The Dealer Becomes the Developer: How myKaarma Is Changing the Game
What if your dealership's next big competitive advantage isn't something you buy from a technology company? What if someone on your team builds it? I had no idea this conversation would go in this direction, and I absolutely LOVE where it landed! In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, I'm joined by Animesh, VP of Engineering and R&D at myKaarma, someone I've come to admire personally while building my own AI company, ZukiTalk. And what he's sharing about the future of dealership innovation is incredibly exciting! We're talking about dealerships building their OWN technology, employees turning everyday operational frustrations into working AI solutions, and a technology company that's actually opening its doors to help them succeed. Yes, you read that correctly. myKaarma is giving dealers access to APIs, collaborating with their teams, sharing technical knowledge, and even helping them build applications customized to their own operations. Animesh shares real examples from Mark Miller Subaru and Porsche Riverside, including how his engineers helped a dealership create its own personalized service follow-up solution. We also get into something every dealer leader needs to hear: You don't have to know how to code to start innovating. But you do need the right technical guidance, security, leadership support and a real customer problem worth solving. And here's where this gets especially interesting for me as a dealership trainer and coach. Your next great innovator might already be working in your service drive, BDC, parts department, or management team. Are you encouraging their ideas or unintentionally shutting them down? Animesh challenges dealers to rethink the relationship between vendors and dealerships, invest in their people, and create a culture where innovation is encouraged and supported. My challenge for GMs and fixed operations directors: At your next leadership meeting, ask every department to identify ONE customer frustration or operational bottleneck they'd love to solve. Pick one, give someone ownership, and explore what AI could help you build over the next 30 days. This conversation left me inspired, and I think it will do the same for you. Because the future of automotive technology isn't just about what we can buy. It's about what we can build together! Contact: Animesh Pathak, [email protected] >>send him a message of praise too! 🙏 From Jen: The 30-Day Dealer Innovation Challenge Leadership activity For GMs, FODs, service managers, BDC leaders, and department heads Week 1 — Find the frustration. Ask each department: "What's one thing we do repeatedly that frustrates customers or wastes your time?" Collect the ideas without dismissing them. Week 2 — Find your builder. Identify someone genuinely excited about solving one of those problems. Give them a little dedicated time to explore solutions using AI, with appropriate data safeguards. Week 3 — Build a small prototype. Work with a technical resource or vendor to explore a simple, low-risk solution. Test it with fictional or approved non-sensitive data. Week 4 — Show the leadership team. Demonstrate what you've learned, what could improve, and what technical or security review would be needed before actual use. Jen's coaching question: How many great ideas are sitting inside your dealership right now because nobody has given someone permission to explore them? 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. Want 30-Days FREE? Go To https://www.edealersolutions.com/try-matador for a LIMITED TIME! ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | [email protected] | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx
