AI in the Non-Franchise Auto Industry: A Smart Investment, Not a Gimmick
Artificial Intelligence has come a long way. Even just a few short years ago, AI was seen as more artificial than actual, helpful technology, but now it's leading the charge in technology advancements across several industries.
In particular, modern generative AI is vastly different from past iterations of AI, specifically chatbots, which rightly earned a reputation of unreliability and ineffectiveness.
Now, modern generative AI is built to learn. And, it can provide real, measurable value in the non-franchise auto space, especially for automation and scalability.
What Bad AI Looks Like
In the past, gimmicky AI solutions, like the aforementioned chatbots, overpromised without actually delivering many real retail results for businesses.
Previous iterations of these AI solutions tended to collect and provide inaccurate information and, without the ability to learn, were repetitive and required manual input and extra work from real people to fix mistakes.
Perhaps most importantly, previous AI solutions had poor integration into daily dealership workflows. They lacked much-needed transparency and clarity into how AI can deliver real value for dealerships.
AI in the Non-Franchise Automotive Industry: Practical Applications
It's safe to say that the gimmicky AI solutions of the past have given way to a new narrative surrounding the technology. In fact, AI has become a real buzz term, and for good reason. Today's AI technologies are helping retailers in every industry to:
- Streamline operations: AI can analyze large amounts of data to predict shopper behaviors and optimize workflows by delivering action-based recommendations.
- Automate routine tasks: AI uses complex algorithms and deep learning to identify patterns and behaviors and make informed, automated decisions that reduce tedious workflows.
- Grow business: Artificial intelligence helps businesses take on more work without requiring a lot of extra help. In this way, it's helping business to scale and grow at unprecedented rates.
More specifically, modern AI is helping non-franchise auto dealers to be more efficient and offer greater value to consumers in the following ways:
- Automation: AI automates routine tasks for dealers and dealership staff, including background image replacement on dealership websites. Instead of having to manually take and update photos for every inventory item, dealers can save time by automating with AI.
- Customer service: Generative AI improves customer service with accurate, AI-driven, real-time answers to queries on dealer websites.
- Personalization: AI personalizes experiences for customers at scale, such as tailored vehicle descriptions to improve the online showroom experience.
The Competitive Edge of AI
It's easy to see why AI adoption is growing across industries, and especially in the automotive industry. With the ability to analyze data, predict behaviors, and personalize experiences, dealers are engaging more leads and closing more sales with the help of AI.
But many dealers are slow to adapt and the benefits of AI are going unnoticed and underutilized. In order to stay competitive, dealers need to investigate and invest in AI technology. Early adopters are already leveraging AI to gain an edge in efficiency and customer satisfaction.
How to Evaluate AI Solutions for Your Dealership
The need for AI is becoming more and more obvious, but how do you identify trustworthy AI solutions for your dealership? Consider the following ways you can evaluate your AI options and make the right technology choice for your dealership.
- Integration: You want your AI to be usable and useful. Assess solutions for ease of integration with your existing tools.
- Transparency: Prioritize transparency and vendor support. You want to get the most out of your AI technology and the right vendor can help you every step of the way.
- Practical Application: You want AI that will address your specific dealership needs. Look for solutions that will help you craft vehicle descriptions, help your online listings stand out, and capture the attention of potential customers.
Now is the Time to Trust AI
Gone are the days of unreliable AI. Modern AI is a game-changer for businesses, especially for non-franchise auto dealers. Take the first steps toward implementing AI—whether it's simply exploring AI tools for the first time or adopting small-scale solutions to build trust in its potential. Now is the time to see why AI is a smart investment for your dealership.
