OWL Insights

IT is often viewed as another dealership expense, but the right investments can actually save money over time. From preventing costly downtime and protecting customer information to improving employee productivity and preparing for unexpected disruptions, proactive IT planning can make a real difference. Explore seven ways investing in technology today can help protect your dealership's operations, profitability, and future growth.

Two critical PHP security vulnerabilities were disclosed on October 21, 2026, raising important questions for automotive dealerships about website security and third-party vendor responsibilities. From dealership websites and customer portals to recruiting pages and other web applications, it's important to understand which systems may be affected and whether necessary security updates have been applied. OWL Automotive Consulting proactively notified its Managed Services clients and provided guidance on coordinating with website providers. Learn what your dealership should ask and why communication between technology partners matters.

Your dealership doesn't have to choose between an in-house IT team and a managed service provider. Co-managed IT brings both together, giving your team additional expertise, stronger cybersecurity, reliable support, and the flexibility to grow without adding headcount. Here's why more dealerships are taking this approach.

Technology is more than an expense, it's an investment in your dealership's productivity, cybersecurity, and operations. Shannon Davis explains why hardware decisions should go beyond upfront price and what dealers should consider when evaluating lifecycle, warranties, support, standardization, security, and total cost of ownership.

Sally Lopez, Founder and CEO of OWL Automotive Consulting, has been named 2026 AutoTech CEO of the Year in the 7th Annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. With more than 38 years of experience in retail automotive, Sally has dedicated her career to helping dealerships navigate technology, operations, and organizational change. Read more about this recognition, her leadership journey, and how her vision continues to help dealerships succeed nationwide.

Is your dealership replacing computers only when they fail? Learn how a planned PC refresh strategy can reduce downtime, improve productivity, strengthen cybersecurity and make technology costs more predictable.

Dealers rarely switch DMS providers because of price alone. From technology and security to customer service, end-user impact, AI readiness, and implementation, here's what dealerships should evaluate before making a DMS change.

Cyber risks can exist in places you may never think to look. A recent malware campaign involving automotive infotainment systems highlights a larger cybersecurity lesson for dealerships: every connected device can become part of your IT environment. Learn why device visibility, inventory, updates, and proactive security matter.

Dealership accounting requires specialized experience, and financial leadership needs can change quickly. Fractional CFO services give dealerships access to experienced financial guidance while supporting succession planning, developing future accounting leaders, strengthening financial processes, and preparing the organization for continued growth.

Cybersecurity threats don't always start with someone hacking into your network. Increasingly, criminals are targeting everyday dealership business processes, including vendor payments, invoices, banking changes, and accounting workflows. In this blog, we explore why cybersecurity is just as much an accounting and operational responsibility as it is an IT responsibility. Learn how payment fraud happens, why dealerships can be attractive targets, and how strong internal controls, verification procedures, employee awareness, and collaboration between IT, Accounting, Operations, and Leadership can help protect your dealership from costly fraud.

Data is only valuable when dealerships can turn it into action. Following the VizAuto Customer Summit, OWL Director of Operations Shannon Davis shares key takeaways on how dealers are using data, reporting, and AI to improve processes, uncover opportunities, and make better operational decisions.

Building a new dealership or renovating an existing facility involves much more than construction. Your DMS, network, Wi-Fi, phones, security systems, service technology, and other critical tools all depend on IT infrastructure that should be planned before the walls go up. This dealership IT construction checklist covers seven areas dealers should address early, including internet service, network infrastructure, data cabling, wireless coverage, equipment planning, cybersecurity, and move-in coordination. Learn how involving IT early can help prevent costly change orders, avoid opening-day technology issues, and create an infrastructure designed to support your dealership today and as it grows.