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Fortellis — DealerRefresh Vendor Library
Fortellis is an automotive commerce exchange platform launched by CDK Global in 2018 that provides a secure, open API developer network and app…
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Fortellis is an automotive commerce exchange platform launched by CDK Global in 2018 that provides a secure, open API developer network and app marketplace connecting dealerships, OEMs, and third-party software developers. It hosts over 300 automotive applications and enables dealers to discover, integrate, and manage third-party solutions that extend and enhance their dealership workflows. The platform serves as CDK Global's primary integration and data-access layer, used by more than 15,000 U.S. dealerships.
What you do with it
access standardized APIs that enable secure, approved integrations without relying on costly or closed data pipelines, so they can reduce integration friction and third-party data access costs
When a dealer needs to connect third-party software solutions to their CDK DMS
browse and activate vetted solutions through a centralized marketplace, so they can extend dealership capabilities without custom development overhead
When a dealer or dealer group wants to discover and deploy new applications to improve workflows
publish and distribute automotive applications through a shared commerce exchange, so they can connect with 15,000+ U.S. dealerships through a single platform
When an OEM or software developer needs a channel to reach dealerships at scale
Community evidence → Stable
The DealerRefresh community received Fortellis' launch with cautious optimism, acknowledging its promise as a more open, standardized, and potentially lower-cost alternative to CDK's previously closed integration model. However, practical frustrations have tempered that optimism: the cost gap between batch and real-time API feeds is a recurring pain point, and the platform's role in a major CDK outage—going completely dark with no communication—seriously damaged trust among vendors and dealers dependent on it. Some community voices note that the API ecosystem is maturing and expanding, but the bundle-based data subscription structures are forcing workarounds like custom ETL pipelines, suggesting the platform's openness has real limits. Overall, Fortellis is seen as a meaningful structural shift that has not yet fully delivered on its transformative potential.
API openness and integration promise vs. closed legacy model5 mentions
Cost concerns: batch vs. real-time feed pricing2 mentions
Platform reliability and outage communication2 mentions
Data bundle/subscription structure limitations forcing workarounds2 mentions
Marketplace growth and new API availability3 mentions
Hope for product consolidation under Fortellis umbrella1 mention
Unmet expectations for innovation (e.g., service schedulers)1 mention
14 mentions · 4 positive · 4 negative · Scored from 20+ years of candid DealerRefresh discussion. Scores shift as new conversations happen.
POSITIVE
"CDK announced Fortellis, a developer platform that opens CDK DMS data to third-party developers through standardized APIs at potentially reduced costs, marking a significant shift from their previous closed, expensive vendor model."
CDK is opening up? →
POSITIVE
"Fortellis is launching more APIs and people are starting to open up"
QR Codes - In or Out? →
POSITIVE
"Fortellis Automotive Commerce Exchange™ platform, a technology "engine" that enables seamless connections and greater collaboration to occur among everyone involved in serving automobile consumers, such as dealers, manufacturers, software developers, lenders and data providers. Dealers and OEMs can find new software solutions to improve their work processes, and software developers can offer customers new software solutions in a secure e-commerce environment."
Who is innovating? →
POSITIVE
"Elead Lead Delivery API is now available through the CDK Global Fortellis Marketplace."
ActivEngage Advanced Chat and CRM Integration with New Elead Lead Delivery API →
NEGATIVE
"Ensure you and members of your team remain logged out of CDK applications until further notice. [LIST=1] [*]CDK, CDK Service, Common Admin, Drive, eLeads, eForms, eSign, Fortellis, MyInstall Dealer Portal"
Has ELeads been hit with a cyber attack? →
NEGATIVE
"with particular frustration directed at Fortellis—the API platform CDK mandated vendors migrate to—which remains completely down with no communication or timeline for restoration"
Still Struggling with CDK & Fortellis Updates →
NEGATIVE
"CDK has switched everyone to Fortellis and the cost difference between batch and "real-time" feeds is significant... which is understandable."
Marketing Opt Out →
NEGATIVE
"I was really hoping when CDK launched Fortellis at NADA that some innovative companies would come out with new service schedulers because the industry's current selection is pretty bad."
Online Appointment Conversion KPI - XTime →
NEUTRAL
"the practical workaround involves using Fortellis APIs and building custom ETL processes to load data into a separate data warehouse"
Is there a better way to get ELead Reporting data →
NEUTRAL
"The conversation is set to cover major industry topics including CDK's Fortellis project, ongoing lawsuits with Authenticom and Cox Automotive, NADA, 2018 acquisitions, digital retailing, and the future of dealerships."
Nostradamus (Cliff Banks) joins Jeff & Alex on Refresh Friday →
NEUTRAL
"We are working through using Data My Way with some dealer groups to add additional data that we don't subscribe to via Fortellis APIs (due to the data bundle structures that Fortellis has)."
Data Your Way? →
NEUTRAL
"RefreshFriday 3/30/18 - Cliff Banks on CDK's Fortellis, 2018 Acquisitions, and Digital Retailing"
Refresh Friday "LIVE" on DealerRefresh - 2018 Weekly Broadcast Updates →
NEUTRAL
"If this goes through, I just hope to see them continue to centralize all their products under Fortellis."
If CDK were for sale, who would buy it? →
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