If you have gone to more than one conference and expo this year, you know that 2024 was all about artificial intelligence (AI). The 2024 Digital Dealer Conference and Expo highlighted how the technology will be used at auto dealerships across the U.S.

From our expo hall to our keynote addresses to the sessions, the phrase “AI” was front and center detailing how it will improve operations at dealerships. But Kevin Frye of Jeff Wyler Automotive Family, pointed during the keynote session title GA4, EVs & AI, Oh My!, “AI is already in use at your dealership.”

Most notable is that AI is currently in two forms: it’s actually capabilities and how those capabilities are being marketed. The former is starting to be front and center is exhibitors and dealers business plans while the former was on full display at #DDCE2024.

Using AI

One case study is Uveye, an exhibitor at #DDCE2024. The company launched its BDC Booster, an AI-powered sales intelligence and engagement platform designed to enhance dealership operations. Leveraging unique AI-powered vehicle inspection data, UVeye officials promoted the BDC Booster as helping car dealerships increase customer loyalty and retention, boost conversion rates, and drive revenue growth.

As company’s CMO Yaron Saghiv pointed out, “dealers are in the middle of understanding and then deploying their data they have accumulated over the years.” AI is helping to harness that data, which can lead to increased business on many fronts at the dealership-following up on leads to sell a car to scheduling a service appointment.

Cox’s Use of Data

Corralling that data in one place is behind the recent launch of Retail360 from Cox Automotive, a comprehensive suite of tools that connects the entire auto retail ecosystem along every step of the car-buying journey. Retail360 applies specific data intelligence about the consumer, the vehicle, and the deal, all the way through from submitting a lead to the F&I process to contract signing.

AI-powered F&I intelligence and automation, which leverages the same AI-led predictive insights from Cox’s consumer touchpoints and the largest lender network, allows dealers to streamline finance decisions and automate the ID verification and contracting processes, according to Cox’s Noah Lee.

Adding data insights and automating these steps provides consumers and dealers with the flexibility to digitally complete deals at the dealership or off premises, noted Cox’s

Follow the Money

How AI benefits dealers was the subject for Numa’s Derek Simonds session titled Transformative Power of Autonomous AI Agents. Simonds detailed how Generative AI will transform how dealerships operate through its ability to mimic human dialogue and perform cognitive tasks.  

Simmonds address came as Numa announced a $32 million Series B funding round. Founded by the team behind Location Labs, Numa integrates AI into every aspect of dealership functions—from rescuing customer calls and voicemails that generate more revenue to reducing customer resolution times that drive overall customer satisfaction (CSI) to improving dealership team productivity and accountability. The company works with over 600 dealerships across the U.S. and Canada.

Simonds stressed dealerships must embrace the catalyze a new era of hyper-efficiency—in both back and front office—and give rise to new business models, systems, jobs, and workflows that AI will deliver or find themselves at an enormous cost and competitive disadvantage.

Netsol Platform

Another AI-technology company offering a new feature was  NETSOL Technologies with its new unified Transcend Platform—an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital retail and asset finance solution for automotive and equipment OEMs, auto captives, commercial lenders, dealers, brokers and financial institutions.

The new NETSOL Transcend Platform offers a set of products and solutions under one umbrella, showcasing the company’s commitment to harnessing the transformative potential of AI.

This comprehensive platform addresses various use cases, from asset, auto and equipment finance and leasing technology to innovative digital retail solutions facilitating complex purchasing journeys.

Beginning of AI Journey

“Our AI initiatives goes into improving our internal efficiencies as a company as well as helping our clients become more efficient operations,” said Naeem Ghauri, Co-Founder and President of NETSOL. “The biggest benefit for a dealer to get out of this is data capture.”

Ghauri noted that while the expo hall featured AI products and companies, it only the tip of the iceberg to what it will be in the coming years for DDCE with AI “shaking up” the industry to an extent that cannot be currently fathomed.

“I think AI is going to grow exponentially,” he said. “There’s so much room for penetration— how do you actually sell a car in the way that you know you get more data and how you train on that data to make the journey easier for the customer or the OEM or the dealer all the different stakeholders…we’re very much at the beginning of the journey.”

Conference Highlights

Our networking programs were a #DDCE2024 highlight. The Women’s Meetup features five leaders who make up the inaugural Women’s Meetup Ambassador Program who share stories of support in the industry, and insights into what fuels their passion for the Women’s Meetup. Additionally, the Dealer Vendor Exchange was a networking lunch sponsored by MXS Solutions, while a Speed Networking Program and Happy Hour in the Expo Hall culminated the first day.

To continue networking with attendees and exhibitors, access the event app through Nov. 30, And starting on Nov. 1, you watch recorded sessions on-demand, view presentation decks, and rate sessions your attended.

Up next is DealerPoint, set for April 9-11, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, FL. DealerPoint is a VIP networking experience highly curated for each dealership attendee that features 1:1 private meetings and boardroom presentations foster long-term relationships for both the Dealer Executives and Solution Providers.  Through this unique format, both dealership attendees and vendors will have the opportunity to connect like never before.

And before you know it, the 2025 Digital Dealer Conference & Expo will be upon us. DDCE2025 is set Oct. 14-16, 2025 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.