Should desk logs still be used today or do you think they are outdated and why?

Some dealers still use a desk log. Many have different things on them that are important. What are the most important things that should be on all the desk logs used today?

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Excellent point Manny. Just about everyone looks at the desk log to see how many are being sold and they want to get in on the action. Looking what was traded in is another good point too. Thank you sir.
MANNY LUNA said:
Should desk logs still be used today or do you think they are outdated and why?

ONLY ONE GOOD REASON FOR ME!
AND THAT'S TO MOTIVATE THE SALES PEOPLE !!! IT GETS THEM HUNGRY WHEN THE SEE A BIG GROSS ON THE LOG!!!! A SALESMAN COMES TO WORK IN THE MORNING, GET'S A FRESH UP AND LOGS A 4500 DEAL AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW EVERYONE IS ON THE POINT! LOL
DID ANYBODY HERE EVER SELL CARS?????
YOU DON'T REMEMBER COMING IN AT NOON ? WHAT THE FIRST THING YOU GO TO? THE LOG!
WHY? TO SEE WHAT GOT SOLD AND LOOK AT THE GROSS OR IF YOUR CUSTOMER CAME IN AND DID NOT ASK FOR YOU . I MADE A COPY OF THE LOG EVERYDAY TO TRACK THE FRESH TRADES! I LOVE FRESH TRADES!!!
I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CALL A CUSTOMER LOOKING FOR THE CAR WE TRADED FOR.
ALSO I WOULD COME IN ON SAT AND WRITE MY NAME ON THE LOG 5 TIMES AND LEAVE THE CUSTOMERS NAME BLANK, THE MGR WOULD SAY ... WHAT ARE YOU DOING MANNY? AND WOULD TELL HIM AM GOOD FOR FIVE TODAY SO LET ME GO GET UM NOW!
SO MANY REASON TO LOVE THE LOG!!!WHEN A MGR WOULD ASK ME IF I STILL WAS WORKING THE CUSTOMER I WOULD JUST TELL HIM, JUST LOG THE DEAL BOSS IT'S DONE!
PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY LOG AWAY PEOPLE!!!!!
I have worked with a dealer who used just the desk log, a dealer who preferred to handle everything electonically (while the customer is here and there is a check list for all the steps customized according to the dealer's specs), and a dealer who chose to use both!

The absolute best outcome was the dealer who chose to utilize both tools. The desk log did not have all the specific fields that the CRM tool provided, which also produced awesome reports with the click of the button, (customized to sort and pull the data you wished to review at any given time... Example, sort by source, sort by model interested in, sort by salesperson, etc.. also various time periods, side by side comparison to same month other years, weather patterns, etc...

Now with all that being said, the hand written desk log serves as the "Visual Tool" for all to see as a constant reminder that we are on track, off track, one salesperson is slipping, not taking ups etc.. for ALL to see! Also, another great benefit from the hand written desk log, is it is a great exercise for the desk manager to hand write the information. What you actually write down, you tend to comprehend and remember better!

My 2 cents...

Thank you everyone for your input. Nancy you have a very good point. The dealer that sells 1500 a month showed me something special that is not on any crm systems that I have seen. Did manager talk to customer LAST. If the box is checked no he wants to know why not. Does he need more help, an assistant, more training on a T,O, or what. What ever the problem they can see it and will fix it. The other box that I saw that was just as inmortant was what model and price range people were looking for in a used car. This was for used cars only. If more people were asking for less expensive used cars he would lower the acv of his inventory so he had more of what people were looking for. Or look for a particular car when going to the auction or one that is being traded in. The point is they were dealing with important information that they knew was correct.
I think this is a sharp owner and yes I now have them on the desk logs we sell and use them when training in a store. Best of luck to all.

NANCY SIMMONS said:
I have worked with a dealer who used just the desk log, a dealer who preferred to handle everything electonically (while the customer is here and there is a check list for all the steps customized according to the dealer's specs), and a dealer who chose to use both!

The absolute best outcome was the dealer who chose to utilize both tools. The desk log did not have all the specific fields that the CRM tool provided, which also produced awesome reports with the click of the button, (customized to sort and pull the data you wished to review at any given time... Example, sort by source, sort by model interested in, sort by salesperson, etc.. also various time periods, side by side comparison to same month other years, weather patterns, etc...

Now with all that being said, the hand written desk log serves as the "Visual Tool" for all to see as a constant reminder that we are on track, off track, one salesperson is slipping, not taking ups etc.. for ALL to see! Also, another great benefit from the hand written desk log, is it is a great exercise for the desk manager to hand write the information. What you actually write down, you tend to comprehend and remember better!

