Chad Epling

The automotive dealership service industry is at a crossroads. Dealers and OEMs alike are realizing that the future of customer engagement won’t be won by more point solutions — it will be won by those who can unify the customer journey. Today’s announcement with PBS Systems is another step in BLiNK AI Automotive's mission to become the Operating System of Customer Engagement. By combining AI, automation, and deep integration into the service lane, we’re proving that technology isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about creating new growth opportunities for the entire industry. This is why our news matters: it’s not simply a milestone for BLiNK AI Automotive, but a sign that the industry is shifting toward an AI-powered, last-mile engagement model. #AutoTech #AI #Dealerships #Telematics #FixedOps Ted Ings Ted Ings' Fixed Ops Roundtable® Ron Overs Fixed Ops Magazine #CustomerEngagement #Innovation #FutureOfAutomotive #BLiNKAI https://lnkd.in/ghzFqeVi

14

1 Comment

Is Your Dealership Still Using "Just" a Chatbot? 🤖 Scaling 8-figure revenue with a single-digit headcount sounds impossible, but SaaStr just proved it’s possible by deploying 20+ specialized AI agents. This is the new efficiency benchmark, and it’s already hitting automotive retail. The generic chatbot is out; the AI Operating System is in. We’re talking about a digital workforce handling compliance, lead management, trade-ins, service scheduling, and more, autonomously. It’s how modern dealers are optimizing SG&A and liberating their teams from low-value friction and organizational drag. See how the "SaaStr Playbook" applies to the showroom floor: https://lnkd.in/gBiW463A #AutomotiveAI #AgenticAI #DealershipEfficiency #Impel #SaaS

18

Thought for the day: Scale isn’t hard. Reliable scale is. At Enigma, we chose a different path to growth: 🔹 Started with Tier-2/3 cities where trust mattered more than hype 🔹 Built our dealer network before building ad campaigns 🔹 Focused on repeatability because consistency drives true scale It wasn’t the flashiest route, but it made us resilient. Reliable scale comes from strong partnerships, not shortcuts. What broke first when you scaled: ops, service, or supply? #Scale #Ops #DealerNetwork

34

4 Comments

Thousands of semitrucks that cut across the U.S. highway system each day are harboring a secret: They’re only about half full. That inefficiency represents a multibillion-dollar opportunity. And one that a few companies like Uber Freight and Flock Freight are already chasing as part of broader business models that match truck drivers with companies selling goods. San Francisco-based startup Oway is seeking out a narrower business model that more closely resembles Uber for freight, especially on the most inefficient long-haul routes. But it’s a model that the startup believes can scale big enough to make an impact on the country’s economy. Oway, founded in 2023 and backed by Y Combinator and General Catalyst, recently closed a $4 million seed round in pursuit of that goal. Founder Phillip Nadjafov told TechCrunch that investors have bought into Oway’s concept because his company has already developed a way to cut the cost of shipping a pallet across the U.S. by 50%, using a clever mixture of new and somewhat old technologies. https://lnkd.in/evKvZ7vB

5

This useful #framework carries a lot of relevance for a #dealership business. It's about moving past "human error" to find the real root cause of issues, which I think is key for improving #automotiveretail operations. ​By applying this to your dealership, you can solve problems more effectively—whether it's a mistake on a customer's finance paperwork, an inefficiency in the service bay, or a miscommunication with the sales team. It helps you get to the heart of the issue, leading to better processes and a smoother experience for your customers. Delve deeper, dont buy into every excuse thrown at you! #ambitcollective

32

New vehicle prices are even higher than you think. Here's data from Cox Automotive Inc. Automotive via Mark Schirmer showing average transaction prices, incentives (aka discounts) and net transaction prices back to 2012. Vehicle net prices are up $10,000+ since 2019. If you haven't purchased a new vehicle in the past six years or more, the sticker shock could be paralyzing. This chart explains a lot about the current state of the U.S. vehicle industry.

24

1 Comment

The EV-only narrative is changing—hybrids are dominating some verticals, and they’re smarter than ever. But let’s be clear: Hybrid doesn’t mean compromise. It means control. It means building smarter, faster, and more efficiently. Let’s look at the auto industry for example. Hybrid sales are surging, outpacing EV sales. According to recent media reports, last year, 313,531 more hybrids were sold than EVs. Through February of this year, 273,479 have been sold, which puts them on track to beat last year's sales. Hybrids will almost undoubtedly outsell EVs again this year. We expect other industries to follow suit, as we are already seeing in applications ranging from military to construction and mining and everything in between as numerous industries see the value in adopting hybrid solutions. Reach out to learn more about trends we’re seeing. #AnythingThatMoves #hybridsystems #AxialFluxMotors #PowerElectronics #PowerStorage #Batteries

