The Auto Dealer’s Complete Checklist for Evaluating AI

Accountability: Key Questions to Ask When Purchasing AI-Enabled Software

When purchasing AI-powered software for your automotive dealership, it’s not just about evaluating your own needs, it’s also about holding vendors accountable. Technology partners play a critical role in ensuring their solutions deliver on promises while seamlessly integrating into your dealership’s operations.
This checklist highlights key questions you should ask these technology partners during the vendor selection process to ensure they’re up to the task.

Partner Checklist: Questions You Must Ask During AI Vendor Selection

• Problem-Solving Capability
  • How does your dealership AI solution address my specific problem(s)?
  • Why is AI necessary for solving my problem? Could an automated workflow suffice instead?
• Integration Expertise
  • Can you execute integrations with my current software systems (e.g., DMS/CRM)?
  • How will your solution improve workflows?
• Implementation Timeline
  • What is the timeline for installation? What prerequisites need to be in place before starting?
• Success Metrics
  • What KPIs and potential ROI should I expect from your solution?
  • How do you recommend measuring success?
• Customer Impact
  • Will this solution improve the dealership customer experience? If so, how?
• Ongoing Support Commitment
  • What kind of ongoing vendor support does your team offer to ensure optimal use of the product over time?
  • What is your support process if issues arise during integration or use? How do I know whose responsibility it is when multiple systems are involved?
• References and Competitive Comparison
  • Which dealerships, groups or OEMs are currently using your solution successfully? Can you provide references?
  • How does your product compare to competitors offering similar automotive AI solutions?
    

Why Partner Accountability Matters When Evaluating AI Vendors

Holding your AI technology partners accountable ensures that their solutions align with your dealership’s goals while minimizing risks during implementation. In short:

• Partners should provide transparent answers about integration challenges,
• Share clear communication about timelines and deliverables to prevent surprises, and
• Ensure ongoing support ensures long-term success.

By asking these questions upfront, dealerships can avoid common pitfalls associated with adopting new technology.

Conclusion: Choosing the Best Technology Partner

Purchasing AI-powered software requires collaboration between dealerships and providers —and accountability on both sides is key to success. Use this AI vendor checklist during evaluations to ensure that you choose to collaborate with a company who understands your needs, provides reliable support, and delivers measurable results over time.