Integrated Dealer Systems (IDS) collected 2024 dealership data in its 2025 RV Dealer Industry Trends Report.
The dealer management systems (DMS) provider’s report supplied repair event cycle time (RECT) and inventory management statistics. IDS also provided recommendations for dealers to streamline their companies by analyzing/visualizing data and using digital tools.
IDS General Manager Frank Tamburrini said, “In today’s competitive market, companies that embrace data and analytics are poised to gain a significant advantage over those who do not.”
The report highlighted challenges the industry faced, including parts shortages, aged inventory and consumer retention.
He said, “We hope the trends we highlight in this report will help guide those conversations.”
Tamburrini provided insight into key study points.
RECT Collection
The company’s 2025 study tracked 2024 repair event cycle time (RECT) data. The average RECT dropped to 34 days, the shortest period since 2020, when the average was 29 days. In November, the average RECT was 32 days. In 2023, the average was 37 days, while in 2019, the RECT average was 26 days.
Tamburrini attributed positive RECT development to the supply chain improvement and RVDA’s RECT initiatives, prioritized over the past few years.
“Sometimes when you shine a spotlight on something and give it attention,” he said, “then the industry will start doing more and more to improve it.”
While the cycle times are improving, the study reported that dealers observed a 38% increase in demand for faster service turnaround times.
Out-of-stock parts increased in 2024 compared with 2022. During supply chain challenges in 2022, 22% of bottlenecks stemmed from out-of-stock parts. This year, 31% stemmed from out-of-stock parts.
According to Tamburrini, supply chain fears caused dealers to overorder parts in 2022, contributing to fewer bottlenecks that year. As the supply chain balanced out, dealers eased ordering.
He said now, “they know that if they order it, they are going to get it.”
Data Reflection
Tamburrini said before making changes to improve efficiency, dealers should analyze their data through data visualization tools. By using tools such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power BI, dealers can create digestible data graphics. Dealers can also leverage additional reporting and data visualization tools provided by their DMS such as IDS’ Leadership Insights.
Once data is visualized, Tamburrini said dealers can make educated decisions about application strategies.
According to IDS, digitization tools, including automatic texts, save dealers time and keep consumers satisfied. Proactive communication with these tools can prevent consumer frustration.
In the report, consumer expectations for receiving updates from dealers while their RVs are being serviced increased by 25% compared with the previous year.
Tamburrini said, “Even if you do not have an update, sometimes just hearing a friendly message saying, ‘I have not forgotten about you, we are working on it,’ is better than the black hole of nothing.”
Automating communication can fulfill consumer expectations. Tamburrini said many consumers are influenced by the “Amazon effect,” where they expect to get their product or service as soon as possible. Digitized tools such as texts, payments and signatures can speed up this process.
By using automation tools, dealers can allocate time that would have been spent on the phone to other areas.
Among workflows that can be digitized are inventory management, service management and parts requests.
Application
According to Tamburrini, dealers should focus on balancing appropriate stocking levels with ordering unnecessary parts. Proactive purchasing can streamline this process.
To make these decisions, he suggested analyzing parts sales during certain periods. For example, if one part sells more in the winter, dealers should stock that before winter.
He said, “Sounds easy, but reports tell you what happened but only insights will tell you if you actually should order that part.”
Insights can decipher whether a part was at the top of the list three winters in a row because of the season or the circumstances surrounding that year. The result assists dealers in deciding what to order.
While each dealership will differ, Tamburrini said implementing digital tools and ordering proactively can support smooth dealership operations.
To read IDS’ full trends report, click here.
