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Powersports Business • November 2025 • 9

Dealers using Lightspeed’ s dealer management system can now connect customers to financing faster and with greater security, thanks to a new integration with Priority One Financial Services.

The integration enables customer data from Lightspeed’ s Dealer Management

The integration enables customer data from Lightspeed’ s Dealer Management Solution( DMS) to pre-populate financing applications with Priority One, reducing duplicate entry and shortening turnaround time.( Staff photo)

System( DMS) to pre-populate financing applications with Priority One, reducing duplicate entry and shortening turnaround time. Funding details also sync between platforms, improving reporting and streamlining the process for both dealers and customers.

“ Connecting customers with financing has never been easier. This collaboration saves time, improves communication, and delivers a smooth experience from start to finish,” says Nicole Armstrong, vice president of corporate initiatives at Priority One.

Lightspeed’ s DMS serves dealerships of all sizes, covering sales, parts, service, rentals, accounting, and CRM. For dealers, the new integration means faster F & I workflows and better efficiency across departments.

Dealers can activate the feature through the Lightspeed subscriptions page by selecting the Priority One F & I integration, or reach out directly to their Priority One Dealer account executive.

Safe-Guard Products International has opened a new 30,375−square-foot service operations center in Greenville, South Carolina, strengthening customer support in the southern automotive and powersports corridor.

The new facility currently employs 130 people, with plans to grow to 220 by mid- 2026. Safe-Guard, known for its protection products across the automotive, RV, marine, and powersports industries, supports more than 65 partner brands across North America.

“ We’ re proud to expand our Greenville call center and further deepen our roots in South Carolina. This new facility allows us to bring even more talented representatives closer to our customers while reinforcing our commitment to the Greenville community,” says David Pryor, president and CEO of Safe-Guard.

South Carolina is a key hub for the automotive industry, supporting over 154,000 jobs and generating an annual economic impact of more than $ 27 billion. Safe- Guard’ s expanded presence in the state

positions the company closer to its partners and customers in this fast-growing market.

“ Opening this customer service center is a strategic step,” says Darin Cline, chief operating officer of Safe-Guard.“ Being in the core of the southern [ dealer ] gateway enables us to deliver smarter, faster service.”

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Atlanta, Safe-Guard continues to focus on delivering innovative protection products, advanced technology solutions, and customer-first service to its dealers and OEM partners.

The company’ s new 30,375-square-foot service operations center in Greenville, South Carolina, aims to strengthen customer support in the southern automotive and powersports corridor.( Photo: Safe-Guard Products International)

Carleton, a provider of compliant loan calculation and disclosure solutions, has released results from a nationwide survey showing widespread calculation errors, compliance strains, and operational challenges across the lending sector— issues that carry implications for powersports and auto dealers alike.

According to the survey, more than two-thirds of lenders experience recurring loan payment discrepancies on a weekly or monthly basis. The most common causes include miscalculated fees or add-ons( 23 %), incorrect application of interest rates or APRs( 23 %), and human data entry errors( 21 %). Nearly half of respondents said compliance issues such as inaccurate APRs or outdated disclosures had already resulted in rework, audit findings, or legal exposure.

Confidence in current systems remains low, with 44 % rating their trust at just a 1 or 2 on a five-point scale. Regulatory changes are also a major pain point, with 60 % of lenders reporting that they struggle to keep their systems aligned with evolving federal and state rules. Only one-third of organizations reported being able to implement updates in under a month, while nearly a quarter stated that it takes three months or longer.

Complex loan structures are another hurdle. About one-third of respondents stated that tiered rates, variable payment schedules, and other complex loan designs often lead to delays and errors. Only 14 % felt that their existing tools effectively handled these structures.

Operationally, the need for cross-functional teams to manage compliance updates

According to a survey conducted by Carleton, more than two-thirds of lenders experience recurring loan payment discrepancies on a weekly or monthly basis.( Photo: Carleton Inc.)

often pulls resources away from day-today business. The top frustrations reported included the risk of costly compliance errors( 26 %), the time required to finalize deals( 25 %), and the ongoing complexity of regulations( 19 %). Surprisingly, nearly one in six organizations still rely on spreadsheets for loan calculations despite the risks.

Looking ahead, lenders expressed a desire for more accurate calculation tools( 24 %), better reporting and audit readiness( 21 %), improved integration across CRM, DMS, and LOS platforms( 20 %), and real-time compliance monitoring( 20 %).

“ This survey shines a light on just how much effort lenders continue to put into getting calculations and disclosures right. When confidence in systems is low and errors remain frequent, it signals a broader industry problem— one that demands better integration, automation, and proactive compliance monitoring,” says Tim Yalich, vice president of business development at Carleton.

Carleton says the findings highlight opportunities for improved loan management and compliance solutions that could directly benefit dealers working with lenders and finance partners.

Synchrony has acquired Versatile Credit, a leading provider of consumer-financing software that connects merchants, lenders, and consumers at the point of sale. The move, according to reporting from OPE +, strengthens Synchrony’ s technology capabilities and expands its reach across retail and service industries that rely on flexible credit solutions— including powersports.

Versatile’ s multi-lender platform provides dealers and retailers with access to a broader range of financing options, enabling customers to qualify for credit more easily and driving sales conversions. The company’ s tools integrate with dealer systems and provide real-time reporting to track financing performance.

“ As a trusted partner to many of the country’ s top brands and small businesses, we’ re committed to helping them grow through technology and access to credit,” says Maran Nalluswami, executive vice president and chief strategy and business development officer at Synchrony.“ Versatile’ s platform sits at the forefront of consumer financing, driving more sales for merchants and expanded access to credit for customers.”

Versatile currently supports merchants in industries such as furniture, home improvement, automotive, jewelry, and healthcare. Synchrony plans to maintain Versatile’ s business strategy, management team, and relationships with other lending partners, while accelerating development of new financing technologies.

Ed O’ Donnell, CEO of Versatile Credit, adds,“ We’ ve worked closely with Synchrony for more than 15 years and share the same goal— helping merchants provide more ways for customers to finance their purchases. Joining Synchrony allows us to expand that reach and continue improving the user experience.”

The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on Synchrony’ s earnings but positions the company to deliver more integrated and flexible financing options to dealers and their customers across multiple retail sectors, including powersports.

The acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on Synchrony’ s earnings but positions the company to deliver more integrated and flexible financing options to dealers and their customers across multiple retail sectors, including powersports.( Staff photo)