31

→ What actually drives auto parts sales on eBay Motors Let’s be honest – eBay isn’t just another marketplace. With over 142 million monthly visits and more than 121,000 searches for “eBay Motors” every month, it’s one of the most traffic-rich platforms for selling automotive parts. Still, many sellers struggle to gain traction there. Competition is fierce, and the real challenge often isn’t pricing or inventory – it’s understanding how eBay’s ecosystem actually works. Success on eBay doesn’t come from luck – it’s built on strategy, consistency, and attention to detail. 1. Build Listings That Rank and Convert Strong listings don’t happen by accident – they’re crafted. Every detail counts: 👉 Title: Year, Make, Model, part name, condition – keep it clear and simple. 👉 Description: Provide fitment info and specs in a clean, scannable format. 👉 Images: Use multiple, high-quality photos from different angles. 👉 Pricing: Aim for a balanced approach – too cheap looks risky, while too high limits reach. Small tweaks in these areas can dramatically improve conversion rates. 2. Understand How eBay’s Algorithm Works Unlike Google, eBay’s algorithm prioritizes real-world selling performance and buyer satisfaction. It rewards listings that sell consistently and engage customers. Key ranking factors include: ✅ Relevance (keywords and compatibility) ✅ Listing quality (images, details, completeness) ✅ Seller performance (feedback, shipping, communication) ✅ Buyer engagement (clicks, conversions, watchlists) Better service and presentation lead to better visibility — creating a loop that fuels more sales. 3. Think Mobile-First Over half of all eBay purchases occur on mobile devices. If your listings load slowly or are difficult to read on small screens, you will instantly lose buyers. Keep images light, fitment info visible at a glance, and checkout steps quick and simple. 4. Measure, Test, Improve eBay gives you the data — use it. Track impressions, CTR, conversion rates, and sell-through. Low clicks? Try new thumbnails or titles. Low conversions? Revisit pricing, descriptions, or shipping. A/B testing one element at a time is the fastest path to real improvement. 💡 The Power of Owning Your eCommerce Website Now, imagine managing listings, pricing, and orders from one place. That’s where your own eCommerce site changes the game. With X-Cart’s eBay integration, you can: ⚙️ Sync your catalog automatically between store and eBay 📦 Manage eBay orders directly in your X-Cart admin 🚀 Bulk list or update products in seconds 🔄 Keep pricing and inventory always in sync eBay gives you reach. Your website gives you control. Together, they create a smarter sales ecosystem built to scale. What’s been your biggest challenge selling auto parts on eBay – visibility, pricing, or product data management? #AutoParts #Aftermarket #eCommerce #eBayMotors #OnlineStore #XCart #MultichannelSelling #AutoPartsBusiness

8

Waymo is taking on the food delivery space and it’s a crucial one to conquer. In Phoenix, Waymo will deliver to DoorDash customers. To start, it will just include items from DashMart, but aims to expand to more grocery stores and restaurants. For DoorDash, this means cutting expenses associated with paying gig workers and eliminates the dangers associated with delivering via a bicycle or motorbike. For customers, it means no coordinating with a human delivery worker, no tipping and no concerns about strangers approaching a home. (But it also means no one to deliver directly to your doorstep, if you live in an apartment. Will this concept resonate with customers though? The UberEats/Waymo partnership never took off. The delivery experience is becoming increasingly faceless. If Waymo can prove that its technology can function as well as a human delivery worker (or at least close), we’ll see this concept scale quickly. #waymo #waymophoenix #AV #driverlessvehicles #waymodoordash

9

6 Comments

Good news for the ecommerce supply chain arena. Pattern®is filing to go public. Pattern is a marketplace accelerator that helps brands sell on third-party sites including Amazon. They provide logistics, fulfillment, inventory management and other supply chain services as a part of their suite of services. They grew 35%, to $1.14B, in the first half of 2025, and are tracking to exceed $2.4B this year. And, yes, they are profitable. Kudos to Melanie Alder, David Wright, and all involved! This is encouraging news for many companies in ecommerce, supply chain, and related fields. https://lnkd.in/eh447efD

54

12 Comments

🚨 Porsche AG pulls the plug on in-house battery production. This week, Porsche AG announced it will scrap battery manufacturing plans at its CELLFORCE GROUP unit, shifting the facility into a research center instead. The reason? Scaling challenges, weaker-than-expected EV demand, and the risks of trying to go it alone in cell production. To me, this speaks to something many outside the industry don’t see: 👉 It’s not enough to build batteries. You need to understand them. Even the most advanced automakers face the same reality as pack assemblers and startups: Small variations in manufacturing create massive differences in performance. Scaling production without clear data means unpredictable costs. Market dynamics punish companies that miss the signals early. At SMART Battery Analytics, we believe the winners in this industry won’t just be the companies with the biggest factories. They’ll be the ones with the best data-driven insights into their batteries’ real-world behavior. Because building a cell or a pack is one thing. Making it last, profitably, is another. Read the story here: https://lnkd.in/g7tM2KuT Learn more about SMART here: https://lnkd.in/gEvsRU9g Image for looks 😉 #BatteryTech #EV #EnergyStorage #SmartBatteryAnalytics #DataDriven #CleanTech #CircularEconomy

10

1 Comment