Orion Edition: 7 New Tools That Let You Run Your Dealership From Your Pocket

If you've ever lost a deal because you were away from your computer, this update is for you. If you've ever missed a lead because you didn't see it in time — this is for you. If you've ever typed a customer's name wrong and had paperwork kicked back — definitely for you.

We call it the Orion Edition. Here's what shipped and why it matters for your day-to-day.

Close deals from your phone

You don't close deals sitting at a desk. You close them on the lot, at the auction, in the service bay, or standing next to the car while the customer's ready to sign. Now you can put the whole deal together from your phone using the mobile deal builder.

Customer info, vehicle, trade-in, taxes, fees — it's all there. Everything auto-saves as you go, so if you get interrupted (and you will), you pick up right where you left off. When the deal's done, print the full packet — buyer's order, bill of sale, all your forms — straight from the mobile app.

• Full deal builder on any phone or tablet
• Taxes and fees figured out automatically based on your state
• Auto-saves everything — walk away, come back, nothing's lost
• Print your deal docs from the app — no computer needed

Get notified the second a lead comes in

The dealer who responds first gets the deal. That's not opinion — it's how buyers work. They send the same message to 5 dealers and buy from whoever answers first.

Every new lead, every message, every appointment now hits your phone instantly through the Dealer Essential app. And when you tap the notification, it takes you straight to that customer — no hunting through screens.

New lead? Tap it — you're on their profile. Message from a buyer? Tap it — you're in the conversation. Deal closed? You'll hear the cha-ching sound. It's the little things.

One inbox for everything — emails, texts, and calls

Before this update, you had your email open in one tab, texts in another app, and missed calls on your phone. Three places to check, three places to lose track. Now it's one. Connect your Gmail or Outlook once and every conversation with every customer — email, text, call — shows up in a single thread inside your Unified Inbox.

And when you reply, it goes out from your actual email address. Not "noreply@notifications.com." Your real name, your real inbox. Customers see mike@smithautosales.com, recognize you, and actually respond.

• Connect Gmail or Outlook in 30 seconds — one-time setup
• Every customer conversation in one thread: emails, texts, calls, notes
• Replies go from your real email address — no more spam folder
• Add your own signature with your logo and phone number
• Stop switching between 3 apps just to keep up with one customer

Scan a license instead of typing it

Point your phone at the customer's driver's license using the mobile app. Three seconds later, everything's captured — name, address, date of birth, license number. Done. No typing, no typos.

• 3-second capture — just point your phone camera
• Works in any lighting — bright sun, fluorescent office, dimly lit lot
• Info goes straight into the deal or the customer profile

Your conversations page got a full redesign

The conversations page where you talk to customers — texts, emails, calls — got rebuilt from scratch. The biggest change: you can now see who you're talking to without leaving the conversation. Customer details sit right there in a sidebar — their name, their vehicle of interest, their contact info, their history with you.

• Customer details always visible — no more clicking back and forth
• Everything happening across your dealership in one feed — leads, messages, appointments
• Edit a customer's phone number or email right from the conversation
• Loads faster, scrolls smoother
• See which car each customer is interested in at a glance

Know your customer before they sit down

Before the customer even walks into your office, your CRM shows their credit app details, every car they looked at on your site, their full message history, and any notes or call recordings from past conversations.

It's not about being nosy. It's about being prepared. When you already know what they want and what they can afford, you skip 20 minutes of small talk and get straight to the close.

Can't answer the phone? AI picks up for you.

This is the big one. We built an AI Call Assistant that answers your phone when you can't. It knows your entire inventory. It speaks English, Spanish, and more. It answers questions, checks if a car is available, and books appointments — all while you're with another customer or at dinner with your family.

Think of your best front-desk person. Now imagine they never sleep, never call in sick, and never forget a single car on your lot. That's what this does.

• Picks up every call — nights, weekends, holidays, busy hours
• Knows your inventory and answers questions about specific cars
• Books appointments and sends confirmations to your calendar
• Speaks the customer's language
• Qualifies leads before you even call them back

How to get all of this

If you're already on Dealer Essential — everything listed above is live right now. Nothing to buy, nothing to upgrade.

1. Update the mobile app to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play
2. Open the Leads page and connect your Gmail or Outlook (30-second setup)
3. Try building a deal from your phone — start with a test customer to see how it feels
4. Sign up for the AI call assistant waitlist if you haven't

If you're not on Dealer Essential yet — sign up free and try all of it. First 3 deals on us.

What's coming next

The February 2026 update is live — check out the February 2026 update for the website builder, finance dashboard, trade-ins in deals, custom domains, and referral program. The next release is the Vega Edition — we'll publish another post when it ships.

The bottom line

Every feature in the Orion Edition was built for the same reason: so you don't lose deals you should have won. Build the deal on the lot. Get the notification before your competition does. See every conversation in one place instead of juggling three apps. Scan a license instead of squinting at it. And when you can't get to the phone, let something smart answer for you.

Sell more cars. Work less. That's the whole point.