In 2016, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, gave a speech about the rapid transformation of the auto industry. She said:
“I have no doubt that the automotive industry will change more in the next five to 10 years than it has in the last 50.”
Fast forward to today, and we’re already seeing her predictions come true, thanks to technologies like AI, major advancements in automation, and shifting customer expectations. Dealerships, service centers, and OEMs are under pressure to adapt—not just with better vehicles but with better technology to stay efficient, competitive, and profitable.
In this article, we’ve rounded up seven automotive software companies—built for different use cases—which will ultimately help you:
- Streamline operations
- Improve customer experiences
- Automate resource-heavy tasks.
Let’s explore the different software solutions you have available to you, so you’re not left behind.
1. Capacity – Best AI automation for automotive sales, service, and customer support
One technology that’s truly changing the automotive industry is AI. If you haven’t implemented automotive AI chatbots, now’s the time. Capacity’s AI Automotive solution should be at the top of your list. And while we might be biased, the impact we’ve had on customers like AAA should speak for itself:
- 30M calls deflected using virtual AI agents
- 66% savings per call
- 4.5/5 Customer satisfaction score (CSAT)
Capacity automates customer service, lead capture, and scheduling for dealerships, service centers, and rental companies. It understands dealership language, handles routine customer questions, and sends appointment reminders to reduce missed service visits and test drive no-shows.
The platform also includes an intelligent Knowledge Base that gives dealership staff quick access to up-to-date information like service procedures, recall protocols, and dealership policies.
Key features:
- Conversational AI that knows dealership language: Books service, checks recalls, answers common questions, and keeps conversations natural across chat, SMS, and phone.
- Automatic lead capture and upselling: Automatically qualifies inbound leads by engaging with customers through SMS, chat, or voice (whichever channel they use). It can also recommend relevant upsells (like warranties or maintenance packages) during these interactions.
- AI voice agent: Lets AI handle simple questions and passes the complicated inquiries to your sales or service advisors.
- Easy integrations: Works smoothly with common dealership systems like DMS, CRM, and scheduling tools.
What customers say 💬
As Celeste, a sales associate, explained, ease of integration and instant conversation were the standout features. “The functions that I liked the most are instant conversation and message history. It was easy to integrate into our website,” she shared. She also praised the platform’s reliability, adding, “Very good handling, reliable, and a good chatbot with excellent grip on the website.”
Thomas noted, “Great system for internal knowledge sharing, onboarding, and help desk support.” He added, “We recently migrated to Capacity’s help desk system, and our technical support staff prefers it for its cleaner design, guided conversations, and easy conversion of common issues into knowledge exchanges.”
2. Cox Automotive – Best automotive software for end-to-end dealership solutions
Cox Automotive delivers a comprehensive suite of solutions that support every stage of dealership operations, including inventory management, marketing, financing, service, and customer engagement. Its tools are designed to help dealerships operate more efficiently, make smarter decisions, and increase profitability.
Key features:
- Dealertrack DMS: A unified system for managing sales, service, parts, and accounting.
- vAuto: Provides real-time inventory management and competitive pricing insights.
- VinSolutions CRM: Enhances customer relationship management with data-driven insights and automation in the car industry.
- Xtime: Streamlines service scheduling, repair order management, and customer communications.
What customers say 💬
Debra highlighted Cox Automotive’s commitment to continuous improvement and dealer support. “They are at the top, always improving to assist dealers. From the performance managers that are one-on-one, who know what is out there in our fields to share with us. They truly are collaborating more and more to make it easy for us.”
3. HERE Technologies – Best automotive software for advanced mapping and navigation
HERE Technologies specializes in mapping and location data services that power navigation, fleet management, and connected vehicle solutions. Automotive businesses rely on HERE’s robust spatial intelligence to improve routing, logistics, and real-time traffic management, enhancing both driver experience and operational efficiency.
Key features:
- HD live map: Provides highly detailed, real-time maps for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous vehicles.
- Fleet telematics: Offers dynamic routing, vehicle tracking, and predictive traffic analytics.
- Location services: Delivers precise geolocation data for navigation and mobile apps.
- Map customization: Allows businesses to tailor maps and data layers for specific use cases.
- Global coverage: Supports mapping and logistics solutions in over 200 countries.
What customers say 💬
One C-level executive highlighted the value of HERE Technologies’ mapping services. “It fits all our requirements in terms of map services we wanted to implement on our global websites,” they shared. “We use HERE Technologies, or to be more specific, the HERE maps services, for a distributor locator on our global websites. It supports our business as it directs our customers to the right distributor in place.”
4. Autosoft – Best automotive software for dealership management systems (DMS)
Autosoft delivers an intuitive dealership management system designed to simplify daily operations for franchised and independent dealers. Their platform covers everything from sales and F&I to service, accounting, and inventory management, helping dealerships reduce operational complexity and improve efficiency.
