InsideAuto Podcast

Josselyn Boudett is the Founder and CEO of STELLA Automotive AI, an AI-powered voice assistant that handles inbound calls, answers questions, and books appointments for businesses. As a serial entrepreneur with 25 years of experience in AI, Josselyn has led and advised technology companies that have helped large enterprises deploy AI. She has also worked in commercial real estate, FinTech, retail, and other verticals to help companies predict and adapt to dynamic market events.

In this episode…

To build a successful dealership, you need to identify, understand, and engage with your customers. Although chatbots are popular with many dealerships, their potential to satisfy customer needs is limited. How can you embrace progressive technology to provide exceptional customer experiences?

The automotive industry is overlooking 30% of phone calls, and the average consumer wait time is five minutes. AI can improve service delivery and drive sales by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows. By implementing AI in your dealership, you can provide personalized service that resolves customer concerns instantly. 

Josselyn Boudett, the Founder and CEO of STELLA Automotive AI, joins Ilana Shabtay in this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast to talk about AI’s adoption in the automotive space. They also discuss the benefits of ChatGPT and how STELLA Automotive AI supports dealerships.

Ben Hadley is the Founder and CEO of Auto Genius, a community of high-growth automotive marketing professionals. He has played a critical role in helping thousands of dealerships maximize their sales efforts by optimizing marketing channels and in-store sales processes. Ben's specialties include sales, digital retail, marketing, product and business development, and organizational leadership.

In this episode…

When innovating or creating a new product, it’s essential to research and understand your target audience’s needs. This helps you develop precise business ideas and prevent losses from your products failing in the market.

The team at Auto Genius leverages its community of progressive dealers to build new products for its market. Through partnerships, the company can also create quality products and reach a wider audience.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay is joined by Ben Hadley, the Founder and CEO of Auto Genius, to talk about fostering a community to create exceptional products. They also talk about the future of digital retailing, the difference between market-product and product-market fit, and the integration of other industries with the automotive space.

John Woodman is the Vice President of Business Development at AutoService AI, a company that boosts sales and service teams’ productivity with AI. The company's product, Allio, is a virtual customer assistant that uses cognitive conversational AI to answer phones, talk to customers, and set service appointments. Before joining AutoService AI, John was the Internet Director at Cutter Automotive Galleries.

In this episode…

Service delivery is an excellent tool for driving repeat sales in the automotive industry. Happy customers are the key to business growth, and long-term retention promotes company-wide success.

However, customer lifetime value can be difficult to achieve for dealers that focus solely on selling cars. With technology innovations and increased competition in the industry, providing excellent service can not only give dealerships a more competitive edge but also drive sales and profits.

John Woodman, the Vice President of Business Development at AutoService AI, joins Ilana Shabtay in this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast to talk about the value of service delivery in the automotive space. They discuss how AutoService AI's product supports service delivery in dealerships, John's transition from the retail to the vendor side of automotive, and how to assess customer service success.

Alan Krutsch is the Director of Marketing and Industry Relations at Fuse Autotech, a financial management system that consolidates online and in-store technologies for a seamless customer experience. Alan specializes in branding and identity, campaign strategy, creative services management, sales training, and process and change management. Before Fuse, he was the Director of Marketing at Apple Autos and Walser Automotive Group.

In this episode…

Recently, Tesla has lowered the price of electric vehicles (EVs), causing interest in dealership EVs to decline by 44%. So what does this entail for dealerships, and what should you consider before transitioning to electric cars?

Besides cost, there are many factors to consider when selling electric vehicles. Alan Krutsch advises dealerships to start planning ahead for future transitions. This includes setting up charging infrastructure, finding inventory, and getting qualified to be an EV dealer. 

Alan Krutsch, Director of Marketing and Industry Relations at Fuse Autotech, joins Ilana Shabtay in this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast to talk about the mass adoption of electric vehicles. They also discuss  Tesla's recent price drop for electric cars, factors influencing the adoption of EVs, and the change in demand for Fuse Autotech's products.

Melissa Cartagena is the Senior Director and Head of Digital Advertising at AutoNation, one of America’s largest and most recognized automotive retailers. She is a seasoned digital technology marketing professional, growth marketer, and growth hacker. Melissa has over 19 years of experience managing large-scale programs in paid search, content marketing, display advertising, SEO, paid social media, email, and reputation management. 

In this episode…

Recent changes in the economy have had a significant impact on demand for cars. According to a study conducted by Google, vehicle demands declined for a short time but soon increased due to rising interest rates and inflation.  So how does this affect inventory levels, and what should dealerships expect in the future? 

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Melissa Cartagena, the Senior Director and Head of Digital Advertising at AutoNation, about the challenges dealerships have been facing. They discuss inventory shortages in the automotive space, the use of video marketing, and why car owners have been buying out their car leases.

Kate Lumsden is the Director of Marketing at Walser Automotive Group. She has over 13 years of experience using brand management, data-driven marketing strategies, creative direction, and design to drive measurable brand equity and customer loyalty through both digital and traditional mediums. Before joining Walser, Kate was a Marketing Manager and Graphic Designer at Morrie's Automotive Group.

