S2E2: New Data Uncovered For Auto Dealers | Conversational Data | Dealer Insights Podcast By Strolid

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