The IDS RV Industry Trends Report is a comprehensive overview of what dealers will be focusing on in 2023. This report compiles insights from surveys, RV industry experts, and hundreds of RV dealers across North America to highlight what dealers can expect in the year ahead.
RV Dealer Industry Trends Report
Connect. Simplify. Grow.
RV dealers today are navigating a turbulent market.
From aging inventory and high interest rates to shrinking foot traffic and unpredictable demand, things can feel unsteady. Add in rising financing costs, ongoing market consolidation, and the challenges of adapting to new technology, and it’s clear this is no ordinary cycle. Yet despite these headwinds, dealers continue to move units and deliver quality service, demonstrating real resilience and a focus on the right things.
What sets the most successful dealerships apart? Adaptability.
Connect: Build stronger relationships with customers, OEMs, and dealership technology providers.
Simplify: Streamline operations through data, analytics and automation.
Grow: Turn challenges into opportunities for long-term success.
Dealers who embrace these principles—powered by analytics, a digital transformation mindset, and a renewed focus on community—will not only endure but thrive in the years ahead.
Frank Tamburrini General Manager, IDS
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Contents
Connect
6 9 4
RV Dealer Market Snapshot Challenges Facing RV Dealers Connecting With Customers Connecting With OEMs Connecting with DMS Providers
11 14 16 19 23 26 29 32 18 36 38 39 40 41 42 43 34
Simplify
Digital Transformation Dealership Analytics Automation and AI Automated Communications Integrated Payments
Grow
Benchmarking Your Success Dealership Sales Focus Parts Management Warranty Profit F&I Profit Safeguarding Your Dealership’s Data Cybersecurity
Where the Industry is Headed
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Connect. Simplify. Grow.
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Connect. Collaborating to solve problems, making connections, and connecting with customers, OEMs, and DMS providers.
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Connect
What Connects Us All?
A love for the RV industry, for starters. At its core, this is an industry built on community.
Connection drives everything: from the way dealers build lasting relationships with customers , to how teams work together to create a dealership that operates like a connected ecosystem . We’re also bound by the challenges we face in the market. The solution lies in connection as well: dealers, OEMs, and DMS providers collaborating to tackle those challenges together. By focusing on dealership data —spotting trends, uncovering inefficiencies, and identifying opportunities for growth—we can turn that connection into meaningful progress.
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Snapshot: Navigating a Shifting Market
Don Miller Senior Data Innovation Manager, IDS
The RV industry is painting a complex but ultimately resilient picture through the first three quarters of 2025. While overall unit sales have seen a slight downturn compared to last year, a closer look reveals significant positive momentum in profitability and service efficiency. Dealers are successfully adapting to the market, focusing on maximizing returns and streamlining operations, signaling a strategic shift toward sustainable growth.
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Sales: A Focus on Profitability Over Volume
Though unit sales dipped by 7% from January to September 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, the story on the salesfloor is one of impressive financial health. For the first time since 2021, sales margins are on the rise, posting a 2% increase this year. This reversal indicates a successful pivot toward higher -quality, more profitable deals. This trend is further bolstered by the continued strength of the Finance & Insurance (F&I) department. F&I income as a percentage of revenue has grown by another 0.75% in 2025. Together, these metrics show that dealerships are effectively maximizing the revenue generated from each unit sold, offsetting the slight decline in sales volume.
Units Delivered by Year
80k
60k
40k
20k
0k
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
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Service: Efficiency Reaches a Five-Year High
The service department has emerged as a major bright spot in 2025. Despite an increase in work order volume, Repair Event Cycle Time (RECT) has continued to improve, building on a positive trend that began after its peak in 2022. This increased efficiency is a clear win for both dealerships and their customers. Key improvements in service cycle times include: • The average time for all work orders has fallen to 30.6 days —a full 3 days faster than 2024 and the quickest average since 2020. • Major bottlenecks are clearing up significantly. Work orders delayed by out-of-stock parts now average 54.3 days , a 7-day improvement from the previous year. • Similarly, warranty work is being completed in an average of 42.4 days , also 7 days faster than in 2024. These substantial reductions in repair times point to a more stable supply chain and enhanced operational processes, allowing service departments to deliver a better and faster customer experience. This operational excellence is crucial for long-term customer loyalty and dealership reputation.
