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eLead CRM — DealerRefresh Vendor Library
eLead CRM (originally ELEAD1ONE) is an automotive-specific CRM platform, now owned by CDK Global, that serves car dealerships with tools for lead…
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eLead CRM (originally ELEAD1ONE) is an automotive-specific CRM platform, now owned by CDK Global, that serves car dealerships with tools for lead management, sales process automation, marketing campaigns, service scheduling, desking, and equity mining. The platform supports the full customer lifecycle from initial inquiry through post-sale service, with features including multi-channel lead capture, BDC call center integration, and a tablet-based showroom app. It serves thousands of franchised dealerships across the U.S., including major dealer groups.
What you do with it
manage the full sales lead lifecycle from first inquiry through closed deal, so they can convert more leads into sold units without prospects falling through the cracks
When a dealership needs to capture, track, and follow up on leads across multiple channels (web, phone, walk-in)
run data-driven campaigns against the dealership's own customer base, so they can generate incremental sales and service appointments from the existing owner population
When a dealer wants to re-engage existing customers through targeted marketing and equity mining
execute the entire deal workflow inside one integrated platform, so they can reduce deal friction and manual re-entry across disconnected systems
When a BDC or sales team needs a single connected workspace linking CRM, desking, DMS, and service scheduling
Community evidence → Stable
The DealerRefresh community views eLead CRM as a functionally deep, automotive-native platform that earned genuine loyalty in its independent era — particularly praised for DMS integration, desking connectivity, ease of training, and BDC capability. However, sentiment has shifted meaningfully since the CDK Global acquisition, with recurring reports of severe support degradation (hold times of 20–60 minutes, unresolved tickets lingering for weeks), a major all-day outage tied to Azure infrastructure, a significant cyber attack affecting CDK and eLead dealers simultaneously, and product gaps such as the inability to build certified used-vehicle audiences. Community skepticism about large-conglomerate ownership is explicit and sustained, with several voices warning that CDK will erode what made the platform valuable, and the overall picture that emerges is a platform with strong bones but a post-acquisition trajectory that has dealers watching the exits.
Post-acquisition support deterioration5 mentions
DMS and desking integration strength4 mentions
CDK ownership skepticism and consolidation concerns4 mentions
Ease of training and onboarding3 mentions
Platform stability and outage risk3 mentions
Cybersecurity vulnerability2 mentions
Third-party integrations (chat, social, call tracking)3 mentions
Product gaps vs. real-world dealer needs2 mentions
Text messaging / 10DLC compliance issues1 mention
Competitive positioning among CRM alternatives4 mentions
27 mentions · 6 positive · 7 negative · Scored from 20+ years of candid DealerRefresh discussion. Scores shift as new conversations happen.
POSITIVE
"multiple users reporting strong satisfaction with the system's integration capabilities, ease of training, and customer support compared to previous solutions like Higher Gear and AutoBase. Key strengths highlighted include seamless desking tool integration, DMS connectivity, mobile functionality, and responsive vendor support"
Anyone using or know about Elead CRM? →
POSITIVE
"Industry leading automotive CRM and marketing provider, eLEAD CRM, has unveiled a new corporate Web site, eLEADCRM.com. The new Web site features its best-in-class Bundled Solution Platform that provides auto industry professionals the most powerful and effective tools to improve dealership performance"
elead CRM.com New Website Goes Live →
POSITIVE
"A new dealer employee asks for guidance on learning eLead CRM after switching from ReyRey. Community members provide training resources, reassurance that the system is easy to learn, and a direct offer of personalized help, with the original poster ultimately finding success with the tool and expressing appreciation for the supportive response."
E-Lead 1Quick Start Guide?? →
POSITIVE
"ActivEngage announced a new integration with CDK Global's Elead CRM that enables inbound chat lead data to be securely pushed directly into the Elead platform"
ActivEngage Advanced Chat and CRM Integration with New Elead Lead Delivery API →
POSITIVE
"eLEAD CRM announced the launch of eCarSocial, a digital marketing platform integrated into their CRM solution, offering dealers tools like search engine marketing, SEO, social media management, and a feature called WebPush for managing customer conversations across Facebook and Twitter."
eLEAD CRM Announces the Release of eCarSocial Automotive Software →
POSITIVE
"eLEAD can upload GM manifest lists right through the campaign manager feature in the ILM and CRM, and there is no charge. Let me know if you're interested in additional information."
