Farid Ahmad, President and Founder
Understanding the changes in the industry
Farid Ahmad, President and Founder
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Dealer Solutions is one of many companies looking to better understand the changes occurring in the automotive industry, and how they can navigate their business in these seemingly uncertain times.
More to the point, the company visited this year’s NADA Show looking for clues as to what lies ahead for the auto sector in terms of the merger and acquisition business.
“We’re quite interested in the merger and acquisition business,” said Farid Ahmad, President and Founder of Dealer Solutions. “We want to get a pulse on how the American auto industry is feeling about the changes that are coming down the pipeline, the trends, and just how that would affect the landscape with the mergers and acquisition business.”
Ahmad took the opportunity at NADA to meet as many people in the industry as he could to shake hands and ask questions.
The company attends many different events throughout the year that touch on topics such as mobility as a service, the electrification of the vehicle, and declines in service revenue. All this talk of change is enough to make some dealers consider leaving the auto retail sector, says Ahmad.
“Maybe they’re not sleeping at night but they should be, because the one thing that technology can’t take away is the need for a local presence for consumers to service and buy their vehicles,” said Ahmad. “At the end of the day, every manufacturer still wants the representation and that will never go away.”
He adds that customer service is the new battleground. Dealers that have not adopted new technology to enhance their online presence, appraise vehicles or improve their DMS and CRM systems, they will be in trouble. “Making that commitment is also a financial plus,” said Ahmad.
Return to NADA Show 2019
