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In an industry chasing the next big thing, Tina Cuatto says the real game changer is simple: better vendor communication.

AI, vibe coding, and endless vendor promises—dealers are being told the future is already here. But is it? Tina Cuatto from DealerOn joins the Auto Collabs crew to cut through the noise and get real about where the industry is headed. From her front-row seat leading teams through the Synchro acquisition, she shares why flashy tech isn’t enough—and why clear, consistent vendor communication might be the real innovation dealers are craving.

In this conversation, Tina tackles the pressure AI is putting on product teams, the hidden dangers of moving too fast without guardrails, and how DealerOn’s Marketplace is giving dealers more control in a world where vendor alignment often feels impossible. Plus, you’ll hear Michael’s hilarious story about a DealerOn after-party that perfectly sums up the industry’s “all in—or watching from the sidelines” approach to new ideas.

Takeaways

00:00 – Why Dealers Can’t Afford to Take Summers Off Anymore

02:21 – Inside the Synchro Acquisition: What It Really Takes to Merge Teams

04:51 – AI Is Moving Fast—But Are Dealers Ready for It?

07:25 – Why AI Needs to Be More Than Just Chatbots in Auto

09:22 – The Tug-of-War Between Excitement and Fear Around AI

10:49 – The Security Risks Nobody’s Talking About With AI in Dealerships

12:10 – Michael’s DealerOn After-Party Story That Explains the Industry Perfectly

14:11 – How to Get Rural Dealers to Actually Adopt New Tech

15:53 – DealerOn’s Marketplace: Why Collaboration Beats Building Walls

17:57 – The Hidden Problem Tanking Dealer Websites (and How to Fix It)

18:36 – The #1 Thing Dealers Want From Vendors—And It’s Not More Tech

20:34 – The One Question Every Dealer Should Ask Before Choosing a Vendor

Connect with Tina Cuatto at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-cuatto-5b567587/

Learn more about DealerOn at https://www.dealeron.com

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