Average R.E.C.T. Days
40
30
20
10
0
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
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In our 2025 survey of RV dealers across North America, we asked which challenges they expect to have the greatest impact in the year ahead. The results closely mirror last year’s findings. Rising product prices and interest rates remain the top concern, followed closely by the ongoing struggle to hire and retain talent. Dealers also pointed t o customer retention, new customer acquisition, and changes in lead flow (declining foot traffic alongside increased online research) as significant challenges. These results reflect a broader market shift and the uncertainty that comes with it. AI is reshaping how buyers research purchases, while ongoing economic uncertainty is making customers more cautious about committing to a new RV. Biggest Challenges RV Dealers Face
What are some of the biggest challenges dealers are facing, rated by perceived importance?
1 2 3 4 5 (1 = Low Importance, 5 = High Importance)
Parts shortages
Aged inventory
Changes in lead flow (e.g. lower foot traffic, higher web traffic) Rising product prices / interest rates
New customer conquest (service and sales)
Customer retention (service and sales)
Hiring / retaining talent
Cybersecurity or system-based outages
100%
0%
100%
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Snapshot: The Biggest Challenges Dealers Face In our 2025 survey, RV dealers across North America anonymously shared the biggest challenges they’re concerned about.
Market Being Slow
Working
Market is Anattainable
Need
Housing Market
Customers
Market
Interest Rates
Option
CRM & Service
Dependable Help
Season Customers
Alot of our customers
Shorter Trips Older Workers
Overal avg
“ Warranty parts delays.
“We need more product in innovation and making RVs more sustainable.
“ New unit market being slow.
“ Slowing market and excessive heat and weather patterns, coupled with inflation and high interest rates overall are impacting sales drastically. Customers may take shorter trips or ones closer to home.
“Amazon. More customers are going online .
“ Customer demands.
“ Interest rates need to come down.
“ Meeting the demands of the customer. We notice a lot of our customers are living in the units as the housing market is unattainable for most. Can the trailers meet the demands of being a full-time living option? Are there enough places to park the trailers to assist with this growing need?”
“ AI.
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Connecting With Customers It’s widely understood that customers today expect more for less: greater technological convenience in their RVs and buying experience, faster service, and more consistent communication with the dealership throughout the sales and service cycles. At the same time, conversations that the IDS team has had with dealers had made it clear that customers still value strong relationships with their vendors and service teams. It's important to meet customers where they are at. Regardless of the technology, whether it's a push notification, an email, or a good old fashioned phone call, focus on building systems that give you insight into their preferences so you can tailor their experience.
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Industry Snapshot: How Dealers Connect with Customers
In our 2025 survey of RV dealers across North America, we asked dealers to rank which channels they use to connect with customers in order of frequency.
The majority of respondents are still connecting with customers via phone call most often, followed closely by text messages/push notifications. Video messaging was the least frequently used channel, but it’s growing. More dealers are now leveraging video messaging within their service teams to show customers specific parts or repairs on their units. This gives teams greater flexibility and helps reduce miscommunications with customers.
First choice
Last choice
1.
Phone call
2.
Text message/push notifications Email
3.
4.
Social media
5.
Video messaging
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How to Connect With Customers in 2026
Meet Customers Where They Are Respond through the same channel your customer uses. If they reach out by text, reply by text; if they contact you on social media, reply there. Matching their preferred communication method shows respect for their time and helps build trust.
Centralize Internal Communications Keep all customer interactions in a single, shared system to prevent messages from getting lost between departments. Avoid ad-hoc methods like sticky notes or individual email chains. A centralized platform ensures everyone on the team has visibility into the customer’s history and needs.
