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Technology moves fast. Every year, new innovations in automotive sales take the industry by storm and help dealers give their shoppers a more modern experience. They also help you to future-proof your dealership and stay on the cutting edge. 

Most importantly, when you know the next must-have tech trends, you can move fast to implement them at your dealership to reach customers and close sales before your competition. Join us at NADA 2025 to discover these trends firsthand and see how they can transform your dealership. Here are the hottest tech trends for 2025. 

Omnichannel Technology 

Every customer’s journey is different. In fact, more than 7 out of 10 shoppers will use multiple channels—online, in-store or some combination of both—to make their next vehicle purchase.  

No matter how your customers approach their individual purchase decisions, omnichannel technology allows you to enable every purchase path and create a consistent experience for every customer.  

Specifically, omnichannel technology allows you to:  

• Connect with shoppers using advanced digital marketing and deal-building solutions that work in tandem to deliver better leads and better sales. 

• Create fully digital consumer experiences using connected end-to-end tools that deliver a brand-new experience. 

• Utilize deep consumer insights to help shoppers pick up right where they left off in their last search.  

At Nada 2025, you can experience the innovation of omnichannel technology with Autotrader’s intelligent Market Extension. This new technology is built to deliver better leads for your dealership and help you close deals 47% faster by auto-listing your inventory where demand is high.  

Predictive Insights  

When you know your customers’ next moves, you can be there for them at every step of their purchase path to deliver a personalized experience. You can also predict their next moves to beat your competition to the next sale.  

Predictive insights leverage AI automation to deliver the right marketing messages (via text marketing) and special-order parts notifications to interested customers. They also allow you to maximize the profitability of every interaction to see beyond the information would-be buyers submit online.  

At NADA 2025, you can see the power of predictive insights on full display with Channel Intelligence from Autotrader and Enhanced Accelerate My Deal.  

• Channel Intelligence from Autotrader analyzes the performance of your advertising channels and provides recommendations to capture more leads for your campaigns.  

• Enhanced Accelerate My Deal helps ready-to-buy shoppers progress further down the purchase path and into your dealership faster.  

Unmatched Industry Leading Expertise 

Expertise is nothing new to the automotive industry. But with so many dealership-changing technologies emerging at such a rapid rate, having industry-leading expertise on your side can give your dealership a real competitive advantage.  

Partnering with professionals—who have real dealership experience and know how to leverage the latest technologies—can help your dealership to grow alongside new technologies. Look for technology that includes experts behind the scenes, who relentlessly deliver top-tier customer experience infrastructure that goes beyond mere support.  

As the industry leader in developing innovative automotive technologies, Cox Automotive continues to invest in client experience, speed to response, connecting solutions, training, and more—all to help dealership partners like you.  

For the Road Ahead 

Consider this only the beginning. New technologies that benefit your dealership and your customers are always right around the corner. In fact, keeping up with new technologies is part of the fun of running a successful dealership. It’s also the best way to stay a step ahead of change and keep your dealership from falling behind. 

With every Autotrader listings package, you’ll gain access to nVision, an invaluable tool for dealers and their professionals. nVision provides online training, industry insights, key reporting tools, shopper behavior data, and more. This comprehensive resource ensures you have the knowledge and tools needed to leverage the latest technologies effectively. 

Autotrader provides you with qualified leads for people who want cars. We have the data that connects and activates your data, and we have the shoppers. We know what they want, and our goal is to match them with our dealer partners, driving quality leads that have the highest gross profit on average industry wide. We connect you with customers virtually, to move shoppers to you, so that you can focus on building and letting your brand shine.    

Schedule an Autotrader demo at NADA 2025 to experience omnichannel technology, predictive insights, and unmatched industry leading expertise. 

The data your dealership collects can be one of its most valuable assets. It can tell you things like: 

• What someone is interested in buying, 

• How much they’re willing to spend, 

• Which F&I aftermarket products make sense for them, 

• How much equity they have left in their vehicle, and  

• When they’re due for service. 

But to use that data to close a profitable deal, encourage a trade-in, or get a customer into the service bay, it needs to be accurate, complete and accessible.  

