Contract execution is a chokepoint for automotive network growth. Every automaker–dealer relationship generates dozens of contracts and every network change, whether adding a location, upgrading a facility or updating ownership, cascades across departments and systems. In this context, contract management refers to how original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) plan, execute, track and audit dealer-related franchise agreements and compliance actions across the network. When the contract execution process slows or stalls, the risk of delays and compliance gaps for OEMs compounds.
As consumer expectations and sales trends evolve, OEMs need franchise dealers to adapt quickly while still delivering a consistent customer experience. However, the processes enabling network change are often slow, fragmented and difficult to manage. Many automakers still rely on a patchwork of manual processes, with information stored across spreadsheets, PDFs, emails and shared drives. Speed and accuracy are the primary casualties when contract execution hinges on manual coordination across multiple departments.
The Risk Posed by Fragmented Contract Data
Contract management remains a challenge for automakers and dealers alike. OEMs depend on dealer contracts to oversee compliance, incentives and brand standards across their networks. But when contract data is scattered across documents and systems, it becomes difficult to reconcile what has been documented and submitted with what’s actually current and accurate. Inconsistent contract data increases the risk of missed revenue opportunities and overlooked locations critical to network representation.
The 2026 Urban Science Harris Poll Study* demonstrates the scope of this challenge. More than half (53%) of dealers agree brand compliance requirements are difficult to keep up with and 82% say their networks need a simpler way to manage brand contracts.
Many OEMs are moving toward more structured, centralized approaches to address the challenges posed by fragmented and inconsistent contract management. Solutions like NetworkDynamics™ offer a governed system for planning, executing, tracking and auditing dealer-related contractual change. By unifying dealer contract data, standardizing franchise processes and automating document creation and implementation, OEMs gain greater visibility into every update and decision. Centralizing contract management helps reduce delays and supports the efficient execution of contracts and contract-related changes across the network.
High Expectations Strained by Slow Execution
Consumer expectations for dealerships continue to rise. More than half (55%) of the auto buyers surveyed for the 2026 Urban Science Harris Poll Study said they were more likely to choose a dealership with new or modern facilities. Dealers place even more weight on the link between facilities and performance, with 94% saying auto buyers are more likely to visit dealerships which visibly invest in upgrades.
Despite these expectations, execution often lags. Nearly three-quarters of dealers (72%) say delays in submitting compliance documentation can postpone facility incentives and negatively affect their dealership’s bottom line.
The same study also highlights the operational burden dealers face when managing data-intensive processes and correcting missteps.
- Two-thirds of dealers (65%) said connecting data between systems takes too much time and effort.
- Four in ten reported inaccurate or incomplete data had negatively impacted their performance.
- Thirty-five percent said they often question the reliability of the data they receive from their systems.
The customer experience suffers when dealers spend too much time managing and reconciling data. Almost three-quarters of dealers surveyed (71%) said their lead follow-up process takes between one and three weeks. If following up on a lead can take weeks, contract-related actions are often delayed just as long. These delays can stall incentives and facility upgrades, undermining both the customer experience and profitability for dealers and OEMs.
Fortifying Automotive Networks for Faster Evolution
Despite the operational challenges of automaker–dealer relationships, consumers express trust in the traditional dealership model. Ninety percent of auto buyers said they would consider purchasing a vehicle in person at a dealership, making it by far the most favored format.
Preserving auto-buyer confidence requires OEMs to act now to streamline the processes underpinning their dealer networks to ensure ongoing convenience to owners and buyers. Investing in a modern contract management solution like NetworkDynamics can help automakers improve data accuracy, reduce delays and implement locations with greater consistency.
As the automotive retail market continues to evolve, manual coordination and fragmented contract workflows cannot move fast enough for modern OEM dealer networks. Accurate, standardized contract data provides the foundation for faster compliance and execution. When contract management is simplified and centralized, the benefits reach across the entire network, saving time and boosting transparency for OEMs and dealers while supporting a better customer experience for auto buyers.
Connect with Urban Science to learn how NetworkDynamics can help your brand reduce risk, strengthen governance and manage network-level change with confidence. Reach out today to see the platform in action.