Create a Consistent Communication Cadence Set a regular schedule for updating customers on the status of their orders or service work. Even if there’s no progress to report, let them know. A weekly check-in, for example, reassures customers, manages expectations, and strengthens long-term relationships.
Use CRM and Text Messaging Tools Leverage CRM platforms and integrated text messaging to streamline communication and keep a clear record of customer interactions. Texting, in particular, is growing in popularity among RV buyers. Monitoring and managing these communications ensures consistency and responsiveness across the sales and service cycle.
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Connecting with OEMs
There’s more happening under the roof of today’s RVs than ever before. Over the past year, we’ve seen real progress in how OEMs and DMS providers are partnering to support the needs of dealers. Moving forward, it’s critical that dealers, manufacturers, and software providers continue working together to identify new opportunities for industry-wide growth.
VIN Decoding One challenge many dealers face today is the time-consuming task of manually entering specification details into their dealer management system (DMS). Without this information, sales teams struggle to match buyers with the right RVs, and service teams lack the insights needed to plan maintenance and repairs effectively. That’s where VIN Decoding integrations like the one IDS launched with VINRV come in. By automating the transfer of key RV specifications directly into your DMS, they eliminate these obstacles and boost efficiency across every department. Open Recalls Managing recall information has traditionally meant wasted time switching between OEM portals and the DMS. But with new Open Recalls integrations, OEM recall data is delivered directly to the dealer’s DMS. With instant alerts during stocking and work order creation, dealers gain greater transparency, faster workflows, and more efficient operations—all without the back-and-forth. IDS and Forest River, Inc. launched the first Open Recalls integration this year and more can be expected to follow.
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Dealer Perspective: OEM Integrations
The Forest River Open Recalls integration took a lot off my plate. Specifically, in that I spent a lot of time comparing our inventory to recall lists, going through manufacturer systems to identify recalls and open the work orders for those recalls, and calling customers back in to do a recall. To be able to see recalls in the moment, while a customer’s there—that’s a game changer.
Steve Shackelford The Great Outdoors RV
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Connecting with DMS Providers
Strengthening the relationship between dealerships and their dealership management system (DMS) providers is becoming increasingly important. Many dealers have already made the move to fully-integrated systems to improve efficiency and consolidate their data, but that’s only the first step. To maximize the value of these systems, collaboration between dealerships and providers is essential, ensuring that the software can be developed to meet evolving dealership needs. When treated as a strategic partnership, this relationship not only helps dealers unlock the full potential of their DMS but also creates opportunities for providers to refine and enhance their solutions in response to real-world dealership challenges.
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Our Approach at IDS
Brit Connor Account Executive, IDS
The appreciation that we get from the dealers when we're actually there—they know we care. We're at their door, talking to them, understanding how they work. Because you're going to talk to every single dealership that you walk into, and they're all going have their own special sauce—how they do things and what makes them think they're different. If you're there, actually seeing it and understanding it, then you're going to be able to provide even more value—keep that special sauce, but also fix some other things on the side.
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Simplify. Digital transformation, analytics, AI, automation, streamlining service, and integrating payments.
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Digital Transformation in the Dealership
In today’s dealership, less is more.
Less paper. Less voicemail. Less back-and-forth. Fewer mistakes and less wasted time.
Cutting back on all that makes room for more: more data-driven answers, faster service, empowered teams, and smoother operations. The RV industry is undergoing a major digital transformation. From analytics to automation to AI, technology is helping dealers boost efficiency, make smarter decisions, and strengthen customer relationships. Forward-thinking dealers see this shift as more than just adopting new tools. It’s about building the right teams, partnering with innovative brands, and staying connected with DMS providers to tackle challenges head-on. By staying adaptable and open to new ideas, these dealers prove that when it comes to success, less truly leads to more.
