Dealer Information Solutions, Inc. Data-Driven Software Company Helped Transform Used-Vehicle Inventory Management for U.S. Dealerseading MARCH 03, 2004 NEWS JOURNAL
Dealer Information Solutions, Inc. (DIS) emerged as an early innovator in automotive retail technology, developing data-driven tools that help dealerships manage used-vehicle inventory more efficiently and profitably.
Co-founded by industry entrepreneurs focused on bringing analytics into dealership operations.
The company specialized in software designed to analyze dealership performance across multiple variables—including make, model, trim level, sales velocity, acquisition cost, days-to-turn, and gross profit. The technology enables dealers to generate customizable reports on key metrics such as return on investment, inventory aging, and turn rates, helping managers make faster and more informed purchasing and pricing decisions.
Pioneering Used-Vehicle Inventory Analytics
At the heart of DIS’s platform is its ability to transform dealership data into actionable insights. By consolidating sales history, cost data, and market trends into a single dashboard, the system helps dealers identify which vehicles are performing well and which units are tying up capital on the lot.
Industry research consistently shows that efficient inventory management is a critical factor in dealership profitability, as dealers must carefully balance vehicle mix, acquisition costs, and turnover rates to maintain cash flow and maximize margins.
DIS software was designed to address these challenges directly by helping dealerships:
• Track performance by vehicle category and configuration
• Identify aging inventory before it erodes profit
• Improve purchasing decisions at auctions or trade-ins
• Optimize pricing and stocking strategies
Marc Falcone, Co-Founder & CEO said, "Our vision at Dealer Information Solutions has always been to turn data into actionable intelligence. By giving dealerships the tools to see beyond gut instinct—analyzing inventory, sales patterns, and market trends in real time—we empower managers to make smarter, faster decisions that directly improve profitability. Technology shouldn’t just support operations; it should transform them".
Early BETA Dealers:
• AutoCity (“The DIS system has helped our dealership achieve 15-20% gross margin profit”
• Imperial Autoplex (“Multiple resources in one package”
• Fair Oaks Dodge (“Can utilize the system on a daily basis; Recommendations are a very good list”)
• Haynes Motors (“We can bundle the DIS system with the write down scenario”)
Partnership with Chrysler:
One of the company’s most influential projects was the co-development of U-TOPS (Used Vehicle Total Order Planning System) for Chrysler dealers nationwide.
DIS lead the beta test of the platform in the Washington, DC region. The system gave dealership managers a sophisticated planning tool that evaluated sales patterns and recommended inventory strategies based on real-time dealership performance.
According to company data, dealers using U-TOPS experienced measurable operational improvements:
• 17% increase in used-vehicle gross profit
• 20% reduction in over-aged inventory
• 14-day decrease in average inventory age
• 20% increase in annual inventory turn rates
These results helped establish U-TOPS as one of the most widely adopted used-vehicle inventory management tools in the United States, with thousands of Chrysler dealerships implementing the system to streamline operations and improve profitability.
Partnership with GMMA:
DIS partnered with the General Motors Minority Dealers Association (GMMDA) to develop a specialized inventory management platform tailored for General Motors dealerships.
The initiative was designed to give minority-owned dealerships advanced analytics tools that could help them compete more effectively in the fast-moving used-vehicle market.
A Shift Toward Data-Driven Retailing
The company’s work anticipated a broader transformation in the automotive industry: the move toward data-driven dealership management systems. Modern dealership software increasingly integrates inventory analytics, sales tracking, and performance reporting to support decision-making across sales, service, and finance departments.
By bringing sophisticated analytics to inventory planning years before it became common practice, DIS helped pave the way for a new generation of dealership management technology.
Looking Ahead
Today, as dealerships continue to face tighter margins and more competitive used-vehicle markets, the principles behind DIS’s early software innovations—real-time data analysis, predictive inventory planning, and performance-driven decision making—remain central to how successful dealers manage their operations.
Dealer Information Solutions’ pioneering work demonstrates how technology and analytics can reshape traditional retail models—turning dealership inventory management from a guessing game into a science.