How AI Sales Assistants Are Changing Automotive Dealerships‪ ‬ Modern Marketing Engine podcast hosted by Bernie Borges

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If you haven’t heard of AI sales assistants, chances are you may have interacted with one and didn’t even know it. That’s especially true if you’ve purchased or leased a car in the last few years and made your contact with the dealership by digital means. Automotive dealerships are becoming increasingly more tech-savvy and AI sales assistants are one of the newest tools in the marketing plans of many dealerships. But while this week’s podcast conversation showcases the automotive industry as an example, it's not just about the automotive industry - it’s about how many industries around the world are increasingly deploying AI sales assistants.
On this episode of Modern Marketing Engine Bernie speaks with Micah Burgess, Vice President of Sales at Conversica, the only provider of sales conversion management software for marketing, inside sales, and customer service groups. In this conversation they speak about the current state of the automotive industry, the marketing pivots many dealerships are making, and how AI technology is one of the newest ways dealerships are handling incoming sales calls at scale and converting them to sales.
This episode is sponsored by Conversica, AI software for marketing and sales that fosters real conversations to discover the most qualified sales opportunities. Learn more at https://conversica.com An Old-School Industry Goes Modern Automotive dealerships traditionally approach marketing and sales in tried and true ways. Newspaper inserts, television and radio spots, and even billboards are the mainstay in traditional automotive marketing. But many dealerships have recognized that the internet has changed everything and that there are major gains to be made as a result.
To take full advantage of the technologies available today, mindsets had to change. That mindset change is well underway. Auto dealers are thinking less like they are in the “car” business and more like they are in the business of business. That means they are thinking more about customers, customer experience, multiple touchpoints, and how to make the most of every opportunity. Data and technology are driving many of those decisions. 
Is Your Organization Making The Most Of Every Opportunity? The typical automotive dealership is doing business in a very competitive space. Not only are there multiple brand dealerships within a given metropolitan area, but there are also other automotive brands in the area. That being said, the typical buyer is not walking into the dealership as the first step of their buying journey. They research online, price their selected automobile online, and most will eventually contact the dealership that has the automobile of their choice through a digital channel as well.
This is one of the first touchpoints for dealerships, making the most of the opportunities automotive buyers give them through digital contact. When it comes to digital connections made through dealership websites or automotive comparison sites like Carfax or Cars.com, many of these dealerships are making use of AI sales assistants. Keep reading to learn more about how they work and listen to hear more details of how dealerships are putting them to use.
Could Your Team Handle Thousands Of Incoming Leads Per Week? Volume and scale are two of the reasons businesses of all types need to make use of automation. With the ease of communication that digital technology provides comes massive opportunities that human beings simply can’t respond to efficiently.
As an example, Micah explains that many automotive dealerships receive thousands of incoming leads through their websites, comparison sites, social media, and more every single week. No sales team can adequately handle that volume of leads. That’s where AI technology makes a difference. An automated “sales assistant” can interact with the potential buyer conversationally, answering questions, provid