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Digital Transformation Is a Mindset Shift
Sara Gauthier Customer Success Coordinator, IDS
If your software, processes, and systems are stuck in the past, then so is your business.
I like to compare it to a cellphone . At some point, you didn’t have one, right? But now it's just part of daily life. It's in your hand all day. And you don’t have to dive in headfirst. You can ease your way into it, get comfortable with it. But you do have to move forward if you want to grow. The most successful dealers I’ve seen are always looking for what’s next. They want to be on the cutting edge. They want to lead their market. And technology helps them do that. Yes, there are people who say things like, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” but that mindset doesn’t help your business. It definitely doesn’t help your bottom line. Meanwhile, your competitors? They’re embracing the change. And they’re pulling ahead because of it.
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Industry Snapshot: Where Dealers Are Digitally Transforming Their Operations
In our 2025 survey of RV dealers across North America, we asked which areas of their dealerships they plan to invest in to improve efficiency in the year ahead. Most dealers chose Customer Relationship Management (23%), Marketing (21%), and Service Management (19%) , indicating a strong focus on enhancing the customer experience and strengthening relationships with returning customers.
4%
8%
21%
Analytics Service management
Sales management Parts management Customer relatioship management Marketing Other
19%
23%
13%
13%
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Snapshot: Where Technology Can Improve Dealership Efficiency In our 2025 survey, RV dealers across North America anonymously shared where they feel technology can have the biggest impact on their operations.
19%
Things Easier
Schedules & Priorities
Manufacturer’s Websites
Parts
Basic Functions
Service
Parts
Emails & Pictures
Customer Service DMS Current DMS
Vin Decoder
Service Counter
Documentation of Services Process
IDS Technology
“ Process, inventory levels.
“In the parts department, sales department, and service department using AI .
“ New unit market being slow.
“Documentation of services being provided by our technicians.
“Pricing analysis for trade-ins. VIN decoder .
“ Interest rates need to come down.
“ Defending us against false claims.
“ Service.
“ Smooth the process of finding the perfect camper for our customers on the website. IDS technology can ease the basic functions of the personnel job duties—data entry, receiving/shipping.
“ CRM.
“Better connection .
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Analytics is the foundation of success in today’s competitive market. Your dealership management system (DMS) holds a gold mine of data that can reveal inefficiencies and uncover revenue opportunities across every part of your business. But many dealers still aren’t using their DMS to its full potential. Those who do gain a clear edge over competitors who rely on gut instinct alone. Analytics: Connecting Insights to Action
Data drives insight. Insight drives action.
If you’re not monitoring performance data daily, now is the time to start. Consistent tracking helps you spot inefficiencies and opportunities early, so you can make timely adjustments that truly move the needle.
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Pulse Check: Daily Metrics to Track Dealer Success
Finance • Percentage of Income Goal • Percentage of Expense Goal • Income Vs. Goal Gross Profit • Total Income • Total Expenses • Total Gross Profit • Total Expenses • Expenses as Percentage of Gross Profit • Net Profit
Sales & Inventory
• Unit Sales • Historical Unit Sales
• Percentage of Sale Goal • Percentage of F&I Goal • Sales by Salesperson • F&I Income by Locations • Inventory by Days in Stock
AR and AP
Service & Parts
AP Balance by Age AP Balance Type AR Balance by Age AR Balance by Code
Work Order Count Total Profit
Work Order Profit Parts Invoice Profit Average RECT Days Total Parts Cost by Lot & Age
AP Balance Due by Age AR Balance Owed by Age
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Dealer Perspective: OEM Integrations
Tracking and reporting allows for stronger communication between our stores, customers and employees.
We send an update e-mail at the end of every day amongst the three General Managers and my Controller, sort of like a snapshot of the day. Part of it is “what was your feel of the day” and part of it is actual raw data out of IDS. For example, we pull the parts gross profit report daily, and then we also do the list of daily payments report in AR. So, you’re getting factual data in that e-mail, which is great. At any point, I can go in and look at a P&L of any of the stores and be like, “OK, why are these numbers down or up or what’s going on here?” I don’t have to just trust my gut. You can see if that store is struggling or if that store is thriving because the numbers tell you everything you need to know.
