Leverage AI for increased productivity in Canadian dealerships
In Part 1 of our series on AI insights in our February issue, we explored the merits of using AI tools in dealerships. We explored tools for saving time, automating communications, helping with inventory management and data analysis, and recruiting, hiring and training.
In this column, we’ll explore some other AI tools that dealerships can consider adopting to help with their operations.
Scheduling and task management
AI’s capacity for task management extends to scheduling, which is often manually intensive. Tools like Motion can analyze team members’ calendars and automatically arrange meetings and tasks, adapting dynamically to unexpected changes.
If a scheduled meeting is cancelled, Motion will reallocate that time to pending tasks, maintaining productivity without requiring manual calendar adjustments.
One of the standout applications of AI at the dealership level is its ability to tackle complex scheduling requirements.
In collaboration with a Dealer Partner, we developed a customized prompt for ChatGPT that could generate an optimized weekly schedule. This tool accounted for various constraints, including individual team members’ preferred working days, required weekend coverage levels, a mid-month meeting, and the end of the month when the entire finance team needed to be present.
The dealer was initially skeptical, having manually coordinated these schedules for years. Still, after reviewing the generated schedule, he was visibly impressed. “So this is creepily accurate. It took me a moment to read through it, but the sheet style breakdown at the bottom made it easy.” The prompt delivered a precise schedule that met all of his criteria and efficiently handled last-minute changes, saving hours of time each week.
Tip: Build a GPT with scheduling knowledge and maintain a prompt that can be reused to adjust your team’s schedule on the fly.
The future of data-driven decisions
As AI tools gain sophistication, dealerships will have more opportunities to leverage data to drive strategic decisions. Machine learning and AI tools can identify patterns in sales data, customer preferences, and even local market trends, providing insights that would take human teams days or weeks to uncover.
By centralizing these insights and offering real-time recommendations, AI enables dealership leaders to stay agile in a fast-paced market.
Moreover, AI’s data-driven approach to market analysis can help dealership teams better understand customer behaviours, enabling personalized marketing strategies that improve customer satisfaction and retention. For example, predictive analytics can suggest which customers will most likely return for maintenance or recommend cross-sell opportunities based on past purchases.
Getting started with AI
For dealerships new to AI, I recommend a gradual approach: start with a few focused tools and build from there. Experiment with a specific AI tool like ChatGPT for content generation or Fireflies.ai for meeting management, and observe the impact.
Once you get more comfortable, expanding into data analysis or inventory management can follow naturally. By implementing AI in small steps, teams can learn to trust the tools, realizing the benefits without being overwhelmed by a full-scale transformation.
Machine learning and AI tools can identify patterns in sales data, customer preferences, and even local market trends, providing insights that would take human teams days or weeks to uncover.
Embracing AI for work-life balance
Adopting AI in daily operations doesn’t mean sacrificing personal touch or relinquishing control; moreover, it enables dealership professionals to manage their workload with more control and less stress.
The core message is that with AI handling repetitive tasks, dealership leaders can get home in time for dinner, striking a better work-life balance. By allowing AI to handle the routine, leaders can focus on what matters most — customer relationships, team development, and personal growth.
Dealerships that lean into AI will find it doesn’t just boost productivity — it enhances the quality of work, allows more time for strategic thinking, and ultimately leads to a healthier, more engaged workforce.
