How to Enhance Your Dealership's Communication with an Automated Attendant Phone System

An efficient automated attendant phone system is essential for car dealerships. CDK research has found that 81% of dealership callers faced a problem when booking a sales appointment on the phone. Even worse, another 13% said no one answered their call. These missed calls are leading to a loss of valuable opportunities. STELLA Automotive AI steps in to ensure you capture these potential leads effectively.

Why dealerships need an automated attendant phone system

Car dealerships face significant challenges in managing customer calls effectively. Statistics reveal that one in three calls to dealerships goes unanswered, resulting in substantial revenue loss. These missed calls often lead potential customers to seek services from independent repair shops and chains, directly impacting a dealership's bottom line.

Staffing shortages further exacerbate this issue. According to a recent Manpower Group report, 68% of employers in the Transport, Logistics, and Automotive sectors struggle to find the skilled talent they need. This shortage makes it difficult for dealerships to maintain adequate staffing levels to handle the volume of incoming calls, leading to longer wait times and frustrated customers.

The importance of an efficient phone system is underscored by the fact that 28% of auto buyers who make a call will go on to purchase a vehicle, according to CDK. This statistic highlights the critical role that phone interactions play in moving leads through the sales funnel. An efficient phone system ensures that these valuable leads are not lost due to missed calls or inadequate handling.

Investing in automated customer service call handling offers numerous benefits that address these challenges. Automation improves efficiency by ensuring that every call is answered promptly and routed to the appropriate department or service. This not only reduces wait times but also enhances the overall customer experience.

Moreover, automated systems like STELLA Automotive AI provide 24/7 availability, capturing customer inquiries and requests even outside of regular business hours. This constant accessibility ensures that potential leads are engaged and nurtured, increasing the likelihood of conversion.

Customer satisfaction is also significantly improved through automation. With advanced AI technology, automated systems can handle a wide range of customer requests accurately and swiftly, providing customers with the information they need without delay.

Why choose STELLA Automotive AI?

The benefits of STELLA Automotive AI over other AI solutions are plentiful.

Natural, conversational AI technology

STELLA AI distinguishes itself from competitors through its advanced conversational AI capabilities. STELLA engages with customers in a way that feels intuitive and human-like. This AI phone system allows the technology to understand and respond to customer inquiries with remarkable accuracy, enhancing the overall interaction experience. By leveraging conversational AI, dealerships can provide a more personalized and efficient service, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Comprehensive opcode understanding

One of STELLA's standout features is its ability to understand over 270 opcodes, a capability that significantly enhances the accuracy of handling customer requests. This comprehensive opcode understanding ensures that customer inquiries are addressed correctly and efficiently, reducing errors and improving service quality. This capability streamlines operations by accurately scheduling appointments, as STELLA understands the duration of various services and can optimize the use of service bays efficiently.

24/7/365 availability

Customers expect service availability at all times. STELLA AI offers round-the-clock support, ensuring that customer calls are answered promptly, regardless of the time or day. This 24/7 customer call handling is crucial for maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction, as it allows dealerships to capture and nurture leads even outside of regular business hours. With an always-available AI phone system like STELLA, no opportunity is missed, and customers receive the attention they deserve whenever they reach out.

Seamless integration

Whether it's CDP, DMS, CRM platforms, or Service Schedulers, STELLA’s solution adapts seamlessly to dealerships’ needs. STELLA's integration capabilities with major DMS schedulers provide dealerships with a streamlined approach to scheduling and management.

By automating scheduling processes, STELLA enhances operational efficiency and ensures that customer appointments are handled smoothly and professionally, embodying true scheduling automation within the dealership management system. 

Spanish language capabilities

Bilingual support is essential for effective customer service. STELLA AI can understand Spanish, ensuring customers get the support they need. By offering a bilingual AI assistant, STELLA helps dealerships cater to a broader audience and improve customer satisfaction.

SMS booking

Beyond its AI call-answering services, STELLA provides SMS booking, a crucial feature for dealerships. With SMS boasting a 98% open rate, this service ensures consistent and effective communication with customers, allowing them to book appointments conveniently and stay informed.

Webchat service booking

STELLA's online chatbots offer customers an additional channel for booking appointments and accessing necessary information. Customers appreciate the flexibility and immediacy of live chat features when interacting with dealerships, enhancing their overall experience.

Dashboard reporting

With STELLA, dealership managers, service managers, and other executives can get real-time insights into call performance and conversation analytics to help them make informed decisions.

Proprietary technology and SOC-2 compliance

STELLA's proprietary AI technology sets it apart by offering unique features and capabilities that are not available in other AI solutions. Additionally, its SOC-2 compliance underscores a commitment to security and data protection, providing dealerships with peace of mind that their customer interactions are handled securely. 

Continuous improvement through industry partnerships

STELLA AI is continually enhanced through strategic industry partnerships with dealers and automotive experts. By collaborating with these stakeholders, STELLA stays at the forefront of industry trends and evolving customer needs. 

For dealerships that want to ensure they are maximizing their revenue potential, AI phone systems are a must-have integration. To see how STELLA can prevent missed opportunities in the dealership sales and service departments, reach out to our team for a demo.

Book Demo