Jason Bell Chemo RV
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Automation: All Eyes on AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the fastest -growing areas of digital transformation, both within the RV dealer industry and across the broader world. What’s clear is that AI is here to stay. Dealers, manufacturers, and technology providers will all need to determine how best to leverage it to enhance operations and drive long-term value. In our 2025 survey of dealers across North America, we asked whether they are using AI in their dealerships. Most reported that they are either already implementing it or planning to, while nearly as many said they are not.
Yes No Not yet, but I’m planning to
36%
24%
40%
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Industry Snapshot: How Do RV Dealers Feel About AI?
In our 2025 survey, RV dealers across North America anonymously shared their sentiments about AI.
“It is where the future is going in every software system needs to involve into it.” “I believe that those dealers that adopt AI will achieve growth and market share much faster. How a dealer uses AI will determine if they are a winner or a loser in the next few years.”
“Concerns about unforeseen autonomy issues...”
“Making it hard for dealers and customers to know facts from fiction. Just photo ads alone become misleading.”
“Doesn’t seem genuine. Too easy to tell it’s AI.”
“It will take the person out of the job.”
“Great tool used the right way.”
“I find that our AI chatbot just angers customers more than anything. The transcripts are usually good for a laugh.”
“It should be a net benefit.”
“The only application for AI that we’ve done so far is in some of our marketing initiatives…It can give you some interesting ideas, but ultimately, you have to flesh them out yourself anyway.”
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How RV Dealers Are Using AI
In our 2025 survey, RV dealers across North America anonymously shared how they are currently using AI.
“ Creating ads, assisting with promotional parts of our company plan.”
“Using ChatGPT to help me with parts and service estimates. ”
“ CRM follow-up and engagement.”
“ Training and customer service. ”
“ Marketing and communications. ”
“ Lead response and tracking.”
“Uploading historic part sales numbers to analyze trends and assist with updating mix/max levels and stock order numbers.”
“ Recording meetings and mock sales calls.”
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Automated Communications
While dealers agree that the human touch is essential when buying an RV, using your DMS, CRM or other communication tools to deliver timely, channel-appropriate communications can help strengthen customer relationships. The key is being proactive: keeping customers informed throughout the sales and service cycle while creating opportunities to bring them back after the sale. By templating or automating messages , dealerships can establish a consistent cadence and style of communication, leading to a stronger and more seamless customer experience.
Sales Communications to Automate
Service Communications to Automate or Template • Appointment created notification • Work order status updates • E-signature work order approvals and invoices • Parts order status updates • Work order completed notification • Pick-up date notification
• AI chatbots • Web and social media ads • Service appointment reminders • Referral offers • Post-sale request for online reviews • Post-sale NPS survey request • Unit-matching alerts based on customer records • Birthday greetings & other personal touches
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Building Relationships Beyond the Sale
A relationship with your customer doesn’t stop once the keys are in their hands. Dealers can strengthen customer relationships by extending support well beyond the initial sale. Providing help videos on RV maintenance, sending timely reminders and communications, and sharing practical advice or resources all add value to the ownership experience. By positioning themselves as ongoing partners in their journey, dealers can build loyalty and long-term trust. A CRM Approach to Service Most dealers have adopted some form of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool to help drive sales. Increasingly, they are extending those tools and best practices to service as well. By using service CRM systems proactively , dealers can remind customers about upcoming maintenance, encourage seasonal check-ins, and keep service bays full even when sales slow down. This kind of outreach—such as sending a message that says, “It’s been six months; here’s what we typically see” —helps drive steady service business during slower periods and strengthens long-term customer relationships.
