The AI trap
Why your search for the “easy button” is leading you into a dead end Every dealer principal is feeling both excitement and paralysis about Artificial Intelligence. You’re told you need to be “doing AI,” and you’re just looking for an …
Author: Barry Hillier
Handling the AI conversation
Dealers attending NADA 2026 heard AI promises everywhere. What should they take seriously now? The AI conversation in automotive accelerated rapidly in 2025. Some dealers moved quickly, others more cautiously. What mattered was whether restraint was deliberate, driven by learning, engagement, …
Our 20-year digital journey
Technology writer and entrepreneur Barry Hillier takes a look at the past two decades of digital innovation and transformation. It appears things are just starting to get interesting. Twenty years ago, when the first issues of Canadian auto dealer landed …
Headlines are getting AI all wrong
Don’t believe everything you hear about AI: the wins are real You’ve seen the headlines, likely splashed across industry reports and LinkedIn posts: “95 per cent of AI Projects Fail.” It’s a statistic designed to grab your attention, and it works. It fuels …
Build an AI-first culture
The AI revolution is a cultural revolution: a playbook for Canadian dealers While 81 percent of Canadian dealerships plan to boost their AI budgets in 2025, they face a two-front trust war. Internally, 68 per cent of frontline staff worry about job displacement. …
Digital Dealer blogs: Barry Hillier
Canadian auto dealer met some spirited Canadians at the Digital Dealer conference in Orlando, Fla. and invited them to contribute blog posts. Here are some observations from Barry Hillier, from Dashboard, a creative agency that serves dealers and associations. We’ll …
