Driving Solutions with Jim Fitzpatrick, powered by CBT News

How Data and Identity Are Transforming Automotive Advertising

Automotive-specific media buying strategies are reshaping how agencies drive performance and retain dealer clients. On this episode of Driving Solutions, fullthrottle.ai Co-Founder Amol Waishampayan explains why agencies are moving beyond general-purpose demand-side platforms in favor of solutions built specifically for automotive retail. Waishampayan highlights the limitations of broad DSPs and how industry-specific platforms address the complexities of dealership operations, including inventory dynamics, service marketing, and tiered distribution. He also explores how household-level identity, deeper integrations, and outcome-based measurement are helping agencies improve targeting, reduce wasted spend, and demonstrate clear ROI tied to vehicle sales and service performance. Key discussion points: *  Why general-purpose DSPs fall short in automotive retail  *  How automotive-specific platforms improve targeting and localization  *  The role of household-level identity in reaching in-market buyers  *  Connecting ad spend directly to vehicle sales and service outcomes  *  How DMS integration enables more precise, data-driven campaigns  *  Why agencies must shift focus from activity metrics to business results  Driving Solutions is the go-to podcast for dealership professionals who want to stay sharp, informed, and ahead of the curve. Hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick and powered by CBT News, each episode brings you real strategies, smart tools, and expert insights to help you run a more profitable operation. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] for more.

The rise of automation in service departments

Jeff Adams, Director of Fixed Ops Product Planning at Reynolds & Reynolds, discusses how AI and automation are transforming fixed operations by eliminating inefficiencies, improving customer communication, and increasing service capacity. He explains how dealerships can leverage emerging tools to streamline workflows and meet rising consumer expectations. Adams outlines how AI is being applied to common friction points across service departments, from communication to scheduling and parts delivery. Technologies like Service Snap, Appointment AI, and robotics are helping dealerships operate more efficiently without increasing headcount. He also shares how integrated AI platforms will enable faster, data-driven decision-making across the dealership. As customer expectations evolve, these tools are reshaping how fixed ops teams deliver service and scale performance. *  Using AI to identify and eliminate workflow inefficiencies in fixed ops  *  Enhancing customer communication through AI-powered video tools  *  Automating service scheduling and call handling with Appointment AI  *  Improving technician productivity with robotics and parts delivery systems  *  Leveraging real-time data and natural language AI for faster decision-making  Driving Solutions is the go-to podcast for dealership professionals who want to stay sharp, informed, and ahead of the curve. Hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick and powered by CBT News, each episode brings you real strategies, smart tools, and expert insights to help you run a more profitable operation. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] for more.

How dealer alliances are reshaping automotive retail strategy

Founder and CEO David Mondragon discusses how AutoTrust Dealer Alliance is helping independent dealers compete through collective scale, cost reduction, and operational flexibility. He explains how the platform enables dealerships to strengthen purchasing power across finance and insurance, lending, and general operations—without sacrificing autonomy or requiring structural changes. As consolidation accelerates across the retail automotive landscape, Mondragon outlines how aggregating dealer demand can unlock efficiencies typically reserved for large public groups. From optimizing lending relationships to reducing everyday expenses through bulk purchasing, AutoTrust’s model is designed to improve profitability while preserving independence. He also shares insights on rapid platform growth, vendor interest, and the long-term vision to reach 1,000 rooftops. *  How collective scale helps independent dealers compete with large groups  *  Strategies for optimizing lending and improving F&I performance  *  Consolidated purchasing to reduce operational costs  *  Maintaining dealership autonomy within a shared network  *  Growth trajectory and future expansion goals for AutoTrust Driving Solutions is the go-to podcast for dealership professionals who want to stay sharp, informed, and ahead of the curve. Hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick and powered by CBT News, each episode brings you real strategies, smart tools, and expert insights to help you run a more profitable operation. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] for more.

Solving Fleet Downtime and Delivery Delays

Peter Janczewski, Senior Vice President of Sales at Draiver, joins Driving Solutions to discuss how automakers are rethinking vehicle logistics to improve visibility, speed, and operational efficiency. As OEM supply chains grow more complex, Janczewski explains why fragmented logistics models are no longer sustainable and how unified platforms are helping streamline vehicle movement from plant to dealer—or directly to consumers. The conversation explores how Draiver consolidates multiple logistics functions into a single operational layer, enabling real-time tracking, faster delivery timelines, and improved coordination across vendors. Janczewski also highlights the growing importance of fleet management, where downtime can significantly impact profitability, and outlines how AI is being used to optimize routing and execution. As the industry evolves toward direct-to-consumer delivery and autonomous mobility, logistics is becoming a critical driver of both efficiency and customer experience. Key discussion points: *  Why fragmented logistics models limit visibility and slow delivery times  *  How unified platforms streamline plant-to-consumer vehicle movement  *  Reducing delivery timelines and improving real-time tracking  *  The financial impact of fleet downtime and operational inefficiencies  *  Using AI to optimize routing, coordination, and logistics performance  *  Preparing for autonomous vehicle and direct-to-consumer delivery models Driving Solutions is the go-to podcast for dealership professionals who want to stay sharp, informed, and ahead of the curve. Hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick and powered by CBT News, each episode brings you real strategies, smart tools, and expert insights to help you run a more profitable operation. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] for more.

Why Dealership AI Needs Better Data Integration

Kerri Wise, Chief Marketing Officer at Lotlinx, and Lance Schafer, GM of Product and Technology, join Driving Solutions to examine why generic AI tools are falling short for dealerships—and what’s needed to unlock real value. Drawing on new survey data, they explain how widespread AI adoption has yet to translate into meaningful operational impact, largely due to disconnected systems and lack of dealership-specific context. Wise and Schafer outline how integrating AI with CRM, inventory, and performance data enables deeper insights and more actionable decision-making. They also explore the evolution of AI from simple content generation to advanced inventory diagnostics, VIN-level analysis, and automated execution. As dealers move beyond experimentation, the focus is shifting toward measurable outcomes, operational efficiency, and smarter merchandising strategies driven by connected, purpose-built AI tools. Key discussion points: *  Why generic AI tools often fail to deliver useful dealership insights  *  The importance of integrating AI with CRM, inventory, and performance data  *  How dealers are using AI for inventory analysis and VIN-level strategy  *  The shift from content generation to operational execution  *  Emerging role of AI in automating dealership workflows  *  What the next phase of AI adoption looks like for dealers  Driving Solutions is the go-to podcast for dealership professionals who want to stay sharp, informed, and ahead of the curve. Hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick and powered by CBT News, each episode brings you real strategies, smart tools, and expert insights to help you run a more profitable operation. Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and visit CBTNews.com [https://www.cbtnews.com] for more.