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Dealer Perspective: Utilizing a CRM for Service
I'm second generation with our business. I grew up through our service department, running things for our service department, and moving through the business.
I think a lot of businesses look at it in terms of sales, which is important, but the biggest thing our dealership is designed for is taking care of our guests after the fact. That's the most important thing for customer retention. The service CRM part of that just helps us be more proactive in how we take care of our guests—trying to figure out how we can take care of them quicker and better, and provide the service they expect in today's world. Having a sales CRM, and having used that for years from different providers, and knowing what importance it has provided to us on the sales side, it just was a no-brainer to do it for service. It helps with communication.
Chad Goedken Sun & Fun RVs
Learn more about IDS ServiceCRM
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Integrated Payments
As dealerships continue to modernize their operations, integrated payment solutions are becoming a key driver of efficiency and accuracy. Traditional checkout processes often rely on manual entry, which can introduce errors, slow down transactions, and create friction for both staff and customers. According to research by Adyen, businesses lose an average of six hours per week on accounting reconciliation tasks, and 73% of SME decision-markers identify payment reconciliation as a major frustration (source). By embedding payment processing directly into their DMS , dealers are streamlining financial workflows, reducing points of failure, and saving their accounting team a major headache.
Integrated payments ensure that credit and debit card transactions automatically sync with accounting records in real time. This eliminates the need for duplicate data entry, physical receipt handling, and time spent unwinding errors; all common sources of inefficiency in dealership environments. At the same time, advanced fraud protection and secure smart terminals enhance both compliance and customer trust.
Learn about IDS Integrated Payments
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Dealer Perspective: Integrated Payments
A couple of times a week, we would have errors; up to 2.5 hours per week. Sometimes, we had to call customers and refund them. Now, there are no errors. It speeds up the checkout process and saves time for our team and our customers.
Lindsay Allmeyer Bill Thomas Camper Sales
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Grow. Benchmarking performance, empowering teams, driving profits, safeguarding your data.
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How Can We Move the Industry Forward Together? The RV industry is witnessing an overarching shift in dealership leadership, as many businesses transition from first- to second- or even third-generation management. With this change comes a new set of expectations when it comes to technology. Emerging leaders want modern DMS solutions that are faster, simpler, and more intuitive . And because many dealerships are legacies passed down to children and grandchildren, technology isn’t seen as just a tool for today, but as an investment in the long-term strength of the business. Dealers are working smarter than ever. They’re leveraging data to make more informed decisions, using benchmarks to measure and improve performance, streamlining operations, and empowering their teams to work more efficiently and with sharper focus. We’re also seeing collaboration between dealers, OEMs, and technology providers like never before, and it’s paying off. It’s strengthening customer relationships but reinforcing the bonds that tie the RV industry together. Perhaps the most important lesson from recent years is this: technology can never replace relationships—it should strengthen them.
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Benchmark Your Dealership’s Performance Against the Industry
If you’re only benchmarking against yourself, you’re not getting the full picture.
It’s not enough to simply measure your performance year over year. You also need to understand how you stack up against the industry. How are other dealers in your region performing? How do you compare on a national level?
Key Sales Benchmark Metrics
Key Service Benchmark Metrics
• Sales margin • Financed deal structures (rate, term, down pmt, etc.) • F&I income as % of selling price • Finance and product penetrations • Deliveries per salesperson
• Repair Event Cycle Times (RECT) • Sales per work order (labor, parts, extras) • Billed hours per work order (warranty, external, internal) • Tech efficiency • Tech to service writer ratio • Effective labor rate • Parts margin
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Put Data in the Hands of Your Team With simplified data reporting tools, more dealers are putting critical information in the hands of their entire team, from management to technicians.
When everyone is speaking the same language, work gets done.
