CAR WASH Podcasts

Turning Data Into Revenue: The Future of POS at the Car Wash

In today’s express tunnel environment, your point-of-sale system isn’t just how you process transactions—it’s your operational heartbeat. From managing memberships to powering reporting and capturing customer data, it runs the show. But the biggest results appear when your POS connects seamlessly with other systems like license plate recognition, CRM platforms, tunnel controllers, and marketing automation tools. Integrations transform a simple gate scan into a churn alert, a personalized upsell, or a perfectly timed win back offer—without anyone lifting a finger. In this episode, Kendra Johnson, SVP of Growth at the International Carwash Association, talks with two experts from Rinsed: Braxton McKee, Senior Content Marketing Manager, and Jon Murphy, Team Lead for Car Wash Infrastructure. Together, they break down why POS integrations are non-negotiable, how they influence membership and marketing strategies, and what operators risk if they don’t connect their systems. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * What a modern, well-integrated POS system looks like under the hood * Why integrations are critical for today’s high-volume express washes * How POS data drives membership marketing and retention strategies * The difference between a connected POS and a siloed one * Common mistakes operators make when marketing without POS integration * The biggest risks operators face if they don’t integrate their tech stack Episode Highlights (:30) Meet Braxton McKee, Sr. Content Marketing Manager at Rinsed. (1:45) Now meet Jon Murphy, Team Lead at Rinsed and learn the unique perspectives he brings to the table. (2:45) What does a modern, well-connected Point of Sale System look like? (3:53) How does Braxton position data integration and use? (5:20) What are some real-time applications for this data? (7:03) Has it been proven that using data will move the needle on what matters to operators? (8:03) How does this data interactivity affect the back of the hours? Tunnel controls, 3rd party camera systems and POS. (9:46) What are the two biggest barriers faced in using data? Layering data and expense. (11:49) What’s the biggest risk of NOT integrating?  (12:55) What’s the biggest risk for the mid-tier operator? (15:20) Look forward to more insights from Rinsed coming soon!   Be sure to join ICA at Roadmap, November 3–4 in Dallas, TX, for two days of learning across Sales, Marketing, HR, and Operations. Registration is open now at carwashroadmap.com [http://carwashroadmap.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Listen to full episodes at carwashmagazine.com [https://www.carwashmagazine.com] and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.

Navigating Headwinds, Driving Growth

In this episode of Conversations with ICA, Kendra Johnson SVP Growth - ICA sits down with Alison Amira, Senior Director of Product for Engagement Solutions at DRB - a leading provider of technology solutions in the car wash industry, specializing in point-of-sale (POS) systems, tunnel management software, and business optimization tools. Established in 1984, DRB serves a diverse range of car wash operators, from single-site businesses to large multi-location chains.  Alison brings extensive experience helping car wash operators leverage technology to drive revenue, grow memberships, and reduce churn. They discuss the challenges the industry faced in 2024, current operational pressures, and strategies for success in the latter half of 2025. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Key challenges the car wash industry faced in 2024 and today * How disconnected technology can affect revenue and customer experience * Strategies for driving retail sales, growing memberships, and reducing churn * Practical ways operators can use data and technology to make better decisions * Trends and tools that will shape the customer experience in the second half of 2025 Episode Highlights (:49) Going back to 2024,  What were some of the challenges the car wash industry faced? Higher interest rates, labor pressures, membership churn and rising cost of goods to start. (3:45) Fast forward to today, what pressures are operators facing now? (4:57) What are the front lines facing technology wise? These are both challenges AND growth! (6:30) Ali talks about dashboards and how mismatched data reports can affect sales. (10:42) Ali addresses three critical pillars …revenue, membership and churn. (14:00) What are some of the modern strategies available to market to customers and prospects? SMS vs. email! Make it easy to say yes…AND say no! (17:33) How are operators addressing churn both voluntary and involuntary? (20:46) What does Alison encourage operators to focus on the latter half of 2025? Look for customer apps!   Be sure to join ICA at Roadmap, November 3–4 in Dallas, TX, for two days of learning across Sales, Marketing, HR, and Operations. Registration is open now at carwashroadmap.com [http://carwashroadmap.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Listen to full episodes at carwashmagazine.com [https://www.carwashmagazine.com] and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.

Rethinking HR Engagement and Retention – Bethany Adams’ Sneak Preview of Her Roadmap 2025 Workshop