Uploading GM Manifest Lists to ILM/CRM →
NEGATIVE
"Elead CRM users report severe customer service deterioration since the company's acquisition by Indian firm Genpact, with support hold times exceeding 20-60 minutes, unresponsive voicemails, and multiple unresolved issues lingering for weeks."
Warning for Elead CRM dealerships on customer service →
NEGATIVE
"Dealers using ELead CRM and VinSolutions have experienced text messaging shutdowns due to expired 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) registrations required by carriers and The Campaign Registry (TCR)."
Has 10DLC Registration shut down your CRM Text Messaging? →
NEGATIVE
"When using the Click to Call feature in eLead CRM, our outgoing calls are now being marked as SPAM on caller-id. We never had this issue prior to our Dealer Group switching over to CallSource."
Outgoing calls using Click to Call are being marked as SPAM →
NEGATIVE
"It's naive to think a situation like what's happening to CDK and eLead dealers can't happen to you. In fact, it should scare the hell out of you if you don't have a plan in place."
What's Your Plan B? How we're helping CDK/eLead dealers →
NEGATIVE
"eLead CRM experienced a major outage that lasted all day, which several users attributed to broader stability issues affecting Microsoft Azure-dependent vendors."
Elead CRM - Down all day long →
NEGATIVE
"eLead CRM lacks functionality to run campaigns, generate reports, or create audiences specifically for manufacturer certified used vehicle customers—a significant gap for a system marketed as top-tier. The vendor's response that 'nobody has asked' for this feature before highlights a disconnect between the platform's capabilities and real-world dealer needs"
Amazed at eLead (not in a good way) →
NEGATIVE
"dealership management software and manufacturer portals that require Internet Explorer and/or Windows, including ADP Websuite, Reynolds & Reynolds DMS, DealerSocket, eLead CRM, and various manufacturer systems like Ford, Chrysler, and Honda portals"
Auto Technologies that force IE & Windows? →
MIXED
"CDK Global's acquisition of eLead CRM, one of the last independent CRM platforms serving ~4,000 dealerships, sparks debate about whether consolidation in the automotive software industry benefits or harms dealers. Forum members express skepticism about large conglomerates acquiring established CRM platforms, with concerns that CDK will mismanage or ruin eLead's technology"
CDK buys eLead CRM - No more private or small CRM players →
MIXED
"a platform with deep functionality but a community increasingly skeptical of its post-acquisition direction and support"
Community Review: eLead →
NEUTRAL
"Recently laid off through restructuring & cuts at CDK where I was a road warrior traveling throughout the west & PNW to implement, train & manage Elead CRM dealerships."
9 Years of Automotive Experience Available for Hire! →
NEUTRAL
"DealerSocket, ELEAD CRM, iMagicLab, and AutoBase are all mentioned as options that track email metrics and provide inventory matching alerts."
CRMs that Track Open Rate/CTR →
NEUTRAL
"lessons from the major CDK DMS and eLead CRM cyber attack, examining what dealers and vendors can learn about preventing similar breaches"
Learnings from CDK's Cyber Attack | Tim Hayden & April Simmons →
NEUTRAL
"Be proficient in training best practice and keystroke training of all systems, programs, software specific, advanced sales/ customer service skills, technical systems and process training applications including but not limited to eLEAD CRM tool."
Internet/BDC Sales Manager-San Jose, CA →
NEUTRAL
"automatically log incoming calls to the correct sales rep in eLead CRM, replacing manual PIN entry"
AVID Voice ID for CRM logging Phone-Ups →
NEUTRAL
"mentions of eLead CRM and AutoRevenue for targeted service marketing and retention"
How are you communicating with your database of clients? →
NEUTRAL
"eLead and upcoming native apps like DealerSocket's appear to be the most viable options, though printing remains a secondary feature."
iPad friendly CRM →
NEUTRAL
"Multiple vendors are mentioned as offering solutions (DealerSocket, Higher Gear, TVPOS, eLead CRM)"
Appointment display board →
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