The same applies to data: Does your team know which metrics truly move the needle? Does each individual contributor clearly understand what success looks like in numbers? Are these metrics being reviewed during one-on-one sessions? Data not only holds teams accountable but also highlights where additional support may be needed . Posting technician efficiency data publicly, for example, promotes awareness and improvement. Tracking performance weekly and comparing it to historical trends helps identify changes and measure the impact of training. When used effectively, data can encourage healthy competition among team members, while also giving everyone a fair and consistent baseline to work from.
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Industry Snapshot: Dealership Sales Focus
In our 2025 survey of RV dealers across North America, we asked: aside from unit sales, where will you focus your attention this year? The majority of dealers indicated they plan to prioritize customer pay service work (20%) , followed by insurance service work (14%) , with accessories upsells (14%) close behind. Many also highlighted warranty service work (11%) and F&I (11%) as key focuses.
The takeaway: dealers are looking for opportunities to maximize the value of every unit sale through add-ons and additional services. This trend speaks to the focus on long-term customer relationships within the RV industry, where units often serve as a lifestyle investment. By focusing on accessories, service, and parts, dealers can enhance the ownership experience, build loyalty, and create recurring revenue streams beyond the initial sale.
Where will you focus your attention this year?
Rentals Customer pay service work Insurance service work Warranty service work Accessoories upsells Over-the-counter parts sales F&I Other
Used unit sales
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
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Parts Management: Every Part Counts Maximizing profit on every unit sale means taking full advantage of add-ons like parts and accessories. To do this effectively, dealers need to leverage their DMS to maintain close control over their inventory. Too often, parts go missing or sit on the shelves for too long, leading to overstock and missed sales opportunities.
As the saying goes, “little by little, a little becomes a lot.”
Inventory Management Best Practices
Monitor Inventory Levels Track stock across all locations and set MIN/MAX levels with automated reorder suggestions. Speed Up Sales Use instant inventory access, scanning, and e-signatures to fulfill customer orders quickly. Optimize Pricing Leverage price escalation and trend insights to maximize margins. Streamline Operations Reduce duplicate orders, eliminate double-data entry, and automate notifications to ensure timely fulfillment.
Integrate with Suppliers Maintain accurate, timely orders through seamless supplier connections.
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Turn Warranty Into a Profit Center Your lot may hold uncollected revenue in warranty opportunities. Treat warranty not just as post-sale protection, but as a profit center with a dedicated owner.
Accurate Data Matters
Tell the Full Story
Follow Up on Claims Submitting a claim is only the start. Monitor aged receivables and maintain a clear feedback loop to resolve discrepancies quickly. Run an aged receivable report weekly, if not daily.
From unit drop-off to the full life of the warranty, provide clear information, photos, and documentation.
Record all steps and work done on a unit, not just a single sentence. Add as many details as possible.
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With unit sales declining, optimizing per-unit gross profit is critical. Top dealers finance over 70% of unit sales and having an in-house focus on F&I can help maximize these opportunities. Maximize F&I Profit
Offer a Broad Range of F&I Products This includes extended warranties, gap insurance, roadside assistance, and tire/wheel protection give customers flexibility while boosting high-margin add-ons.
Educate Customers Sales and F&I teams should clearly communicate the value of these products, emphasizing peace of mind, financial security, and protection for their purchases.
Use Effective Pricing Strategies Aim for pricing that is competitive while clearly reflecting the product’s value. Analyze market trends and competitor pricing and work with vendors to find the optimal balance.
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Safeguarding Your Dealership’s Data
Protecting your dealership’s data from cyberthreats should always be top of mind. Each year, threats grow more sophisticated, and dealers must safeguard their businesses before an incident occurs. The rapid rise of generative AI, increasingly complex supply chains, and escalating geopolitical tensions are all contributing to a more challenging cybersecurity landscape to navigate. A World Economic Forum study found that 72% of respondents reported an increase in organizational cyber risks in 2025, with ransomware topping the list of concerns (source). For dealers, the challenge is clear: adopt new technologies to stay competitive, while ensuring the right safeguards are in place to protect the business. Now more than ever, it’s essential to lean on the security measures offered by DMS vendors, giving both your team and your customers peace of mind.
