GoTo, a leader in cloud communications and IT solutions, has unveiled its latest innovation: Go To Connect for Automotive, an advanced, AI-powered communications platform designed specifically for automotive dealerships. This cutting-edge solution integrates a dealership’s various communication channels into a single, streamlined platform, enhancing customer engagement, improving operational efficiency, and driving profitable growth. By offering seamless Customer Relationship Management (CRM) integrations, real-time multi-location reporting, and omnichannel communication capabilities, GoTo Connect for Automotive enables dealerships to modernize operations and meet the evolving expectations of their customers.
Addressing the Communication Gaps in Automotive Dealerships
Despite the advancements in digital technology, many automotive dealerships continue to struggle with inefficient communication systems. Less than one-third of dealerships report being satisfied with the insights they obtain from existing CRM tools. Traditional communication systems often create operational silos across departments such as Sales, Service, and the Business Development Center (BDC). These silos lead to missed opportunities, fragmented customer interactions, and reduced overall efficiency.
GoTo Connect for Automotive directly addresses these pain points by unifying communications and centralizing data. This allows dealership employees to collaborate seamlessly, share insights in real time, and provide a better customer experience. Whether it’s responding to customer inquiries, scheduling service appointments, or finalizing sales, GoTo Connect for Automotive ensures every interaction is handled smoothly and efficiently.
Key Features of GoTo Connect for Automotive
The platform introduces a suite of advanced features designed to enhance dealership operations and improve customer satisfaction. Some of the most significant innovations include:
Tailored Automotive CRM Integrations
One of the standout capabilities of GoTo Connect for Automotive is its seamless integration with popular dealership CRM systems, including VinSolutions, CDK, and Tekion. By linking directly into these systems, the platform enables dealerships to leverage customer data effectively, ensuring personalized interactions throughout the entire customer lifecycle. Whether a customer is making an initial inquiry, scheduling a service appointment, or returning for future purchases, dealerships can access real-time data to enhance engagement and build lasting relationships.
Omnichannel Communications for a Better Customer Experience
Today’s customers expect flexibility in how they communicate with businesses, and automotive dealerships are no exception. GoTo Connect for Automotive provides an omnichannel communications solution, allowing customers to engage via phone, text, email, and web chat. A centralized inbox ensures all communication is efficiently managed, improving collaboration between departments such as Sales, Service, and BDC. This comprehensive approach ensures that no customer query goes unanswered and that every interaction is logged and trackable.
Real-Time Analytics and Multi-Rooftop Reporting
For dealership groups managing multiple locations, tracking performance and customer engagement across different rooftops can be a challenge. GoTo Connect for Automotive offers advanced real-time analytics with pre-built reporting dashboards that provide actionable insights for growth. These automated scheduled reports allow managers to make data-driven decisions, ensuring that each dealership location operates at peak efficiency. By providing instant access to critical metrics such as call volumes, customer engagement trends, and sales performance, dealerships can quickly identify areas for improvement and optimize their operations accordingly.
AI-Powered Assistance for Increased Efficiency
Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing business operations across industries, and automotive dealerships are no exception. GoTo Connect for Automotive incorporates AI-powered assistance to enhance customer interactions and streamline internal processes. By analyzing customer data and communication patterns, AI-generated insights help employees prioritize high-value leads, personalize follow-ups, and optimize workflow management. In service departments, AI-powered tools help automate appointment scheduling, send proactive service reminders, and ensure customers receive real-time updates on their vehicle’s status.
Bridging the Gap Between Customer Expectations and Dealership Capabilities
The automotive industry is becoming increasingly digital, and customers now expect dealership interactions to mirror the seamless experiences they have with e-commerce platforms and other service industries. GoTo Connect for Automotive is designed to bridge this gap by equipping dealerships with modern tools to meet evolving consumer expectations.
Damon Covey, General Manager of Unified Communications & Collaboration (UCC) at GoTo, emphasized the importance of this transformation:
“Now more than ever, customers require their service and support communications to be available across a variety of channels, including text and web chat. GoTo Connect for Automotive bridges this critical gap between customer expectations and the technology historically used by many car dealerships.”
By integrating dealership-focused features such as virtual fax, mobile app support, real-time reporting, and call recording capabilities, GoTo Connect for Automotive ensures that dealerships have the tools they need to enhance both sales and service operations. The result is a more connected, efficient, and customer-centric dealership experience.
A Dealership’s Perspective: The Ewing Automotive Group Experience
Automotive dealerships that have embraced modern communication technology are already seeing significant benefits. Bob Calabrese, Client Relations Director at Ewing Automotive Group, shared his firsthand experience with GoTo Connect:
“If you want to be relevant as a dealership, then you really have to embrace technology. Over the last five years, we’ve looked at our processes to make it as easy as possible for customers to do business with us. This included switching our phone system to GoTo Connect, which has been a game-changer in terms of efficiency. I’m continuously amazed at how easy GoTo is to use, allowing us to communicate with customers through their preferred method, text messaging, while also protecting customer data by eliminating the need for our sales team to use their personal cell phones.”
This testimony underscores the impact of implementing an advanced communication platform—boosting efficiency, enhancing customer satisfaction, and ensuring data security. By providing dealership employees with the tools they need to succeed, GoTo Connect for Automotive empowers teams to focus on what matters most: building strong relationships with customers and driving business growth.
The Future of Automotive Dealership Communication
As the automotive industry continues to evolve, dealerships must adapt to new customer expectations and technological advancements. GoTo Connect for Automotive represents a significant step forward in modernizing dealership communications and operations. By offering AI-powered insights, omnichannel communication capabilities, seamless CRM integrations, and real-time analytics, this platform equips dealerships with the resources they need to thrive in a competitive marketplace.
In an era where digital transformation is critical, automotive dealerships that invest in advanced communication technology will be best positioned for long-term success. With GoTo Connect for Automotive, dealerships can streamline customer interactions, increase sales, and enhance overall efficiency—ensuring a future-ready business model that meets the demands of modern consumers.
By embracing the power of AI-driven communication tools, automotive dealerships can not only improve their operational workflows but also create a superior customer experience that drives loyalty and repeat business. GoTo Connect for Automotive is paving the way for the next generation of dealership communication, making it easier than ever to connect, engage, and grow.