In this episode, Kendra Johnson, SVP of Growth at the International Carwash Association, sits down with Bethany Adams, Associate Director of Marketing & Strategy for Villanova University’s Graduate Programs in Human Resource Development. With more than 15 years of experience across small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and higher education, Bethany brings a unique and practical perspective on the evolving role of HR. She is an educator, strategist, and consultant whose passion lies in helping organizations cultivate authentic engagement, develop leaders at every level, and align culture with business goals. At Roadmap 2025, Bethany will lead a workshop on recruitment, retention, and the critical shift in how organizations think about employee expectations.  What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why today’s workforce requires a new approach to leadership and engagement * How HR strategy differs across small businesses, corporations, and higher education * The concept of “leading the leader” and why it matters now * Practical ways to make engagement part of everyday culture * Common strategies that miss the mark and how to rethink them * How to use creativity in solving day-to-day challenges through “Action Labs” * What the future of employee check-ins might look like Episode Highlights (1:00) Working with small businesses, Fortune 500 companies and now higher education gives Bethany a unique perspective on the role of HR. She explains the finer points of her perspective. (1:49) Why is it timely to learn about leading the leader? It’s the societal shift! She outlines the new employee expectations and how she will address these in her workshop at this year’s Roadmap conference. (4:30) What are a couple of the areas Bethany will cover? She will highlight how to action and strategize engagement and how to create culture and make this a part of your strategy. Think emotional intelligence!  (7:50) So, what strategies aren’t working? Well, engagement and what it really means regarding the responsibility of the organization to create an atmosphere that allow people to be engaged. It doesn’t always have to be big…sometimes a simple check in is powerful. (10:47) What is the “Action Lab” portion of her workshop? It’s about thinking creatively about problems you face during the day and how to solve for them. (13:12) What does Bethany find powerful going forward? She talks about the future “check-in”. Seats are limited for Bethnay’s November 3rd workshop at Roadmap – so sign up today!   Join ICA at Roadmap, November 3–4 in Dallas, TX, for two days of learning across Sales, Marketing, HR, and Operations. Registration is open now at carwashroadmap.com [http://carwashroadmap.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Listen to full episodes at carwashmagazine.com [https://www.carwashmagazine.com] and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.

Driving Growth with Data: Inside AMP's Car Wash Solutions

In this episode ICA Senior Vice President/ Growth Kendra Johnson sits down with the leadership team Adam Trien – CEO/CTO, Dylan von Kleist VP of Marketing and Sales and Matt Osher CFO and Head of Data Analytics from AMP, a technology company focused on helping car wash operators thrive through data-driven insights, customer engagement tools, and innovative app-based solutions. Adam, Dylan and Matt share the story of how AMP’s app was developed, the challenges and game-changing moments that shaped its growth, and how the company has partnered with NCS to further expand its reach. The conversation highlights how AMP leverages the massive amount of data it collects—turning numbers into meaningful, actionable insights for operators. From customer behavior and demographics to marketing strategies and loyalty programs, the team discusses how their reports are designed to answer the real-world questions operators face every day. Episode Highlights: * How the AMP app was created and the pivotal moments that drove growth * The impact of becoming a partner with NCS * What AMP does with the data it collects—and how operators benefit * Key findings from the report, including volume trends by region and demographics * How AMP connects data to make it relevant and useful for operators * Insights into customer behavior: generational differences, gender-based patterns, and loyalty program value * Practical tips for leveraging AMP reports to improve marketing and reduce churn * The future promise of the car wash industry and AMP’s role in it This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how technology and analytics are shaping the next generation of success for the car wash industry. Listen to the full episode at carwashmagazine.com [https://www.carwashmagazine.com] and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.

Roadmap 2025 Preview: Lean Thinking in Action with Cormac Acevedo

In this episode, Kendra Johnson SVP Growth at ICA sits down with Cormac Acevedo Lean Coach at Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) – a nonprofit education, publishing, research, and conference organization dedicated to advancing lean thinking and practice across industries - for a preview of what he and his team will share at this year’s ICA Roadmap in Dallas. Cormac draws from his experience at the Lean Enterprise Institute to explain how lean principles can help car wash operators solve problems, improve processes, and create stronger, more resilient businesses.   What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why lean problem-solving is essential for car wash operators navigating today’s fast-paced environment. * The critical difference between solving problems (reacting to issues) and solving for improvements (changing the process for the better). * Why the ability to problem-solve is more valuable than ever in an industry facing workforce, supply chain, and operational challenges. * The concept of “learn by doing”—why success doesn’t come from practice alone, but from experimenting, applying, and adjusting in real time. * A preview of how Cormac and his team will help Roadmap attendees not only learn lean principles but also apply them to daily operations. * An introduction to practical problem solving: what it is, its components, and how to make it part of everyday management. * A breakdown of PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Adjust), how it drives continuous improvement, and why it’s a cornerstone of lean thinking. Episode Highlights * (1:22) Best practices car wash operators need to adopt now * (2:45) Problem-solving vs. process improvement explained * (4:10) Why strong problem-solving skills are mission critical * (6:22) “Learn by doing” and why it matters * (9:27) How the LEI team will help audiences at Roadmap * (12:09) What “practical problem solving” looks like in operations * (14:40) PDCA and how it drives continuous improvement   Join ICA at Roadmap, November 3–4 in Dallas, TX, for two days of learning across Sales, Marketing, HR, and Operations. Registration is open now at carwashroadmap.com [http://carwashroadmap.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Listen to the full episode at carwashmagazine.com [https://www.carwashmagazine.com] and subscribe to ICA for timely data, trusted insights, and business intelligence built for the car wash community.