Catalyst Computer Systems - Platinum Software and The Caravan Trade

Platinum Software and The Caravan Trade

Catalyst has for many years been a specialist in the Caravan & Motorhome business. We are involved at every level from manufacturers through distribution to individual dealers.

We cover all main areas of Caravan Dealership administration. Everything from Caravan Sales, Motorhome Sales and Awnings, through to Shop Sales, via Point of Sale, for spare parts and accessories, Stock Management and Order Processing to a fully integrated Accounts suite, everything in one fully integrated product. The features listed below are merely the "tip of the iceberg"; we are a dedicated long-term specialist in this market offering an unrivalled product.

What is a dealer management system?

A dealer management system is essentially a kit of tools which enables you and your staff to administer the business with the minimum of time and effort. This means vastly less effort than a paperwork system whilst providing vastly more information with which to plan and run the organisation. In short the better the DMS the lower the overhead in wages combined with a far greater insight into the business's strengths, and direction which in course enables timely and decisive management

What makes ours different?

Short answer

We and our product are bigger, better and more reliable than any other specialist in the Caravan & Motorhome dealership market.

Longer answer

We care deeply that our product is the very best possible. Our success depends on our customers success, we thus constantly work very hard to develop and improve it.

Unlike our competitors we cover all of the key areas of dealership management in one fully integrated product including accounts which are of course at the core of understanding your business.
We directly market caravans and motorhomes on the web on behalf dealers. Tens of thousands of visitors per month, this service is free for the first year (Note: Third parties which you give us permission to have your data from FindIt may make a charge -check your agreement with these third parties). www.catalyst-findit.com
The product is incredibly stable and reliable so you can rely on figures produced.
The software is fully secure by user as you, or course, need to limit access to sensitive information.
The software is incredibly flexible with user configurable reporting, document designs and menus.
Our products are always at the cutting edge taking advantage of new technology as it becomes available. Recent examples being our integrated e-commerce and automated web facilities. See our recent software changes.

Brochure

See our on-line brochure.

Catalyst Dealer Management System

A totally integrated solution, including accounts.
Multi Site / Location capability

Sales Book and Finance: Caravans, Motorhomes, Awnings

Multi key search facility to identify a client’s requirements.
Vehicle Record includes Make, Model, Colour, New, Used etc.
Store Multiple Vehicle Images per stock record.
‘Estate Agent’ type datasheets for promotions, sales literature etc.
Sales documentation, including quotations and invoices.
HPI Check and option to import details from CRiS (Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme).
Integrated Finance and Profit Optimiser (with ‘customer privacy’ mode).
Calculates VAT appropriately for new and used.
VAT Margin Scheme, full accountability.
Multiple Part Exchanges per vehicle facility.
Finance Commission and Insurance.
SMS Text Messaging to customers to advise when their Caravans / Motorhomes are ready for collection.
Complete history and details, including costing, commissions, etc.
Mailshot letters link to Sales Prospects and Service schedules.
Multiple Standard Reports.

Sales Prospecting and Mailshots

Prospects by category, including full client contact details.
Integrated Postcode database option for Quick Address entry.
Multiple specific Interest Categories.
Sales Activity per Sales Person.
Quotations.
Convert Quotations to Sales Orders.
Full Mailshot facility.
Multiple Standard Reports.

Stock, Retail Shop Sales, Workshop Spares, Parts and Accessories

Unique and unrivalled stock identification by text, any combination of words in any order.
Attach Multiple Images to Stock record (for ease of recognition).
Associate multiple Suppliers and Prices per stock item.
Full Bill of Materials/Kit capability.
Bar code scanning capability.
Rapid Point of Sale facility.
Link to Till Drawer and Till Reporting.
Credit Card authorisation.
SMS Text Messaging to customers to advise when their special orders are ready for collection.
Standard Reports.
Complete itemised history of all transactions from which recommended stock holding can be automated.
Stock Movements, FIFO.
Slow moving stock lines report.
Custom documentation and reports.
Integrates with Royal Mail’s Postcode database for quick address capture and future mailshots.
Links to Chip’n’Pin technology.

Sales and Purchase Order Processing

Automatic order reports by supplier, stock group/category and range of codes, including seasonal trends.
Find the status of all items for a specific client from both sales and purchase order processing.
Create and Monitor Orders.
Back Orders.
Print, email or fax Purchase Orders.
Print Goods Received Notes.
Sales Order Invoicing and payment matching.

Workshop Management, Diary and Job Card

Interactive Diary view by day, week and skill, resources required - ideal for reception desk.
Create estimates and quotations and convert to booked jobs.
Schedule Labour resources, including special skills.
Create Job Cards.
Add Parts and Labour costs.
Monitor Progress of Work.
Real Time Recording option.
Produce Invoices, including split invoices to cover Owner, Insurance, Excess and Warranty work.
Auto Mailshot facility for Service, MOT reminders etc.
SMS Text Messaging to customers to advise when their Caravans / Motorhomes are ready for collection.
Multiple Standard Reports.

Personnel Planning and Diary

Simultaneous viewing of individual diaries or resources.
Monitor by Customer or Supplier and date range.
Book Diary Appointments and follow up tasks per sales person.
Never ‘double book’ an appointment.
Never forget a task (reminder).
Keep track of urgent ‘tasks to be done’.
Use of Colours to identify employees and tasks.
Add notes to diary appointments and tasks.
Broadcast diary appointments and tasks.

Full Accounts

All the standard double entry accounting features you would expect, plus those extras to make your work easy.
Access Sales and Purchase accounts from any place within Platinum where an account code appears.
Full analysis codes per account for management reporting.
Automate your VAT returns with the VAT100 report.
Keep previous accounting periods open until required to close down.
Multiple Print records to direct printouts to numerous print devices per document, off site printers (in the case of multi site operation), fax, email, file (including PDF).
Purchase Invoice scanning (including delivery notes etc) and subsequently viewed via the supplier history.
Configurable standard reports / documents, eg. aged payment listing, ledger listings, Invoices and statements, including logos – never buy pre-printed stationery again.
Debt chasing history and diary.
CRM (Customer and Supplier Relation Management).
Document ‘Hold/Dispute’ facility.
Budget Maintenance.
Integrates to Excel for those graphical reports.

The key to data conversions.

Data Conversion (customers, suppliers, prospects database, stock records).
- all of these could be possible to avoid the need to re-enter, thereby providing a system that you can quickly start to use with minimum disruption, subject to original software vendor’s data export capability and assistance (where necessary).
Save hours of work and heartache when implementing a new system, whether new, or changing from an existing system with loads of data.
Minimise data entry and save time by importing data from most Third Party applications.

Reports

Custom Report Generator on all modules for those special reports.
Export reports to MS Excel
Customise Documents and Invoices with your logo.

Virtual Showroom

Rolling display in your showroom of your Caravans, Motorhomes etc, including customised messages, eg. special offers, promotions etc. Typically displayed via 32” Plasma/LCD screen.

FindIt (www.findit@catalyst-uk.com)

Free Catalyst Web Portal to display all your stock.

TOTAL, EFFECTIVE and PROFITABLE CONTROL

Full installation, implementation, training, hot line support and free software updates.

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