Category: Editor’s note

Get an AI information edge

November 4, 2024

There has been a lot written about how the auto retail world will be impacted and disrupted by artificial intelligence, or machine learning.  With so many overly-hyped predictions, amid some self-serving promises of tech vendors hoping to make a quick …

The people challenge

October 1, 2024

Getting the right people in place, and keeping them happy and productive is the surest proven path to dealership success, better customer satisfaction and profitability.  But why do so few dealerships get it right? Why are so few dealerships able …

Just communicate better with customers!

July 29, 2024

As an editor who covers the auto industry, sometimes I have an experience with a dealership that reminds me what it’s like being a typical consumer. Sadly, sometimes, the experience isn’t that great, and it reminds me our industry still …

Community building

June 3, 2024

I’ve worked as an editor in the business press for a while. Ok, a long while, like 25+ years, and have worked in many different markets. One of the things all magazine publishing teams will try to do is build …

One for the ages

March 29, 2024

I’ve been attending the CADA Summit ever since there’s been a CADA Summit. That’s been a while, as the first one was held February 13, 2013. Now, of course there’s a recency bias in everything we do. Some say Patrick Mahomes is …

Full circle

February 27, 2024

Funny thing about time, it marches on regardless, and sometimes you find yourself in a dèja vu moment. I had the opportunity to do a video interview recently with a really dynamic young industry leader, Shannon Willsher, the General Manager …

Nice guys can finish first

December 27, 2023

Every year since 2006, the national association representing car dealers, the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, has awarded three CADA Laureate Awards to dealers in three distinct categories: ambassadorship, retail operations and innovation. By my simple math that means there are …

Canada Night Eh’ is back!

November 2, 2023

As of press time, it was full steam ahead for the return of Canada Night at NADA. This event, initially sparked a few years ago by Alan Bird and his colleagues over at SCI Marketview, now taq Automotive Intelligence, was …

Demystifying AI

October 3, 2023

I encourage you to read the column on artificial intelligence on page 34 by Dee Murphy-Brown in this issue. As I was editing her column, I was struck by the line: “Over the next half-decade, early adopters will likely start …

Treating guests like, well, guests

April 25, 2023

We write a lot about the future of the automotive retail experience, and at times it seems like it’s a lot of theoretical discussions that don’t necessarily make it to the sales floor and service bays of our dealerships. Being …