Number of Seats/Users: CDK Global offers discounts based on the number of users or seats. A higher volume typically leads to a better discount structure, especially for enterprise-level usage.

Commitment to a Long-Term Contract: Discounts are often provided to companies that commit to using the service for a longer period (e.g., 1-year or 3-year contracts). A longer commitment shows CDK Global that the company is serious and willing to invest in the platform long-term.

No Active Discounts: Companies that are not already receiving other active discounts may have a better chance of qualifying for additional discounts from CDK Global. CDK Global reserves discounts for new customers or those not currently under promotional pricing.

Volume or Usage Commitment: CDK Global offers discounts if you agree to a minimum amount of usage or transaction volume. This could be based on data storage, transactions, or other metrics tied to how much you will use the platform.

Enterprise-Level Negotiation: Companies that qualify as “enterprise” due to their size or complexity (e.g., having large teams, multiple departments, or geographical presence) may be eligible for additional discounts from CDK Global. Such companies are often in a position to negotiate for better pricing.

Early Renewal or Prepayment: CDK Global often offers discounts if you renew early or prepay for the entire contract period. This is a common approach to securing a lower price.

Here at Spendbase our internal data shows that CDK Global (including Elead CRM) drives very mixed experiences: strong functionality in some areas, but serious frustration in others.

Overall sentiment
Our internal data shows that:
– Roughly half of Spendbase clients rate the platform 4–5 stars, especially for CRM and finance.
– A sizable group rate it 1–2 stars, mainly due to support, usability, and lack of innovation.
– This creates a very “love it or hate it” profile.

What Spendbase clients like most
Clients consistently highlight:

• CRM & sales tools (Elead)
• Easy to navigate once trained
• Strong desk log, workflows, desking, inventory tie-in
• Solid email/ebrochure tools, templates, and follow-up automation
• Helpful performance managers and implementation teams

• Good lead management and marketing list creation

• Dealership-wide coverage

• One-stop shop across Sales, F&I, Parts, Accounting
• Strong financial tracking and reporting for the dealership side

• Works for multi-rooftop groups and complex operations

• Productivity

• Shortcut codes and multitasking support
• Useful analytics dashboards and canned reports (when they fit the need)

Main pain points we see

Our internal data shows repeating issues in these areas:

• Support & service
• Hard to reach the right person; frequent escalations and long resolution times
• Perception that service quality declined after acquisitions

• Feeling that CDK is “too big” and locked-in contracts reduce their urgency

• Innovation & usability

• Interfaces feel dated; many extra steps for simple tasks
• Slow to release fixes and enhancements
• Website tools described as glitchy, slow, and weak on mobile

• Elead has some awkward workflows (tasks, picture manager, HTML editor)

• Service department tools

• Service scheduler and technician management seen as inadequate

• Service workflows feel code-heavy and not intuitive

• Pricing & nickel-and-diming

• High overall cost compared to alternatives
• Extra fees for form changes, custom reports, and small tweaks

• Long multi-year contracts with limited flexibility

• Reporting gaps

• Limited self-service/custom reporting
• Costly, slow custom report builds, sometimes with questionable accuracy
• Desire for better database search (notes, keywords) and more real-time insights

How we use this at Spendbase
These insights help us:
– Push for stronger discounts and credits, citing support and innovation gaps
– Negotiate shorter terms or better exit clauses
– Bundle in training, change requests, and report-building at no extra cost
– Secure clearer SLAs around uptime, response times, and service performance