Is Your Dealership Ready for AI? [Free Guide Inside]

Why AI Adoption Is No Longer Optional

• According to a recent Fullpath survey, 100% of dealerships that implemented AI saw their revenue rise within a year, with over 55% reporting improvements of more than 20% .
  
  
• Impel predicts that by 2025, Automotive AI will move from "nice-to-have backup" to the primary front-line contact point, supporting real-time engagement across all channels and elevating human interactions .
  
  

🚧 Common Pitfalls & False Beliefs about AI in car dealerships

🙅‍♂️ Myth: “AI will replace staff”

In reality, AI augments sales and service teams, automating routine tasks and enabling employees to focus on high-touch relationship-building. It doesn’t eliminate jobs; it frees people to do more valuable work.

🤔 Myth: “AI is too costly or only for large groups”

Affordable, scalable solutions like auto chatbots or predictive analytics are already accessible to small-to-mid-size dealerships. AI isn’t one-size-fits-all, it can be tailored to fit any team size or budget .

⚠️ Myth: “AI always gets things right”

AI output is only as good as its data. Hallucinations, bias, or incomplete data can yield inaccurate results. Human oversight is essential to check for context, correctness, and alignment with customer expectations .

✅ What to Expect, Realistic Outcomes

• Higher closing rates: AI platforms like Impel deliver up to 26% higher closing rates on internet leads, and engage past customers with 24% higher repurchase likelihood .
  
  
• Service conversion lift: AI-driven outreach can boost service appointments by up to 27% within 90 days, driving meaningful fixed-ops revenue .
  
  
• 50+% of dealerships now expanding AI budgets, signaling a shift toward AI as core infrastructure, not experimental add-ons .
  
  

🔍 Questions to Ask Internally & to Your AI Provider

Internally:

• Where are lead follow-up, appointment show rates, or customer retention underperforming?
  
  
• Which systems (CRM, DMS, CDP) are fragmented or underutilized?
  
  
• Who owns ownership of data hygiene and accuracy?
  
  
• What KPIs will define success for AI over the next 6–12 months?
  
  

To Your AI Provider:

• Does your solution integrate with our CRM, DMS, and data platforms?
  
  
• Can your AI be trained on our first‑party data to ensure accuracy and reduced bias?
  
  
• How do you monitor for hallucination, data drift or inaccuracies?
  
  
• Do your systems include feedback loops and A/B testing for constant improvement?
  
  
• How is the transition and handoff handled from AI to humans?
  
  

🛠️ How to Begin Implementation: A 5‑Step Roadmap (With Impel’s Framework)

Step 1: Assess readiness. Audit existing systems, fix performance gaps (e.g. poor show rates, flat conversions), and identify where AI can generate the greatest uplift .

Step 2: Set clear KPIs. Examples: improve inbound appointment set rate, shorten warm‑lead response time, increase repurchase rate after lease-end.

Step 3: Select a purpose-built automotive AI. Platforms like Impel and Fullpath are tailored for dealerships, they support lead generation, conversational scheduling, predictive marketing, and service outreach at scale .

Step 4: Train and pilot. Launch with a frontline AI agent for one department (like sales BDC), train on real leads, and iterate using feedback loops and human oversight.

Step 5: Scale and refine. Expand to service, marketing, and renewals. Use unified platforms to streamline omnichannel outreach, measure results, and continually optimize workflows .

🕵️ What to Watch For

• Data silos: Disconnected customer data systems (CRM, website, service logs) undermine AI accuracy and personalization.
  
  
• Lack of transparency: Does your AI explain decisions? Can you audit how it qualifies or engages leads?
  
  
• Resistance from staff: Without internal buy‑in and training, AI may be bypassed or underutilized.
  
  
• Security gaps: Choose providers that meet enterprise-level security standards to protect customer and operational data .

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