The numbers are brutal. 27% of leads never get a response at all. The average dealership takes 47 hours to respond to a lead. Meanwhile, only 13% of dealerships respond within 5 minutes, and 78% of customers buy from the first dealership that responds.
But here's what happens when dealerships integrate AI: Dealerships using AI report 30-40% improvement in lead conversion rates. AI-enabled dealerships achieve 27% higher showroom appointment set rates and drive a 26% lead-to-sale conversion rate compared to traditional dealerships not leveraging AI.
AI is here to stay, and dealerships adopting now will be the winners. Think about the blacksmith who refused to learn about automobiles when Henry Ford started mass production. The ones who adapted early became mechanics and shop owners. The ones who waited became obsolete.
Real example from a dealership using AI:
Facebook DM at 9:47 PM:
Shopper: "Looking for a Toyota Camry under 100k miles. Have a 2000 Camry to trade."
AI Response: "Great choice! I can help you find the perfect Camry. Quick questions to get you the best options: What's your preferred mileage range, and are you looking at any specific trim level like LE, SE, or XLE? Also, about how many miles are on your 2000 Camry?"
Shopper: "Under 80k miles preferred. The 2000 has about 180k miles. Looking at LE or SE."
AI Follow-up: "Perfect. I have several Camrys in that range. What's your target monthly payment, and would you prefer to come in tomorrow or Saturday to see a few options and get your trade appraised?"
Shopper: "Under $400/month. Saturday works better."
AI Next Step: "Excellent. I'll have our team pull 3-4 Camrys that fit your criteria and get a preliminary trade value ready. What's the best number to confirm your Saturday appointment, and would morning or afternoon work better?"
What the sales team gets Monday morning:
If AI sounds like something you might want to integrate at some point and want to see how it works firsthand, play with this interactive demo: https://dimgrey-spider-258780.hostingersite.com/
Anyone else using AI for lead response? What's working (or not working) for your store?
But here's what happens when dealerships integrate AI: Dealerships using AI report 30-40% improvement in lead conversion rates. AI-enabled dealerships achieve 27% higher showroom appointment set rates and drive a 26% lead-to-sale conversion rate compared to traditional dealerships not leveraging AI.
AI is here to stay, and dealerships adopting now will be the winners. Think about the blacksmith who refused to learn about automobiles when Henry Ford started mass production. The ones who adapted early became mechanics and shop owners. The ones who waited became obsolete.
Real example from a dealership using AI:
Facebook DM at 9:47 PM:
Shopper: "Looking for a Toyota Camry under 100k miles. Have a 2000 Camry to trade."
AI Response: "Great choice! I can help you find the perfect Camry. Quick questions to get you the best options: What's your preferred mileage range, and are you looking at any specific trim level like LE, SE, or XLE? Also, about how many miles are on your 2000 Camry?"
Shopper: "Under 80k miles preferred. The 2000 has about 180k miles. Looking at LE or SE."
AI Follow-up: "Perfect. I have several Camrys in that range. What's your target monthly payment, and would you prefer to come in tomorrow or Saturday to see a few options and get your trade appraised?"
Shopper: "Under $400/month. Saturday works better."
AI Next Step: "Excellent. I'll have our team pull 3-4 Camrys that fit your criteria and get a preliminary trade value ready. What's the best number to confirm your Saturday appointment, and would morning or afternoon work better?"
What the sales team gets Monday morning:
- Clean summary: Toyota Camry under 80k miles, LE/SE trim, 2000 Camry trade with 180k miles, under $400/month target
- Saturday appointment preference noted
- Contact info captured
- Next action clear: pull inventory, prepare trade appraisal, confirm appointment
If AI sounds like something you might want to integrate at some point and want to see how it works firsthand, play with this interactive demo: https://dimgrey-spider-258780.hostingersite.com/
Anyone else using AI for lead response? What's working (or not working) for your store?
