As the fourth quarter kicks off, auto dealerships enter a crucial period of planning to set up for a successful year ahead. Annual planning is not just routine for dealerships, it is an essential process to strategize, allocate resources, and set clear priorities for staying competitive in a fast-evolving and changing auto market. With AI advancing rapidly, integrating it into your dealership’s strategy is now more than just an option, IT IS A NECESSITY.

AI in Budgeting: A Path to Efficiency and Better ROI

Budgeting is central to any annual planning, and this year, factoring in AI can be a game-changer. AI can help you streamline processes, optimize inventory management, and improve customer experiences:  all of which lead to better profitability. Investing in AI now, even if it feels like a stretch, will pay off as it allows you to modernize operations, remove bottlenecks, and respond to market demands faster.

Including AI tools like customer data analysis, predictive maintenance for inventory, and dynamic pricing models in your budget can ultimately cut costs elsewhere, as these tools help replace outdated systems and reduce manual processes. Over time, the AI investment fuels higher returns and new revenue streams that older systems simply can’t match.

Setting a Standard in the Dealership Culture

When leadership makes AI a strategic priority, it sends a powerful message to your team: this dealership is future-focused and committed to growth. Making AI part of your strategy strengthens your dealership's culture of innovation. Leadership commitment is essential for the entire organization to embrace AI, from the sales floor to the back office.

AI adoption is not just about flashy tools, it is about enhancing your team’s ability to work smarter. With AI integrated into customer outreach, financing options, and even service appointment scheduling, you can deliver a more personalized and efficient experience that today’s buyers expect. Leadership should set a clear direction for how AI will drive efficiency, solve pain points, and ultimately improve customer satisfaction, fostering a cohesive approach across the dealership.

Planning a Realistic Rollout for AI Success

Implementing AI does not happen overnight. It’s a staged journey, from educating your team about AI’s capabilities to strategizing its application and executing on those strategies. Dealership planning is the perfect time to map out this journey, ensuring that training, experimentation, and gradual implementation align with your goals.

The AI journey begins with familiarizing your team with how AI can make their work easier and more impactful. Next, building a specific AI strategy tailored to meet the needs of your dealership and address your unique challenges lays the groundwork. Finally, execution brings these AI solutions to life. By including AI in your annual planning, your dealership has the time to steadily progress through these stages and integrate AI at a pace that maximizes results.

Positioning Your Dealership as a Leader in Innovation

Incorporating AI into your dealership’s annual planning is a strategic move that ensures you stay ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape. By intentionally budgeting for AI, demonstrating a commitment to innovation, and pacing your AI rollout, you lay a strong foundation for long-term success.

AI will not only support your operational goals but will also position your dealership as a leader in the market. When customers see that your dealership uses advanced technology to improve their buying experience, they’ll recognize your commitment to quality and service.

Ready to explore how AI can drive your dealership forward? Start by making it a cornerstone of your annual planning discussions. With the right strategy, you can turn today’s AI potential into tomorrow’s dealership success.  Big Time Advertising would gladly help you plan and think about how AI can also help power your advertising and marketing efforts while integrating them into dealership operations.

-by Terry MacCauley, Founder & CEO

Google's Gemini Brings Big Time Changes to Workspace for Auto Dealers   In the tech world, AI advancements are moving fast, with software giants competing to offer innovative, practical tools that make everyday work more efficient and impactful. Google's latest addition, Gemini for Google Workspace, brings AI-powered productivity to one of the most widely used business platforms. For auto dealerships, this could be a game-changer in simplifying team collaboration and streamlining operations.   What is Gemini? Gemini is Google’s new AI-driven assistant designed to elevate how teams work within Google Workspace. Think of it as a versatile partner in productivity, offering insights, ideas, and support across familiar applications like Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Meet. Available through a range of paid plans, Gemini allows dealerships to access AI tools directly within their Google Workspace, helping transform everyday tasks into high-impact results, all while keeping control over data and security.   How Gemini Works in Google Workspace   Gemini is now integrated as a standalone app within Google Workspace, accessible through Business, Enterprise, and Frontline plans. Dealerships click the Gemini icon to activate this AI assistant, which can provide real-time suggestions, draft documents, and generate insights, all directly within the workspace apps teams use daily.   This integration enables dealerships to leverage AI for faster, high-quality work without sacrificing data security. With built-in privacy controls, dealership administrators can set strict data retention policies and be assured that their data and interactions aren’t used to train Google’s models, keeping sensitive information secure.   Why Gemini Matters for Auto Dealerships   For auto dealers, Gemini’s features can streamline operations in many ways. From simplifying customer follow-ups and generating personalized communications in Gmail to helping craft data-rich reports in Sheets and even offering presentation assistance in Slides, Gemini is an all-around productivity booster. It helps teams save time, stay organized, and focus on what matters, delivering top-notch service and customer value.   By staying updated on advancements like Gemini, dealerships can better understand how to utilize AI tools to remain competitive in a fast-paced industry. Are you curious about how Gemini can transform your dealership’s operations? Let us know, Big Time Advertising & Marketing can help guide you through the setup to get the most from these new capabilities.   -by Terry MacCauley, Founder & CEO Monday Motivation: Make an Impact in this World At Big Time Advertising we honored our heroes this Veterans Day!   This Monday, we chose "When it Hurts - Military Motivation" by TheFilmMixer101. Remember, even in the toughest times, "Don't let others down, lift them up." Let's draw inspiration from the strength and resilience of our veterans.   A heartfelt thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice.   Let's continue this week with gratitude and determination!