and 200 more in the U.S.