The CDK suite CRM, or the AI-first one.
Elead is CDK Global's dealership CRM, built for franchise stores with BDC, desking and equity mining in one platform. BKD comes at the same job AI-first: a Sidekick per rep, with appraisals, inventory and lender submissions in the same login.
Where Elead fits.
CDK's CRM
The CRM in the CDK Global suite, built for franchise stores.
OEM versions
Manufacturer-specific versions for franchise programs.
Where BKD is different.
AI that works the lead, in the rep's name
BKD's Sidekicks text and email from each rep's own number in their style, follow up for weeks and hand off with one tap.
Appraisal to delivery in one login
An appraisal workbench with sold comps, live DMS inventory sync, a deal pipeline and a delivery board come with the CRM.
Credit App from the deal
Full finance applications go to lenders through Credit App under each rep's own login, with decisions back on the deal.
Fast to launch
Most stores are live in days, and each rep's Sidekick trains on their own past texts so it sounds like them from day one.
A mobile app built around calls and the AI
BKD's iOS and Android apps give reps the unified inbox, calls on their own BKD line with cell fallback, push alerts for new leads and Sidekick handoffs, appointments, and one-tap take-over from the AI.
Elead may fit if
- You are a franchise store committed to CDK across DMS and CRM.
Choose BKD if
- You want AI actually working every lead over text and email in each rep's name.
- You want appraisals, inventory, deals and lender submissions in the same login as the CRM.
- You're an independent or a smaller group that wants to be live in days, not months.
Five questions to ask both of us.
Take these into every vendor call, ours included. The answers separate demos from reality.
- 1What does the AI do on its own, and from whose number does it text?
- 2How long is a typical implementation for a store my size?
- 3Where do appraisals and inventory live, and what does each add-on cost?
- 4What does the mobile app let a rep do?
- 5What is the contract term and the data export process?
Based on Elead's public materials as of July 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us on a demo and we'll correct it.
See the difference on your leads.
A 30-minute walkthrough with our team. Bring your toughest lead source.