Ashley Cavazos is the Director of Digital Performance at Walser Automotive Group. She has a long history in the automotive industry, having started as a temporary receptionist in a Texas Ford dealership. Ashley was a recipient of the 2022 Automotive News 40 Under 40 award. Before joining Walser in 2019, Ashley was the Marketing Communications Manager at Morrie's Automotive Group.

In this episode…

Conferences provide great opportunities for industry experts to meet and connect. Attendees can assess their competitors, learn business trends, build relationships, and identify future growth opportunities.

Events in the automotive space allow dealers and vendors to share their expertise and knowledge to help move the industry forward. Kate Lumsden and Ashley Cavazos attended this year’s NADA conference to connect with vendors, acquire new digital marketing strategies, and initiate future collaborations. So how can you evaluate and acquire business partnerships?

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Kate Lumsden and Ashley Cavazos from Walser Automotive Group about their strategies for assessing business partnerships. They also discuss the future of the automotive space and how the commission-based pay structure affects salespeople.

Colby Joyner is the Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at Cavender Auto Group, a family-owned dealership. Before joining Cavender Auto, Colby was the Vice President of Sales at Konect.ai and an Air Traffic Controller in the US Air Force. He was also nominated for Automotive News 40 Under 40. Colby’s goal is to bring efficient processes into the automotive space and increase businesses’ technology use.

In this episode…

Best marketing practices for dealerships are constantly evolving, and it’s difficult to stay abreast of the changes, especially when assuming a new role. What steps can you take to improve operations and provide better customer service?

According to Colby Joyner, it’s essential to review the current processes and procedures before making any drastic changes. Test and learn new strategies to identify what works and what doesn’t. The decisions you make should align with the organization’s goals. Colby also emphasizes assessing available resources to establish the right processes for running the company.

Colby Joyner, the Vice President of Marketing and Strategy at Cavender Auto Group, joins Ilana Shabtay in this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast to talk about streamlining marketing in the automotive space. Colby also shares his goal for attending the NADA conference, strategies for assuming a new role, and his experience working at Bravo Auto Group and Cavender Auto Group.

Vasilios Lambos is the Co-founder and CMO of CognitionDigital.io, a company that provides tools and products to help businesses build campaigns on Amazon advertising. CognitionDigital.io is an Amazon Ads Verified Partner serving advertisers in the retail, automotive, healthcare, and other industries. Vasilios' experience in the automotive space includes serving as the Senior Digital Marketing Specialist at Hendrick Automotive Group and an Associate at Red Ventures’ automotive department.

In this episode…

What are the best online marketing strategies for dealers? How can you use e-commerce to scale your business?

The Amazon Ads platform provides great opportunities for dealers to reach new audiences, measure success, and scale their businesses. With the right advertising strategy, dealers can leverage Amazon to target a diverse customer base and maximize sales.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Vasilios Lambos, the Co-founder and CMO of CognitionDigital.io, about providing Amazon advertising services to dealers. They also discuss the benefits of collaborations in the automotive space and how Vasilios educates businesses about Amazon Ads.

Matt Lasher is the Director of Marketing at West Herr Automotive Group, the largest automotive group in New York with 39 locations. In his role, he manages and facilitates marketing efforts for the group. With over 14 years of marketing experience, Matt is also the President of Streamline Auto Solutions, an easy-to-use software solution that helps dealers make more deals by optimizing inventory and vehicle selection based on consumer affordability.

In this episode…

First party data is an effective way to collect information about your customers. With the right strategy, you can leverage this data to provide your customers top-notch and prompt services. 

However, it’s critical to safeguard customer data. WIth increased incidences of security breaches, dealerships have to maximize their resources to protect this valuable asset.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay is joined by Matt Lasher, the Director of Marketing at West Herr Automotive Group, to talk about this year's NADA conference. They also discuss the value of data strategy and security and what Matt loved about this year's event.

Tom Gregg is the Founder and CEO of Vehicle Acquisition Network (VAN), a proprietary software that helps dealers acquire private party vehicles by connecting them directly to private sellers. Tom's automotive experience began as a porter and evolved through several manager and director roles at dealerships in the Midwest. His entrepreneurial spirit soon outgrew his dealership journey and he began focusing on software development for the automotive industry. Tom brings confidence and mentorship to his team and always strives for the perfect balance of team culture, smart software development, and constant learning.

In this episode…

As the automotive space evolves, dealerships are seeking easy ways to acquire inventory. Private-party vehicles are an affordable option for dealers to source new cars. So what do you need to know about this acquisition strategy? 

Private vehicle acquisitions provide great opportunities for dealers to find high-value cars with large profit margins and fast returns. They are also a great way for dealers to connect with potential customers. According to Tom Gregg, buying cars directly from car owners increases a dealer's competitive advantage and boosts brand loyalty.

In this episode of the InsideAuto Podcast, Ilana Shabtay interviews Tom Gregg, the Founder and CEO of Vehicle Acquisition Network, about private vehicle acquisition strategies. They also discuss VAN's partnership with vAuto and Tom's predictions for the automotive space in 2023.