Dabadu + CDK Integration for Dealership Data
CDK is one of the dealer management platforms Dabadu names as integrated on its own site. The connection keeps the CRM and the DMS pointed at the same customers, the same vehicles and the same deals instead of two diverging copies.
What the Dabadu + CDK integration does
Stores running CDK usually have years of history in it, and that history is the reason nobody wants to touch the DMS. The Dabadu integration is designed around that reality: CDK keeps its role as the system of record, and Dabadu takes over the parts of the day that a DMS was never built for - responding to a lead in minutes, running structured follow-up, pulling credit, desking a deal, and getting the customer through delivery.
The connection gives both systems a shared view of who the customer is and which vehicle is in play. Inventory flows into the CRM so a rep is never quoting a unit that sold on Tuesday. Deal and customer information built on the floor moves toward the DMS rather than being re-entered by the business office, which is where transcription errors usually creep in.
The specific fields and record types enabled are agreed per dealership during implementation. Dabadu confirms scope with your store rather than promising a fixed field list up front, because CDK deployments differ.
What data syncs
The record types Dabadu and CDK keep aligned. Exact scope is confirmed with your dealership during implementation.
| Data | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customer records | Two-way | One customer identity across the CRM and the DMS, including contact details and consent state. |
| Vehicle inventory | CDK → Dabadu | Live stock and status so the sales floor quotes against real availability. |
| Deal information | Dabadu → CDK | Structured deals pass to the business office instead of being rekeyed from a worksheet. |
| Trade-in and appraisal data | Dabadu → CDK | Trade details captured during the deal stay attached to the customer file. |
| Service history | CDK → Dabadu | Where exposed, service records feed equity and service-drive campaigns in the CRM. |
How to connect CDK to Dabadu
Scope the connection with your store
Your Dabadu implementation lead confirms which CDK environment you run and which record types your dealership wants in scope.
Authorise data access
Your dealership authorises the connection with CDK. Dabadu never requests DMS access on a store's behalf without that written authorisation.
Map rooftops, users and fields
Store codes, sales staff and record types are mapped to their Dabadu equivalents so nothing lands against the wrong rooftop.
Run a validation pass
A sample of real customers, vehicles and deals is pushed through in both directions and reconciled before the full store is switched on.
Go live with support
The sync is enabled for the rooftop and monitored through the first weeks of live deals so mapping gaps surface early.
Who this is for
Dealerships and auto groups already committed to CDK that want a Canadian CRM on top of it rather than a rip-and-replace project. If your team is copying customer details from the CRM into the DMS by hand - or worse, skipping the CRM entirely because it is faster to type into the DMS - this is the integration that removes the reason to skip.
It is also relevant to groups mixing DMS platforms across rooftops, where one store runs CDK and another runs something else, and leadership wants one reporting layer over all of them.
CDK + Dabadu FAQ
Does Dabadu replace CDK?
No. Dabadu is an automotive XRM, not a dealer management system. CDK keeps accounting, parts and the deal file of record; Dabadu covers lead management, communication, credit, desking, delivery and marketing.
Can we run CDK at one rooftop and a different DMS at another?
Yes. Dabadu maps each rooftop to the DMS it actually runs, so a group can keep mixed systems while still reporting on all stores through one CRM.
How is customer data protected in transit?
Data access is authorised by the dealership and scoped to the record types agreed at implementation. Dabadu builds for Canadian dealership privacy obligations, including PIPEDA and Quebec's Law 25.
Will our historical CDK customers appear in Dabadu?
That depends on the scope your store agrees at implementation. Many dealers choose to bring historical customers and vehicles across so campaigns and equity mining have something to work with on day one.
How long does the CDK connection take to set up?
It varies by store, because it depends on how quickly DMS access is authorised and how many rooftops and record types are in scope. Your implementation lead gives you a timeline once scope is confirmed.
Related integrations
Products that use this integration
See the CDK integration in your store.
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