THE CHALLENGE
Scaling operations in a rural area
Wahpeton has just 14,000 people, yet Ward Cater runs a successful dealership by thinking beyond his local market. Pickup and delivery and a fully remote sales process across neighboring states are standard.
Running that process consistently and compliantly is a challenge, especially in a rural market. SelectFI fills the gap with an algorithm that thinks like a seasoned F&I manager and a QR-based pre-approval flow that brings in new leads.
"Your typical F&I manager — they aren't making them anymore. We have to fill in those gaps with technology."
Ward Cater — Dealer Principal, Vision Ford Lincoln
WHY SELECTFI
- Real approvals, not a calculator. Live lender offers off a soft pull — terms a customer can act on.
- Scale without headcount. Every state runs the same process, no finance manager required.
- Simple enough for anyone. Ward's daughter, who has never worked in the store, generates leads with a QR code.
HOW IT WORKS
selectFI thinks like a lender
- Name and phone number. A soft-pull screening starts the deal — 69% are initiated by customers themselves on their own devices.
- The network is evaluated live. Customer and vehicle info against your lender network: Instant deals are structured around active promotions, approval criteria and current
programs...we find financing deals that get approved. - Terms adjust on the spot. The sales manager moves payment or down payment; approval likelihood recalculates instantly.
- Submitted from the same screen. Structure issues get flagged first, so the payment never changes at the finish line.
"It neutralizes everything. This makes it Switzerland — the options are transparent, and customers know it's non-biased."
Ward Cater — Dealer Principal, Vision Ford Lincoln
The 15-minute deal
A service customer arrived with a troubled Lincoln. Ward presented a Maverick hybrid, pulled the first quote, and secured the financing himself. Conversation to keys: 15 minutes.
2026 RESULTS
selectFI puts real payments at the beginning of every deal. Through predictive software and a proven sales process, dealers sell more cars, finance more customers, and build trust that lasts from the first conversation to funding.