Not all loyalty programs work the same way. Here's how a dealer-owned rewards program stacks up against OEM programs and other third-party vendors.
| Feature | LoyaltyTrac | OEM Programs | Other Vendors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Program, Your Brand | |||
|
Who Owns the Program
Your loyalty program should build your local brand, not someone else's
|
✓ 100% dealer-owned
Your name, your logo, your program identity
|
OEM-owned
Promotes the manufacturer's brand, not yours
|
Dealer-branded
Customization depth varies
|
|
Customers Earn and Redeem Only at Your Store
Rewards should bring customers back to you, not your competitor down the road
|
✓ Captive to your dealership
Every earned dollar pulls them back to your service lane
|
Any same-brand dealer qualifies
You fund rewards your competitor gets to fulfill
|
Usually in-store only
Some vendors allow redemption at outside merchants
|
|
Dealer-Branded Mobile App
Your dealership in every customer's pocket
|
✓ Included - iOS & Android
Rewards balance, push notifications, appointment scheduling
|
OEM app only
Promotes the manufacturer, not your store
|
Some offer it; many don't
|
| Your Money | |||
|
What a $50 Reward Actually Costs You
The real number that hits your bottom line
|
~$12 - $16
Dealer Currency redeemed at your gross margin, plus breakage on unredeemed balances
|
$50
Full cash value, dollar for dollar
|
$12 - $50
Depends on whether the vendor uses currency or points
|
|
Replace Cash Discounts With Dealer Currency
Stop giving away margin on discounts that walk out the door
|
✓ Built-in anti-discounting tool
Same perceived value to the customer, fraction of the cost to you, and they must return to redeem
|
Not designed for this
OEM programs don't address your discounting problem
|
Some support currency models
Most use points, which rarely replace discounts successfully
|
|
"Why Buy Here" Sales Tool
Close deals with complimentary rewards instead of cutting your price
|
✓ Complimentary rewards at point of sale
"Buy here and get 3 free oil changes" costs less than a cash discount and locks them into your service lane
|
Not available
OEM programs don't give dealers a sales-floor closing tool
|
Rare
Few vendors position their program as a sales differentiator
|
| Your Rules | |||
|
Different Earn Rates by Membership
Incentivize customers differently across service, parts, and sales
|
✓ Fully configurable
Set unique rates per department, membership tier, or customer segment
|
Fixed by the OEM
You can't adjust earn rates, tiers, or program structure
|
Partially flexible
Some customization, but vendor-imposed limits are common
|
|
Automatic Reward Expiration
Control your liability and create urgency without manual follow-up
|
✓ Configurable expiration rules
Set expiration periods on your terms - automatically managed
|
OEM controls expiration
No dealer-level control over reward lifecycle
|
Not standard
Most vendors don't offer automated expiration
|
|
Granular Employee Permissions
Control exactly who on your team can access what
|
✓ Role-based access controls
Fine-grained permissions by employee, role, and feature
|
Basic access
Very limited control over who does what inside the program
|
Varies
Limited control over employee feature access
|
|
Your Marketing, Your Way
Control the emails, the messaging, and how your program looks to customers
|
✓ Fully customizable communications
Program name, email templates, marketing materials - all done for you
|
OEM-controlled
You can't change the program name, emails, or marketing
|
Some flexibility
Branding yes, but deep messaging control is uncommon
|
| Your Partner | |||
|
DMS Integration That Just Works
No disruption, no double entry - works with your existing system
|
✓ 41 DMS platforms
CDK and Reynolds & Reynolds certified. Balances are always current when customers walk in.
|
Limited integration
Often requires some type of manual processing by your staff
|
10 - 18 platforms
Coverage and sync frequency vary by vendor
|
|
Dedicated Support and Done-for-You Campaigns
Retention marketing handled by our team, not dumped on your BDC
|
✓ Account manager + email campaigns included
Ongoing strategy, templates, and targeting - not just onboarding
|
Self-managed - If Available
Your staff runs campaigns through an OEM portal, if available
|
Varies
Some include support; others charge extra or offer limited help
|
|
Custom Reports, Features, and Workflows
Need something specific? We'll build it for you.
|
✓ Custom development on request
If your dealership needs it, we'll make it happen
|
No customization available
You get what the OEM provides
|
Unlikely
Most vendors offer a fixed product with limited flexibility
|
|
A Platform That Keeps Getting Better
20+ years of continuous improvement, not a product that shipped and stalled
|
✓ Actively developed - new features regularly
1,700+ dealerships served over 20+ years of constant evolution
|
Updates at OEM's pace
Changes happen on the manufacturer's timeline, not yours
|
Often stagnant
Many competitors haven't meaningfully updated in years
|
Contact us or use our free ROI calculator to see how much additional profit LoyaltyTrac can generate for your dealership.