AUSTIN, Texas -

Audi Canada has selected Dealerware as the preferred fleet management software for its courtesy vehicle program, noting that Dealerware will service the 49 Audi retailers in Canada.

Many of those retailers currently use paper-based fleet management systems, according to Dealerware, which is already the preferred provider to Audi’s U.S. retail locations.

Dealerships choosing to power their courtesy vehicle operations with Dealerware will be provided with a streamlined vehicle management platform, Dealerware’s 60-second mobile contracting, automated cost recovery and reporting tools.

The company said it began its internationalization efforts last year and has gained a strong foothold in Canada. There, it currently supports dealerships representing 16 OEM brands across the region.

Audi Downtown Toronto was one of the first Canadian Audi dealerships to implement Dealerware. That dealer used a paper-based system with folders for years, said Mark Botelho, the dealership's service manager.

“Since we subscribed with Dealerware, managing our loaner fleet of 20 to 25 cars is easy,” Botelho said in a news release.

Botelho also said, “We can track the location, mileage, fuel usage, toll charges, and if we need to locate a contract, it’s just a few clicks away. The amount of time that Dealerware has saved us has been tremendous. It really is the definition of working smarter, not harder.”

“The application of Dealerware to our retail network is one of the first of many steps we are taking to rapidly accelerate various mobility solutions for a modern, customer-centric experience,” said Audi Canada director of business development Douglas Black. “By beginning with fleet management, we will have the ability to offer operational efficiencies to our dealer partners as well as an enhanced service solution for Audi customers.”

Dealerware’s launch of French-English language support and bilingual customer support teams now makes its mobile-first fleet management accessible to all Canadian customers. Bilingual support includes:

— French and English employee language preferences

— French and English customer language preferences (for contracting and other customer-facing screens/messages)

— Dedicated bilingual implementation & support teams

— Content library with French and English training, playbooks, and guides

— Metric measurements in French and English, plus Canadian currency support

“The need for modern fleet management and mobile-first experiences is growing every day,” said Dealerware chief executive officer Matt Carpenter.

Carpenter also said, “Dealerware is ready to help Canadian retailers deliver enhanced experiences to their customers around fleet use, and we are excited to work with Audi Canada and the Audi retailers on the even larger-scale mobility opportunities of tomorrow.”