Vehicle Preparation Tracking
Vehicle preparation tracking that doesn't blow up the schedule
Vehicle preparation is the last mile of every delivery — and the place where appointments most often slip. DealerIQ tracks every prep job with its own lead time, owner, and status, and links it directly to the delivery it's serving.
Hernandez · 2022 F-150
4:00 PM · Sales: Marcus
Chen · 2024 CR-V
4:30 PM · Sales: Priya
Patel · 2023 RAV4
5:00 PM · Sales: Jordan
Prep slips kill delivery timing
A 4:00 PM delivery with a PPF install needs an 11:00 AM start. Without prep tracking, the install gets queued behind a 'quick wash' and the customer is sitting in the showroom waiting on a car that's still in detail.
Sales doesn't know. Finance has the papers ready for a car that isn't. The customer waits.
Prep linked to the delivery it serves
Every prep job in DealerIQ is tied to a delivery card. PPF, ceramic, accessory installs, and standard detail each carry their own lead time, and the system schedules them backward from the appointment.
When prep slips, the delivery card lights up at risk — and sales gets a chance to call the customer before the customer is already in the showroom.
What's inside
Backward scheduling from appointment
System schedules each prep job from the delivery time and required lead.
Add-on aware lead times
PPF, ceramic, and accessory installs carry their own lead times — no surprises.
Prep status on the delivery card
Sales and finance see live prep status without asking.
Damage and missed-part flags
Prep can flag damage or missing parts to sales without a phone call.
Crew mobile view
Prep crew sees only their next job, on a phone, with everything they need.
Saturday-morning ambush protection
Heavy installs are visible Friday — not Saturday at 9 AM.
Why DealerIQ
- Prep is part of the delivery card, not a separate ticket.
- The system computes lead time. Crew doesn't have to argue priority.
- Sales and finance see real prep status — no phone calls.
Frequently asked questions
What is vehicle preparation tracking?
Vehicle preparation tracking is the operational practice of scheduling, assigning, and monitoring every prep job tied to a delivery — detail, PPF, accessory installs, key cuts, plates, and lot prep. Done well, it removes the most common cause of late deliveries.
How are PPF and ceramic handled?
DealerIQ knows each add-on carries its own lead time and schedules backward from the delivery appointment. The crew sees the install on its own track, and the delivery card shows the protection workflow alongside the standard prep.
Can sales see prep status?
Yes. Prep status is part of the delivery card — there is no separate tool for sales to check. When prep slips, the delivery card changes color.
Does DealerIQ work on mobile for the recon and detail crew?
Yes. Recon, detail, and lot crew run DealerIQ on a phone — large tap targets, one-thumb operation, and only the jobs they own. Managers get the full desktop command center.
Related from DealerIQ
See DealerIQ on your numbers.
Walk through a live board with your store's data.