The Field Manual.
The operator's guide to AI on the dealership floor. Essays, how-to guides, and case studies from the team building it, written for desk managers, dealer principals, and the people who keep the floor moving.
How to Evaluate an AI Vendor for Your Car Dealership: The 8-Question Framework
Structured framework for evaluating dealership AI vendors: 8 questions that separate working products from polished pitches
Best Impel Alternatives for Car Dealerships in 2026: Why AutomotiveAI Wins
6 Impel alternatives compared. Origin stories including Podium's medspa/HVAC roots, and why AutomotiveAI (built by a former dealership owner) wins over enterprise conglomerates and horizontal messaging tools.
How to Run a Dealership Recall Campaign That Actually Works
Most recall campaigns get 3-5% response. Top-performing dealers hit 25-40% with a 4-touch multi-channel workflow. Complete playbook: fresh data, sequence, booking, AI voice, no-show recovery.
What Is a Good Lead-to-Sale Conversion Rate for a Car Dealership?
Good lead-to-sale conversion: 5-7% internet, 15-25% phone, 20-30% walk-in. Complete 2026 benchmark set by source, the 5 failure modes, and the 6 patterns of 8-percent stores.
How to Increase Service Absorption Rate at Your Car Dealership
National service absorption average is 63.9%. Top quartile hits 85-100%. Complete 2026 playbook with three operational levers: appointment capture, revenue per RO, retention.
12 BDC KPIs Every Car Dealership Should Track Weekly in 2026
The 12 BDC KPIs that actually correlate with revenue: response time, contact rate, set rate, show rate, sold rate, conversion, and 6 more. 2026 benchmarks plus the action to take when each number falls short.
How to Reactivate Cold Leads at a Car Dealership: The 2026 Playbook
Most dealerships have 3,000-8,000 cold leads in the CRM. 3-6% are still buyable. Complete 4-touch 30-day playbook with real 2026 conversion benchmarks and how AI scales the personalization.
Sales BDC vs Service BDC: What They Do, Why They Matter, and How to Structure Them
Sales BDC vs Service BDC: what each does, when to combine or separate them, the right metrics for each, and how AI agents change the entire structure decision.
How to Reduce No-Shows at Your Car Dealership: The 2026 Playbook
20% of service appointments no-show. Sales show rates sit at 40-50%. Complete playbook: 6 causes, 4 service fixes, 3 sales fixes, and the AI workflow that drops no-shows below 10%.