Autohouse Kingston

    The Key to Success: An Efficient and Time-Saving Solution for Autohouse Kingston

    Autohouse Kingston staff member sitting and smiling beside their SmartBoxes
    Autohouse Kingston
    Industry

    Auto Dealerships

    Location

    Kingston, Ontario, Canada

    Employees

    10

    “It's a simple way to keep everything safe and monitored. The absolute best customer service of any 3rd party I've dealt with in a dealership setting.”

    Tyler Burley

    Tyler Burley

    Digital Asset Manager

    About Autohouse Kingston

    Autohouse Kingston is a family-owned car dealership that has been serving Kingston and its surrounding areas for over 30 years. They pride themselves on offering a diverse range of vehicles and comprehensive financing solutions, catering to customers with varying credit scores.

    Gideon Leung

    Author

    Product Marketing Manager

    Gideon Leung is the Marketing Manager at Keycafe, leading global marketing and serving as the company's product expert. He writes the technical documentation, feature announcements, product updates, and how-to guides that help customers worldwide get the most out of the platform.

    The Challenge

    In the bustling world of car dealerships, functional key management is a must. Autohouse Kingston, with its rich history of over 30 years in the industry, has always prioritized the security and accessibility of their vehicles. However, with a growing collection of vehicles and a dedicated team of 10 employees, the task of efficiently managing and tracking keys became increasingly complex.

    Misplaced keys were always a worry in the back of the team’s minds, leading to delays and disruptions in daily operations. Security concerns were another limitation, as the potential for unauthorized access or theft posed a major risk to operations. These challenges not only caused operational inefficiencies but also threatened potential revenue loss and customer trust.

    Recognizing the severity of the situation, Autohouse Kingston wanted an auto dealership key management system that would not just safeguard their keys, but also instill a system of accountability and streamline access for staff.

    Working with Keycafe brought instant results. Not only did it improve our security measures, but the ease of tracking and locking up keys was extremely helpful.

    Pain Points

    • Misplaced keys led to delays in test drives and operations
    • Security concerns with no system for accountability
    • Wasted time searching for the right key
    Digital Asset Manager Tyler Burley using the Keycafe mobile app at the SmartBoxDigital Asset Manager Tyler Burley tapping the SmartBox screenDigital Asset Manager Tyler Burley taking keys from a SmartBox bin

    Solution

    After researching online for a suitable key management system and looking into a few different providers, Autohouse Kingston decided to move forward with Keycafe due to the comparatively [affordable pricing](https://www.keycafe.com/pricing). The SmartBox and key management software offered by Keycafe were seamlessly integrated into their workflow.

    All vehicle keys are locked up in individual SmartBox bins, and any access is logged with the user and time of use. Upon completion of vehicle use, keys are returned the same way, and again logged in the records. The real-time notifications and the ability to maintain an up-to-date history of all key usage proved invaluable for the dealership.

    The Autohouse Kingston team connected with Keycafe and shared some of the ways in which the system has helped them. "Working with Keycafe brought instant results. Not only did it improve our security measures, but the ease of tracking and locking up keys was extremely helpful. We loved the ability to create an up-to-date log of all our keys.”

    The Results

    The introduction of Keycafe's SmartBox brought immediate positive results. The dealership experienced a significant reduction in lost key issues, a common challenge faced by many in the industry. The system's ease of use and security features ensured that keys were always accounted for and available quickly on demand, saving considerable time and effort. The backend logging capability provided an added layer of accountability and transparency.

    With the help of Keycafe's system, Autohouse Kingston has successfully transformed their dealership key management, ensuring vehicles are always secure and accessible when needed. The ease of administration, combined with the real-time tracking and logging capabilities, means that key management is now as simple as opening the Keycafe app, anytime and anywhere.

    The Outcome

    • Drastically reduced the lost and misplaced keys issue common to dealerships
    • Keys can be located and picked up in seconds, reducing customer wait times
    • Undeniable accountability for vehicle use thanks to a comprehensive key access history
    Close up of a staff member looking at a list of keys on the Keycafe mobile appStaff member scanning a Keycafe fob at the SmartBoxDigital Asset Manager Tyler Burley returning keys to the SmartBox

    Customize Your Solution Now

    Configure and purchase your smart key management system in minutes. Our onboarding specialists will work with you to set up your solution and ensure it's a success. If Keycafe is not the right fit for your business, you may return it for a full refund for up to 45 days!

    SmartBox