In August 2017, Semcasting, a tech firm in North Andover, MA and creators of the patented IP targeting technology Semcasting Smart Zones®, announced the acquisition of Orlando-based Transparency AI (TAI), an automotive marketing attribution company. The transaction was a purchase of assets for an undisclosed amount.

The acquisition gives Semcasting more of a direct play in automotive, giving the firm a stronger presence with several of the online publishers such as CarGurus, Autotrader and Cars.com.

In September, DealerRefresh Producer Ryan Gerardi had the opportunity to talk with Mr. Kingman about this acquisition and the role that Semcasting will now have in the auto retail space.

Want to leave a comment? Join the conversation on DealerRefresh: https://forum.dealerrefresh.com/threads/semcasting-acquires-transparency-ai-bringing-deterministic-attribution-to-the-auto-industry.5618/

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This DealerRefresh Podcast is brought to you by Dealer eProcess

As a leading digital partner, Dealer eProcess has the answer every dealership is looking for. Using the latest in website designs and trends, and mixing it together with years of website conversion data to create the most stunning and effective websites for their dealers. With CAR-o-i, Dealer eProcess has the ONLY system in the industry that can tell dealerships how many vehicles their digital marketing dollars have sold. With a full suite of digital products and services, Dealer eProcess is not your typical vendor.

For more information go to www.dealerrefresh.com/dep or text DEPROCESS to 555888. Please note, message and data rates may apply.

Brace yourself for this HOUR LONG rambling with your hosts and cohorts Ryan Gerardi and Chris K Leslie.

In this episode we recap recent conversations with the attempt to dig up dirt and drama in the auto retail industry. We then take a deep dive into Eric Miltsch's recent article on DealerRefresh: 2018 Automotive Marketing Predictions - https://www.dealerrefresh.com/2018-automotive-marketing-predictions/

Talking points include:

How dealers will change the way consumer shop and buy vehicles.

Subscription-based ownership models will increase.

How vendors will change the way they show value to dealers.

Join the conversation in the Dealer Forums: https://forum.dealerrefresh.com/forums/webinars-broadcasts-podcasts-etc.82/

In today’s generally flat new-car market, successful dealers need the perfect mix of data and market intelligence to drive more sales, cultivate deeper customer relationships and develop new ways of better conquesting customers from their competition.

One of the few companies in the auto retail tech space that does this is String Automotive and in May of 2017, Experian Automotive announced it would be acquiring the 12 year-old data analytics firm based in Newton, MA.

The acquisition cements a relationship that began in 2014 when Experian Automotive’s Auto Market DNA℠ demographic and behavioral information’s was integrated with String’s business intelligence platform, the Dealer Positioning System (DPS).

String aggregates and analyzes data from multiple sources to help dealers evaluate their marketing efforts. Its DPS solution provides dealers with data-based recommendations on how to maximize those efforts.

Last week, Ryan Gerardi had the opportunity to connect with String Founder Ken Kolodziej and discuss the acquisition. Ken and his team are staying on with Experian Automotive. The String name is going away, however. Enjoy!

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This DealerRefresh Podcast is brought to you by AutoLeadStar!

AutoLeadStar’s artificial intelligence takes dealership marketing to the future. A full solution for your website’s conversion needs, AutoLeadStar can help you reach a larger market, provide personalization to every customer, boost your leads, and sell more cars. Be the smartest dealership on the web with tomorrow’s technology by AutoLeadStar.

To learn more, go to www.dealerrefresh.com/autoleadstar

Chris K Leslie and Ryan Gerardi are back for Episode #12, our final co-hosted show for 2017.

In this edition we open up with a friendly debate about whether there is or is not opportunity for dealers to do more with their fixed-ops business, and if so then what exactly is the opportunity, how dealers can capitalize on that, and why.

We also continue our exploration of Vehicle Subscription Models, leading off with Volvo’s “Care” program, and how the idea of this emerging trend can and will shape the future of vehicle ownership and the franchise dealer business model.

On a side note we talk about why the DealerRefresh blog no longer supports comments and forces people to discuss articles in the forums.

