DealerClick CRM vs Karmak Blaze
DealerClick on DealerClick CRM: Lead capture, segmentation and automated drip campaigns, pipeline visibility, task automation and DMS integration. Karmak on Karmak Blaze: A cloud-based, browser-based DMS built for quick implementation and minimal IT involvement, available in the cloud or on premises.
DealerClick CRM and Karmak Blaze share a vocabulary of leads, quotes and inventory but serve different kinds of dealer. DealerClick describes a CRM built inside its DMS for independent dealers, tracking prospects from lead to sale, linked to inventory pricing, vehicle history and Kelley Blue Book data, with desking and mobile tools for retail, wholesale, buy here pay here, lease here pay here, leasing and rent-to-own deals.
Choosing between DealerClick CRM and Karmak Blaze
Karmak describes Blaze as a cloud business management system for heavy-duty operations: independent repair shops, small truck and trailer dealers, warehouse distributors, bus dealers and construction equipment dealers, with parts, service, accounting, sales and lease and rental modules.
What to check before you choose
So they are not rivals. A used car lot looking for a CRM that sits inside its DMS is the DealerClick buyer.
A truck or equipment dealer that needs parts, service and lease billing in one system is the Blaze buyer. The question for a store is which kind of business it is.
Karmak says Blaze deploys quickly with mobile-first access and spreadsheet imports, and that it supplies migration and training.
For DealerClick, ask how leads from listing sites are captured, how the CRM connects to the website, how texting consent is recorded and how data leaves the system when a store ends the contract. Ask which lenders and bureaus are connected and what each costs.
For Blaze, ask how it differs from Karmak's other system, Fusion, how manufacturer interfaces for warranty claims and parts ordering work, how data converts and what the support and contract terms are. Ask what the shop floor looks like on a phone, because technician clocking and inspection depend on it.
If you are choosing between them, you probably have an unusual store, such as a truck dealer with a used car lot. In that case ask each vendor about the department it does not serve, and plan for two systems or a custom link.
Ask both for a reference at a store like yours, and test with a week of real tickets or deals. Keep the notes for the renewal.
Before any demo, write down your ten most common daily tasks, such as quoting a unit, taking a deposit, ordering a part, clocking a technician and sending a payment reminder. Ask each vendor to perform those on screen, in order, with your sample data.
Count the clicks and note what needs a second program. A system that handles the tenth task poorly will be the one your staff complain about in a year.
DealerClick CRM
DealerClick describes it this way: Lead capture, segmentation and automated drip campaigns, pipeline visibility, task automation and DMS integration.
Dealer management system for auto, RV and powersports dealers, including buy-here-pay-here, lease-here-pay-here and wholesale workflows, with inventory, CRM, websites and lender connections.
DealerClick describes itself as a dealer management system for auto, RV and powersports dealers doing retail, wholesale, buy-here-pay-here, lease-here-pay-here, leasing or rent-to-own sales. Its site says the system is web-based, accessible from any device, and includes inventory, CRM, websites and connections to lenders.
Who it says it serves: Independent auto, RV and powersports dealers.
Auto Dealer CRM Software | Text and Email | DealerClick DMS: DealerClick's Auto Dealer CRM keeps independent dealers connected to every lead with automated text, email, and follow-up sequences.
Sections on that page: Simple Auto Dealer CRM Software; Simplified Customer Relationship Management; Text Message and Email Automation; What DealerClick CRM Actually Does Day to Day; Lead Capture That Covers Every Source; Segmentation and Automated Drip Campaigns; Pipeline Visibility and Task Automation; DMS Integration, Mobile Access, and Reporting.
DMS for Independent Dealers | DealerClick DMS: DealerClick is a cloud-based dealer management system (DMS) built for independent dealers — retail desking, inventory pricing, F&I, titling, and DMV compliance in one platform instead of per-module add-on pricing.
Sections on that page: Premier Auto Dealer Software; Cloud-Based Desking Solutions for Auto Dealers; Advanced Desking Tools for Streamlined Operations; Flexible Deal Structures: Optimize Every Transaction; Inventory Management: Smarter Decisions, Better Deals; Titling & Temp Tags: Efficient Management Solutions; Finance & Insurance: Simplify with Integrated Solutions; A Dealer Management System Built for Independent Operators.
Auto Dealer Websites and Digital Retailing | DealerClick DMS: Launch DealerClick auto dealer websites with live inventory sync, payment calculators, AI-guided shopping, and lead capture built for car dealerships.
Sections on that page: DealerClick Digital Retail Experience; Every Section Works Like Your Best Salesperson; Showroom-Ready Inventory Journey; Advanced Search & Comparison Flows; Pricing, Payments & Personalized Offers; High-Converting Lead Generation Engine; Content & SEO Growth Framework; Personalization & Premium Themes.
Karmak Blaze
Karmak describes it this way: A cloud-based, browser-based DMS built for quick implementation and minimal IT involvement, available in the cloud or on premises.
Karmak Blaze is the business-management/DMS platform for heavy-duty and commercial transportation dealers and shops, covering parts, service and accounting. Confirm OEM and third-party integrations for the operation.
Karmak describes itself as a provider of business management software for heavy-duty trucking and commercial transportation, and says its story began in a parts department in Carlinville, Illinois. Its site says the company is employee-owned and that it supports operations from single shops to multi-location enterprises.
Who it says it serves: Truck dealers, trailer dealers, bus dealers, construction equipment and truck equipment businesses, warehouse distributors, refrigeration businesses and independent repair shops.
Blaze Commercial Cloud DMS | Cloud Dealer Management System: Blaze is a browser-based DMS for heavy-duty dealers. Run your entire operation from any device—fast setup, simple pricing, no IT overhead. Try Blaze today.
Sections on that page: You’re in good company with Karmak.; Built for organizations that operate anywhere.; Clear the chaos to accelerate growth.; Turn inventory faster with mobile-first control; Run your entire shop from a smartphone.; Eliminate double-entry and close books faster.; Simplify unit sales from quote to delivery.; Maximize utilization with agile asset tracking..
| Field | DealerClick CRM | Karmak Blaze |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | DealerClick | Karmak |
| Corporate parent | None recorded | None recorded |
| Primary market | North America or market-specific | North America or market-specific |
| Typical segment | Independent dealers | Heavy-duty and commercial transportation dealers |
| Mapped workflows | Dealer management systems (DMS) | Dealer management systems (DMS) |
| Named offerings on its own site | 5 | 4 |
| Connection records in the directory | 0 | 0 |
Overlap and divergence
DealerClick CRM and Karmak Blaze are both mapped to dealer management systems (DMS).
Read from dealerclick.com, karmak.com. To score DealerClick CRM against Karmak Blaze on the same questions, use the demo scorecard.