Host Michael Donovan welcomes Strolid Founder and CEO Vin Micciche to discuss practical applications of ChatGPT and AI tools for automotive dealers who want to start leveraging artificial intelligence today. The conversation covers how dealers can begin using AI for marketing content creation, data analysis, and operational efficiency without overhauling their entire business model, emphasizing that AI should empower teams rather than replace human relationships. Vin and Michael explore real-world examples, including generating USP concepts and radio scripts, analyzing conversation data for business insights, and using AI to streamline email creation and business planning processes.

The hosts stress that AI today is like the internet in 1996 - rapidly evolving but still in early stages - and dealers should pay attention without feeling pressured to rush into significant changes. A key takeaway from the episode is that AI can handle 80-90% of creative and analytical work, allowing dealers to add their human experience and expertise to achieve results much faster than traditional methods, creating significant efficiency gains while maintaining the personal touch that drives automotive sales.

Learn more about how Strolid helps dealerships Never Miss opportunities for dealers at https://www.strolid.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI for Car Dealers
03:05 The Evolution of AI and Its Current State
06:05 Practical Applications of ChatGPT for Dealerships
08:50 Data Management and CRM Integration
11:55 Leveraging AI for Business Insights
14:52 Creating Marketing Strategies with AI
18:00 The Future of AI in the Automotive Industry
24:06 Leveraging AI for Dealership Success
27:31 The Human Element in AI Integration
30:09 Empowering Teams with AI
34:55 Data-Driven Decision Making
39:15 The Future of CRM and AI
44:01 Enhancing Customer Experience with AI

Host Michael Donovan welcomes Strolid Founder and CEO Vin Micciche to dissect actionable strategies for dealerships to thrive in an evolving automotive landscape. Vin emphasizes human-centric AI adoption, arguing that tools like conversational analysis and CRM automation should enhance and replace staff capabilities. He critiques over-reliance on IVR systems and “hype-driven” AI solutions. He advocates for systems prioritizing rapid response times, conversational data insights (via Strolid’s vCon standard), and accountability across sales/service workflows.

The episode highlights how dealers can leverage AI to identify hidden revenue opportunities, such as analyzing call transcripts for geographic demand shifts or stalled inventory mentions. Vin shares metrics showing dealers using Strolid’s AI-powered search tools recover 80+ missed sales monthly by acting on real-time conversational signals. He also stresses the irreplaceable value of human intuition in resolving complex negotiations and building customer trust, noting that “AI’s greatest strength isn’t replacing people’s giving them superhuman memory to spot patterns in chaos.” Learn more about how Strolid helps dealerships Never Miss opportunities for dealers at https://www.strolid.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Dealerships
02:02 Understanding AI: Hype vs. Reality
05:05 Conversational AI: Capabilities and Limitations
09:58 The Human Element in Sales
14:56 Data-Driven Insights from Conversations
19:57 The Role of Technology in Customer Interaction
25:05 Future of AI in Dealerships
29:50 Conclusion: Balancing AI and Human Interaction
33:55 The Role of AI in Customer Engagement
39:43 Customer Experience: The Golden Rule
44:52 AI as a Co-Pilot, Not a Crutch
51:46 Data-Driven Decision Making in Automotive
57:51 Building Relationships in the Automotive Industry

Host Michael Donovan welcomes Strolid Vice President of Product Development Matt Watson to explore how conversational data reshapes dealership strategies by unlocking previously inaccessible customer insights. Watson details Strolid’s development of the vCon standard, an IETF global standard for structuring phone calls, texts, emails, and chats into searchable, actionable records (i.e., “robot food”). He contrasts traditional CRM limitations (lost context, siloed data) with vCon’s ability to unify interactions, enabling dealers to identify trends like geographic demand shifts or stalled inventory opportunities.

The episode highlights practical tools like Strolid Search, which allows dealers to mine conversations for keywords (e.g., competitor names, vehicle stock numbers), and Strolid GPT, which will enable dealers to ask questions in natural language (e.g., “Show me customers who are unhappy with their experience,” “shopping the competition,” etc.). Strolid GPT uses AI to generate hyper-personalized follow-ups based on customer sentiment and history. Watson shares a case where analyzing “out-of-state” mentions revealed 80+ missed monthly sales opportunities, prompting process adjustments. A pivotal insight: “Conversational data isn’t just about resolving complaints; it’s about spotting the $70,000 truck buyer who mentioned ‘Staten Island’ once and crafting a pitch before they walk to the competition.” Learn more about how Strolid helps dealerships Never Miss opportunities for dealers at https://www.strolid.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Conversational Data
02:16 Matt Watson's Journey in the Automotive Industry
04:19 The Evolution of Strahlid and Conversational Data
10:41 Breaking Down Data Silos in Automotive
13:25 Creating a Global Standard for Conversational Data
17:05 The Role of the Conserver in Data Management
23:01 Real-World Applications of Vcons in Dealerships
26:01 Understanding Attribution in Paid Search
30:08 The Power of Conversation Search
33:11 Leveraging AI with Strala GPT
40:30 Identifying Opportunities in Customer Conversations
47:10 Introducing Signals for Proactive Insights