General Info

About Our Company DealerBuilt is a rapidly expanding auto dealer software provider offering the LightYear dealer software package to Ford, GM, Chrysler, and many other automobile manufacturers. In 1982, John Hosmer, a CPA and owner of Lyons Toyota Dodge in Mason City, Iowa, was discouraged by the high software prices required to run a dealership operation. He also realized that computers could be utilized to easily solve complex business issues, and thus decided to learn the art and science of software programming with the goal of creating an all inclusive, dealer management software program for his dealership. Using the Macintosh, Mr. Hosmer took advantage of the ease-of-use and quick development that a windows-based system provides. After many years of programming and consulting with numerous finance and insurance experts, used vehicle managers, general sales managers, sales consultants, controllers, and other experienced dealership personnel, his vision, a windows-based PC program called LotLink became a reality. For 10 years Mr. Hosmer tested and enhanced LotLink within his own stores, continuously updating the application to meet various needs. As the functionality grew, so did LotLink's technology. In 1996, LightYear migrated from a Macintosh based system to a Microsoft Windows based system. The open architecture offered more options including increased product visibility and acceptance, yet maintained a rapid-development environment that allowed the product to continue to efficiently evolve. In addition, this provided a launching pad to begin offering the LotLink solution to other dealers who could benefit from a feature-rich, cost effective system.