Key features:
- Comprehensive DMS: Manages sales, service, accounting, and inventory in one platform.
- Real-time reporting: Provides actionable insights with customizable dashboards and analytics.
- Third-party integrations: Seamlessly connects with OEM tools, CRM systems, and marketing platforms.
What customers say 💬
Ketan highlighted the convenience and insights Autosoft provides. “What I like about Autosoft is that I can manage all my dealers under one app. It also helps in managing all of them with ease. The graphs give better insights. Implementing is also not an issue as it is very easy.”
Doug also praised the platform’s integrations and data capabilities. “It integrates well with Dealer Connect, is web-based, and offers automatic updates. I appreciate how much information you are able to collect from the customer. The data we can collect and use is nice.”
5. Solera – Best automotive software for claims management and vehicle lifecycle solutions
Solera offers a wide range of software solutions that support automotive claims management, vehicle repairs, and lifecycle management. The leader in vehicle lifecycle management software, data, and services help dealerships, insurers, repair shops, and fleet operators streamline everything from estimating and diagnostics to asset protection and customer engagement.
Key features:
- Claims and estimating solutions: Automates damage assessment and repair cost estimates.
- Fleet and asset management: Tracks vehicle health, maintenance, and compliance.
- Customer engagement tools: Enhances communication and transparency throughout motor vehicle service and repair processes.
- AI-powered data insights: Improves decision-making with predictive analytics and automation.
- Global coverage: Serves dealerships, insurers, and repair shops worldwide.
What customers say 💬
Sebastian Torres, Owner and General Manager of CARSTAR Torcam Group, shared his experience: “It takes the mystery out of the whole process… The streamlined process enables customers to get answers quickly, schedule their repairs more easily, and leave the shop with a clear plan of action. Simply put, it’s a game-changer for boosting both customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.”
6. CDK Global – Best automotive software for dealership operations
CDK Global provides an integrated platform designed to support nearly every aspect of dealership operations, including sales, service, finance, inventory, and digital retailing. Their solutions help dealerships streamline workflows, improve customer experiences, and leverage data for smarter decision-making.
Key features:
- Dealer management system (DMS): Centralizes sales, service, inventory, and accounting operations.
- Digital retailing tools: Supports online vehicle sales and customer engagement.
- Fixed operations solutions: Optimizes motor vehicle service notifications for scheduling, repair order management, and customer communication.
- Third-party integrations: Seamlessly connects with OEM tools, CRMs, and marketing platforms.
What customers say 💬
Ariel, an HR Manager in the automotive industry, praised CDK Global’s efficiency and integration. “The integration with ADP makes it easy to import timesheets. The desktop tool and trend reporting functions are efficient. Everything you need is located on one screen.”
Jeffrey also emphasized the platform’s versatility. “I like that CDK has many important functions that add value to our daily operations. I like the fact it serves many functions in an all-in-one software.”
7. Reynolds and Reynolds – Best automotive software for retail management and compliance
Reynolds and Reynolds delivers a comprehensive suite of retail management solutions tailored to automotive dealerships. From sales and F&I to service, document management, and compliance, the company helps dealerships streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and minimize risk.
Key features:
- Retail management system (RMS): Integrates sales, F&I, service, and accounting operations.
- Document management solutions: Streamlines paperwork and improves compliance with e-contracting and digital signatures.
- Compliance & risk management: Provides tools to help dealerships meet regulatory requirements.
- Advanced analytics: Delivers insights into performance, profitability, and customer behavior.
What customers say 💬
Sandra, a corporate systems trainer, appreciated the system’s ease of use. “What we did like about using the Reynolds and Reynolds system was that it was fairly user-friendly and a pretty basic system.”
| 🔍 AI is at the core of many of the solutions we’ve discussed. But its impact goes even deeper. Explore these five powerful AI use cases transforming the automotive industry to see where the future is headed—and where your business might benefit next. |
Final thoughts
As you can see, there’s no shortage of tech partners helping dealerships and auto businesses shift into high gear. Take a close look at which parts of your operations could benefit from automation, whether it’s sales, service scheduling, or customer support. Once you know your priorities, choose the vendor that can deliver the best results for your business.
If you’re looking to automate your customer support operations, you might want to check out Capacity. Companies like AAA and Penske are already reaping the benefits, driving significant cost savings and growing their bottom line thanks to Capacity’s AI solutions.
Not sure where to start with AI?
FAQs
The most used software in the automotive industry includes vehicle design tools (like CAD and CAE), manufacturing and production software, dealership management systems (DMS), inventory and pricing tools, vehicle safety and diagnostics software, and customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. Many businesses nowadays also use AI-powered solutions for customer support, service scheduling, and lead management to streamline operations and improve profitability.