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Industry Snapshot: Cybersecurity in 2026
In our survey of RV dealers across North America, we asked how prepared they feel against cybersecurity threats. 27% of respondents said they feel “very prepared” , a 10% increase from last year. Meanwhile, the share of dealers who feel “not prepared” decreased slightly (11%) . These results suggest a growing awareness of cybersecurity risks and an increasing effort by dealers to protect their businesses.
How prepared do you feel your dealership is against cybersecurity threats?
I don’t know
Very prepared
Somewhat prepared
Not very prepared
11%
9%
53%
27%
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Cloud Hosting: A Necessary Security Measure
If your dealership is still relying on an on-premise server, there’s never been a better time to move to the cloud. Cloud hosting isn't just efficient; it’s a critical security upgrade. Cloud-hosted systems not only allow you to access dealership data securely from anywhere with an internet connection, but they also provide robust security support from the provider. Key benefits include:
Extra Layer of Defense Cloud storage adds segmentation between your workstation and your data. Even if a computer is compromised, hackers can’t automatically access your dealership data stored remotely. Regular Monitoring Cloud providers take responsibility for monitoring your environment, updating systems, and alerting you to potential issues, backed by trained security professionals. Real-Time Backups Your data is backed up continuously, so in the event of a cyberattack or system failure, you can quickly restore the latest information without relying on outdated local backups.
For RV dealerships, where sensitive customer and operational data is critical, moving to the cloud is one of the most effective ways to protect your business and maintain continuity.
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Industry Snapshot: Where Dealers Think the Industry is Headed In our 2025 survey, RV dealers across North America shared their predictions for what the biggest trends in the RV industry will be.
Dealerships
Customer Engagement
Younger Families
Dealer
AI
Towable Unit
Unit Sharing Customer Small Dealer
Trailers
Unit Sales
Customer Service
Dealer Management
“ Smaller towable unit sales , rentals, unit sharing,campgrounds morphing to seasonal resorts.”
“ Customer engagement via web marketing, and CRM platform expansion.”
“Separation of customer service needs from asmall dealer vs. large conglomerate dealers. ”
“ AI in every aspect of the dealership.”
”Back to basic customer service. ”
“ Online shopping for everything.”
“ Manufacturers must continue to improvewarranty processes to aid in assisting customersand help dealers give quality customer servicewithout losing money, so that dealers raise theirhands to help all customers.”
“ Digitization. ”
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Connect your team, your system, and your customers.
Simplify your workflow, your operations, and your customer experience.
Grow your revenue, your efficiency, and your dealership’s possibilities.
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Moving the Industry Forward— Together
If there is one thing this report makes clear, it’s that together, we are stronger. The future of the industry depends on three guiding principles: Connect, Simplify, Grow. Connecting workflows, dealers, customers, manufacturers, and technology provid- ers to create stronger relationships and smoother operations. Simplifying processes, resolving issues faster, and putting information in the hands of the entire dealership team to empower better work.
Growing opportunities, building customer loyalty, and partnering with OEMs and DMS providers to drive success and resilience.
The road ahead for the RV industry is long, and it won’t always be smooth, but we’re all here because we love the journey.
Let's drive the industry forward—together.
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Connect, Simplify, and Grow Your Dealership IDS builds industry-leading solutions that pave the way for future innovation. We’re more than a software vendor; we’re a trusted partner in dealership success , deliv- ering holistic, community-driven solutions to the challenges dealers face today and tomorrow. Our team combines decades of hands-on expertise with forward-thinking innovation to help dealers streamline operations, uncover meaningful insights, and accelerate growth.
Ready to learn more about how IDS can be your dealership’s strategic partner?
Reach out to our team of dealership experts at 800-769 - 7425 or email sales@ids-astra.com .
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IDS Integrated Dealer Systems
www.ids-astra.com
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