Moving Forward

The world can seem like it's in constant flux, but automotive dealers are used to change and even more familiar with how to navigate it. This year, CDK CEO Brian MacDonald will deliver thoughts on what changes he sees on the horizon and how he expects the automotive retail industry to respond.

Years of reduced production of new cars has not only upended supply and demand, it's also caused ripple effects that are still felt across the used market today. The ability for dealers to accurately determine pricing has never been more important — and more difficult — as values seem to ebb and flow with each day the calendar flips. Hear what the most pressing concerns are from the ground and how new technology can level the playing field for dealers.

The transition to electric vehicles has been anything but smooth. As the calendar turns to 2025 there are several factors that might make things even bumpier for both car shoppers and dealers. Learn what will have the biggest impact on this segment from federal and state incentives to new products and changes in shopper sentiment.

Service departments are seeing more tech-laden vehicles enter its bays, and the tools being used to optimize their operations are becoming increasingly advanced. AI may seem like the latest buzzword in the industry, but Fixed Ops has been using the technology for years with success. Learn where AI has already made inroads and what's on the horizon.

Time continues to be an enemy for car shoppers, but automotive dealers are chiseling away at the length of the purchase process. It's one of the many friction points CDK monitors each year and in this discussion, you'll hear the latest impact these challenges have to dealer operations and the consumer experience, and opportunities for improvement.

A dealership can have the best technology in the world but without the right people in place to sell and service cars the business can't function. That's why CDK released a recent study on what current and former dealership employees want out of a career in automotive retail and how management can meet those expectations. In this session, learn what the research uncovered from benefits and pay to the intangibles that drive employee satisfaction.

From the smartphone in your hand to digital dashboards set up around the store, dealership data is being constantly analyzed by management and staff. Understanding what sets of numbers to rely on can often be difficult and depending on the tool you're using, can even send you down the wrong path. Learn how CDK is giving dealers more visibility into their data and doing it in a way that's easy to digest and easy to access.