My 2 cents...
Should desk logs still be used today or do you think they are outdated and why?

ONLY ONE GOOD REASON FOR ME!
AND THAT'S TO MOTIVATE THE SALES PEOPLE !!! IT GET'S THEM HUNGRY WHEN THEY SEE A BIG GROSS ON THE LOG!!!! A SALESMAN COMES TO WORK IN THE MORNING, GET'S A FRESH UP AND LOGS A 4500 DEAL AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW EVERYONE IS ON THE POINT! LOL
DID ANYBODY HERE EVER SELL CARS?????
YOU DON'T REMEMBER COMING IN AT NOON ? WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU GO TO? THE LOG!
WHY? TO SEE WHAT GOT SOLD AND LOOK AT THE GROSS OR IF YOUR CUSTOMERS CAME IN AND DID NOT ASK FOR YOU . I MADE A COPY OF THE LOG EVERYDAY TO TRACK THE FRESH TRADES! I LOVE FRESH TRADES!!!
I WOULD BE THE FIRST TO CALL A CUSTOMER LOOKING FOR THE CAR WE TRADED FOR.
ALSO I WOULD COME IN ON SAT AND WRITE MY NAME ON THE LOG 5 TIMES AND LEAVE THE CUSTOMERS NAME BLANK, THE MGR WOULD SAY ... WHAT ARE YOU DOING MANNY? AND I WOULD TELL HIM IM GOOD FOR FIVE DEALS TODAY SO LET ME GO GET UM NOW!
SO MANY REASONS TO LOVE THE LOG!!!
WHEN A MGR WOULD ASK ME IF I STILL WAS WORKING THE CUSTOMER I WOULD JUST TELL HIM, JUST LOG THE DEAL BOSS IT'S DONE!
PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY LOG AWAY PEOPLE!!!!!

AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU CAN LOG THE DEALS IN THE DEALERS CRM!
JUST DON'T TAKE MY LOG AWAY!

I agree with both of you. I believe both a desk log and a CRM are neccessary. The Mgr. spots a S.P. on the lot with a prospect and jots it down with the S.P.'s name and(possibly) a brief customer description. When(and if) the process moves forward and S.P. gets to the desk, Mgr then fills in the info as well as S.P. should have a printed up sheet from the CRM. YES...the desk log is a great tool for a quick reference guide and the CRM is the " BRAIN" of everything!
aaron kominsky said:
Should be done electronically with CRM tool manual desk logs are a thing of the past You can't possible keep perfect track recors today without it CRM tool allows a complete picture of each customer

It keeps getting better Mr. Papa with your good point of view. We forgot to mention about the customer outside. By managers making a note that customer will get into the crm system and the manager can find out what is happening if they don't see the salesman and the customer in a few minutes. Thank you for your view.
Frank V Papa said:

I agree with both of you. I believe both a desk log and a CRM are neccessary. The Mgr. spots a S.P. on the lot with a prospect and jots it down with the S.P.'s name and(possibly) a brief customer description. When(and if) the process moves forward and S.P. gets to the desk, Mgr then fills in the info as well as S.P. should have a printed up sheet from the CRM. YES...the desk log is a great tool for a quick reference guide and the CRM is the " BRAIN" of everything!
aaron kominsky said:
Should be done electronically with CRM tool manual desk logs are a thing of the past You can't possible keep perfect track recors today without it CRM tool allows a complete picture of each customer
Hi Fran-

I love desk pads and the advantages of high speed technology at a touch of a mouse all the data readily available. Now that being said as a dedicated F&I professional I still love the "nut" sheet. In front of me... never leaving my eyes... time is money I get that... but not at the sake of loosing focus of the job ahead!

Just love the staying focus part. I'am sure you do well at what you do. Thanks Rebecca.
Rebecca Chernek said:
Hi Fran-

I love desk pads and the advantages of high speed technology at a touch of a mouse all the data readily available. Now that being said as a dedicated F&I professional I still love the "nut" sheet. In front of me... never leaving my eyes... time is money I get that... but not at the sake of loosing focus of the job ahead!
I say go with both. A well layed out paper desk log is great for fast tracking at a glance, just check the boxes for
Appt, refurral, B-back, Sold, TD, test drive, new, used. Then when the computers are free and not working deals, enter the now recapped information into the CRM only then can you get real accurate stats. If nothing at all is on the desk and the computers were working deals. Who would remember all the appointments and information needed to be saved or archived? I personally must have a paper log of some sort, however this can never replace a CRM. So Yes on the desk log!!!

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