Links to subjects discussed:

- DealerRefresh Roundtable Session #6 w/ Brian Pasch and Kevin Frye

Vehicle Subscription Models - Future of Dealerships: http://bit.ly/roundtableplaylist & https://forum.dealerrefresh.com/threads/vehicle-subscription-models-is-fair-the-answer.5542/

- Hoot Interactive Webinar - Dynamic Inventory Display Ads: http://bit.ly/acadz297

This podcast is brought to you by the Vehicle Acquisition Network:

When you’re trying to keep your pre-owned lot stocked with high-quality, in-demand vehicles, dealing with auctions can be costly and time-consuming, plus you always risk having your price bid up by competing dealers.

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The Vehicle Acquisition Network saves you time and money by automatically searching online listings to locate your most sought-after units from independent sellers in your area.

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For more information, text BUYWITHVAN to 555888 or go to dealerrefresh.com/van.

While most of those who use the term “old school” in automotive retail are speaking disparagingly about dealerships, managers and salespeople relying on outdated marketing, sales techniques and processes; the truth is that the most successful dealers I work with today understand that sometimes “old school” is still the best way to move some metal.

In the current flat-to-down market, most dealers have no idea where to cut, where to spend, or where to focus their efforts. This, of course, is because most dealers just rode the wave for the past 6+ years, and only now are they faced with falling sales.

For these dealers, I recommend mixing in a little of what others consider “old school.” Here are four quick, old-school strategies I recommend you start with if you’re looking to gain share in a down market:

Narrated by Ryan Gerardi

Originally written by Steve Stauning and published on DealerRefresh: http://bit.ly/2FlASxM

This podcast is brought to you by Dropin Auto, an industry first application that connects shoppers and dealers in real time via live video streaming.

Dropin Auto’s live stream technology integrates seamlessly into your dealership website and makes it possible for these shoppers to connect immediately with your best sales associates.

For more information text DROPIN to 555888 or go to www.dealerrefresh.com/dropin

Millennials differ substantially from previous generations when it comes to how they shop. This is equally as true for household items and consumer electronics as it is for cars.

Dealers, however, because of the unique complexity to shopping and buying cars, are faced with tremendous new challenges when it comes to embracing e-commerce, but they still need to adapt to accommodate this generation of shoppers.

In this podcast interview featuring Drive Motors Head of Growth Rune Hauge from our September 2017 webinar you will learn more about millennials, their core values, and how to enhance the shopping experience not only with this demographic, but all modern day auto shoppers.

Talking points include:

- Who millennials are and their buying habits

- What your dealership can do to win over millennials as customers

- Digital tactics that you can implement today

Join the conversation on DealerRefresh: http://bit.ly/acadz361

Instant Access to Webinar Recording: http://bit.ly/acadz289

This podcast is brought to you by Drive Motors. Powering e-commerce for more than $1B in cars, Drive Motors builds e-commerce experiences for auto dealers. With the Drive Motors online checkout experience, car buyers can order directly from the dealership website, day or night, including financing, leasing, trade-ins, vehicle upgrades, and pickup or same-day delivery.

For more information, text DRIVEMOTORS to 555888 or go to www.dealerrefresh.com/drivemotors.

Artificial Intelligence used to be something you’d only see in science-fiction novels, comics or movies. But these days AI isn’t just for Terminators and space ships with an axe to grind. Car dealers are now able to use AI to improve personalization on their website and engage customers more fully – engagement that can be turned into conversions if you know how to use the tools properly.

In this abridged version of my live web chat from August 2017 with AutoLeadStar Co-Founder and CEO Aharon Horwitz we explore the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools revolutionizing automotive digital marketing.

Talking points include:

- Tracking user behavior in real time to offer relevant content

- Eliminating the busywork of campaign segmentation

- Scaling personalization to all customers throughout the buying journey

Join the conversation on DealerRefresh: bit.ly/acadz304

Access Complete Edited Video Here: bit.ly/acadz265

For more information about AutoLeadStar on DealerRefresh, text AUTOLEADSTAR to 555888 or go to www.dealerrefresh.com/autoleadstar