💪 Mastering AI to Transform Your Dealership

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just for tech giants or science fiction anymore—it’s here transforming industries, including retail automotive.

During his presentation at the NADA Show this year, Sean Toussi (CEO and co-founder of Glo3D.com) broke down the rapidly evolving role of AI in car dealerships and how leaders can leverage it to stay ahead in a competitive market.

Here’s a look at the key takeaways.

Tech Adoption: From Generations to a Blink

It took humanity eight generations to get 500M people to use electric refrigerators (because lukewarm milk was apparently fine for a while). ChatGPT, on the other hand, hit the same milestone in just two months. Two months.

The point? Technology isn’t just evolving—it’s sprinting. And dealerships don’t have the luxury of sitting back and waiting 200 years to adopt it.

What’s AI Already Doing for Dealerships?

Spoiler alert: a lot. AI isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a toolkit, and it’s already putting in work across the industry. Here’s how:

1. Merchandising

If your car photos still look like something from a classifieds ad, AI can help. Benefits include:

• Consistency and Speed: Need 100 car photos edited yesterday? AI’s got you. Plus, AI-powered background removals make every car photo look sharp.

• Damage Detection: No need to play “spot the dent” manually anymore.

• Video Tours: Automated walk-arounds so polished you might consider hiring the AI as your videographer.

Think of it as a full-time merchandiser who doesn’t need sleep.

2. Marketing and Sales

Marketing used to be throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. AI has the wall (and the spaghetti) figured out:

• Hyper-Personalization: AI knows when and where to nudge customers with offers they actually care about, often using their social media behavior to predict what’s next.

• Social Media Magic: Posts, captions, and scheduling? Automated.

• AI Sales Coaches: Your team gets prepped with tools that simulate real-world selling scenarios.

• Customer Engagement: AI helps you check in after the sale, keeping communication goal-oriented and smart.

It’s marketing, but with all the guesswork stripped out.

3. Customer Service

AI’s customer service game is strong:

• Always-On Support: Whether it’s 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., AI is ready with consistent, helpful answers.

• Predictive Help: AI anticipates customer needs, like suggesting service deals or upgrades before they even think to ask.

It’s like having a customer service rep who never calls out sick.

4. Dealership Management

AI isn’t just for the front lines, it’s running the back office, too.

• Lead Handling: AI qualifies and routes leads faster than your team can grab their coffee.

• Predictive Analytics: Trends, patterns, and actionable insights—served up before you even knew you needed them.

• Streamlining Everything: From HR to compliance to training, AI keeps operations smooth without the “put out this fire” energy.

Basically, it’s the Swiss Army knife your managers didn’t know they needed.

What’s Next for AI?

Sean didn’t just stop at what AI is doing now, he gave us a sneak peek at what’s coming next:

• XR Visuals and Virtual Reality

  Soon, your customers will be able to put on VR glasses at home and take a virtual test drive. They’ll be able to explore every feature, choose their trim, and customize their options without ever stepping foot into the dealership.
   

• AI-Powered Personal Assistants

  From scheduling follow-ups to handling tedious admin tasks, AI assistants will take multitasking to new heights. Think executive-level help, minus the small talk.

The Takeaway: Be Ready or Be Left Behind

AI isn’t a shiny toy, it’s a workhorse. It’s already helping dealerships sell smarter, market better, and run tighter operations. The future isn’t slowing down, and the dealerships that lean into this tech revolution are the ones that will stay ahead.