Ken Garff Automotive Group, a leading Utah-based dealership group, has committed to fully implementing Tekion’s cloud-based dealership management system (DMS) by the end of 2026. The decision follows a successful pilot program that began in 2021 and sets the stage for a complete technology overhaul across its 70 stores in nine states.
It is important to note that in 2023, Ken Garff sold 57,127 new vehicles. The dealership group has also been using Tekion’s Automotive Retail Cloud to streamline operations in select locations, with plans to expand Tekion’s system across all stores. Larry Goering, Vice President of IT Operations at Ken Garff, emphasized that performance milestones would determine the success of the full transition. “Something would have to go very wrong in the deployments for us to back away from the deal,” he stated.
Tekion’s platform integrates AI-driven solutions across retail, service, parts, accounting, customer relationship management, and analytics functions. This technology aims to enhance the customer and employee experience, which is a key reason for Ken Garff’s decision to adopt Tekion’s DMS.
“We’re enhancing the customer experience and redefining what’s possible in the auto industry,” said Brett Hopkins, CEO of Ken Garff.
Industry response
Tekion’s partnership with Ken Garff is a huge win for the company, as it is challenging long-standing DMS providers like Reynolds and Reynolds and CDK Global. Jay Vijayan, Tekion’s founder and CEO, expressed excitement about the future of the collaboration, stating:
“Ken Garff has been a leader in the automotive retail community for over 90 years, and we look forward to working with them to redefine how consumers buy and service vehicles.”
In contrast, Reynolds and Reynolds President Chris Walsh acknowledged Tekion’s competitive presence but remains confident in his company’s offerings. He noted that Ken Garff’s testing of Tekion at a small scale was a common practice in the industry. “The desire to test different technology isn’t a new one,” Walsh said.
Moreover, Ken Garff’s switch to Tekion comes as part of the dealership group’s long-term planning to modernize its operations with cloud-based technology. However, the transition also highlights broader trends in automotive technology as more dealers seek to move away from traditional DMS providers.
Tekion’s success with Ken Garff could set a precedent for further disruption in the dealership technology market, challenging the dominance of Reynolds and CDK Global.