Here are some ways data inconsistency can torpedo your sales and marketing efforts: 

Duplicate Records 

Let’s say you have a partial customer record for John Harris and another for John J. Harris, but they’re really the same person. If you’re unable to sync records, there’s a chance that he’s receiving double the sales and marketing outreach he should. Depending on what types of contact information you have in each record, he may be getting one type of message via text and a conflicting or irrelevant message via email. In either case, there’s a chance that you’re undermining the customer experience, wasting resources, and potentially costing your dealership revenue. 

Inaccurate or Outdated Data 

If you can’t count on your data due to errors or because it isn’t updated often enough, your dealership may fall into similar traps. For example, Jennifer Jones started her buyer journey looking at compact cars but has since switched to shopping for an SUV. If a data lag means that you keep showing her the small hatchbacks you have in stock, her likelihood of trusting your dealership enough to buy from you diminishes with every contact point. 

And if you’re sending maintenance reminders for a vehicle a customer used to own and for the one they have now, you’re diminishing your return on investment before the emails or postcards even arrive.   

Data Inaccessibility 

When the data you’ve collected from a customer isn’t available to other dealership systems, there are several potential issues, including: 

• Increasing wait times for customers 

• Irritating customers by making them repeat information they have already provided 

• Introducing the potential for error as information is re-keyed, which can be a particular problem during the contracting process 

All of these can negatively affect the customer experience and data re-entry is a leading cause of errors that can lead to re-contracting. 

Your Data Consistency Solution 

Dealertrack makes data consistency a priority by creating a single customer record across your entire dealership. For instance, data that starts out in the CRM automatically updates across accounting, F&I, and your service department so you can be confident that each customer record is accurate, in sync, and up to date. 

Read our latest eBook, Cash In On Your Dealership’s Data, to learn more about the power of data at your dealership. 

Independent dealers have a unique opportunity to broaden their reach and tap into new customer segments. By leveraging advanced listings technology, dealerships of any size can transcend traditional local boundaries and engage with out-of-market shoppers. Here are some best practices to communicate your message effectively and expand your reach: 

1. Clear Messaging 

Clearly outline shipping fees to build trust and help your shoppers feel more comfortable about the process. Transparency in shipping costs can alleviate their concerns and make potential buyers more confident in their decision to purchase from you. Additionally, define your buy-back and return policies clearly. Buyers appreciate knowing their options in case they change their minds, and having well-defined policies can reduce hesitation and increase buyer confidence. 

2. Trade-Ins 

Describe how trade-ins fit into the mix, highlighting the convenience and benefits of trading in your customer’s existing vehicles. Emphasize how easy and beneficial it is for them to trade in their old vehicles when purchasing a new one from your dealership. This not only simplifies the buying process for them but also provides them with a tangible value for their current vehicle, making the overall deal more attractive. 

3. Testimonials 

Feature testimonials from out-of-market shoppers in reviews and on your website to instill confidence in potential customers. Real experiences from satisfied buyers can be incredibly persuasive. Highlighting positive feedback from customers who have successfully purchased vehicles from you, despite being located outside your immediate market area, can reassure new buyers of your reliability and the quality of your service. 

4. Create a Call Script 

Well-crafted call scripts can guide your sales team in effectively communicating with prospects, addressing their concerns, and providing them with all the necessary information to make an informed decision. This structured approach can significantly enhance your sales process and improve conversion rates. For additional support and insights, consider consulting your dealership software representative, who can provide tailored advice and resources, including call scripts, to help you optimize these strategies for maximum effectiveness. 

5. Promote Your Services 

Include information about your services in regular listings to ensure potential buyers are aware that you’re advertising beyond your local market. Make it clear that your dealership is equipped to handle out-of-market sales and highlight any unique offerings that set you apart from other dealers. This could include special financing options, extended warranties, or exclusive promotions that make your dealership the preferred choice. 

6. Show Off 

Use high-quality photos to showcase your inventory and consider advanced solutions like Virtual Video Walkarounds to enhance merchandising and provide a virtual showroom experience. Visual content is crucial in attracting and engaging buyers, especially those who cannot visit your dealership in person. High-resolution images and detailed video tours can give potential buyers a comprehensive view of the vehicles, helping them make more informed decisions and increasing their likelihood of purchasing. 

By implementing these best practices, independent dealers can enhance their operations, attract more customers, and ultimately drive more deals. Stay proactive, adapt to market changes, and continuously seek ways to improve your dealership’s performance. 

Learn how to reach more buyers and increase profits—Big Wins for Automotive Dealers at Any Size.