Modernizing Dealerships via Digital Transformation

By Arlene Clements 

The digital transformation has impacted businesses globally. Trends that seem outside of our control are forcing new ways of conducting business for auto retailers and car buyers. Businesses are being forced to adapt faster than ever, implementing different processes and technology to meet new demands and mitigate emerging threats.

Dealerships are no different. In fact, dealers I speak with are saying there have been more changes to automotive retail in the past 13 months than the past 5 years combined. Few can deny that the pandemic emphasized this need for this change, much of which dealerships and consumers have been wanting for a long time.

Some dealers have started this process prior to 2020, while others are struggling to transition their operations to become more digitally enabled.

Meanwhile, digital transformation is starting to become a top priority for all dealerships in some form. In fact, they are realizing how cloud-native environments with the right technology stack are helping them take back control by:

  • improving security to protect from cyberattacks
  • increasing mobility to facilitate a differentiated customer experience
  • maximizing efficiency to reduce friction for consumers and employees

At this year’s Auto Intel Summit, I will share the stage with Microsoft Data & AI Director Hari Venkataraman to discuss these topics and address how businesses across different industries are adapting in this new environment, and how cloud-native technology can enable your digital transformation.