The Shocking Truth About AI Phone Agents in Dealerships

What’s Actually Out There

Lacy Ai automates inbound calls with intent detection, lead capture, appointment booking, and CRM integration.

Mia acts as a 24/7 assistant that answers calls, books appointments, and promises to save missed revenue.

Ringly.io (Seth) handles calls, qualifies leads, and routes tough calls to humans. Designed for simple plug-and-play.

Pam (PamHQ) handles inbound and outbound calls including recalls, service outreach, with real-time alerts and dashboards.

Toma automates service bookings, parts orders, and FAQs. Already used at over one hundred rooftops and backed by serious investors.

Why These Tools Look Promising

• Never Miss a Lead
  AI can cover after hours, weekends, and busy times so calls are never lost to voicemail.

• Speed to Lead
  Callers get instant booking or routing and the information goes straight into your CRM.

• Efficiency Gains
  One agent can handle thousands of calls without overtime or sick days.

What’s Not Perfect Yet

The industry is full of companies claiming their AI can replace humans. Online you will find endless videos on how to build voice agents, how to make money with them, and pitch decks promising the future. What you will not find are many live demos of actual agents performing in a dealership environment.

In my experience the voice does not sound realistic enough yet. I have noticed delays of 5 to 10 seconds between questions and responses which is enough time for customers to hang up. While these tools can be useful after hours in the service department or when a customer is extremely motivated to test drive a specific vehicle, they fall short in real world sales conversations. Complex calls, finance questions, or overcoming objections to get someone into the showroom still require a human touch.

Another point is integration. Not every AI phone agent connects cleanly with CRM or DMS platforms. Dealers who jump in without testing sometimes find themselves with leads that do not flow into their systems.

Dealer Reality Check

Yes, AI phone agents are worth exploring. They can give dealers real advantages by capturing after hours calls, logging leads consistently, and handling routine tasks. But they are not magic. They are not at a place yet where they can replace skilled humans for closing appointments or managing high pressure sales conversations.

Dealers who approach these tools with realistic expectations, test them carefully, and monitor performance will get value. Those who believe the hype that AI is a full replacement for staff will be disappointed.

Bottom Line

AI phone agents can absolutely support your team but they are not ready to replace them. They are best used as an extension of your BDC and service team rather than a replacement. With proper vetting and oversight they can capture leads you would otherwise miss and help keep your pipeline full.

Have you tried AI voice agents and found them laggy or robotic? Would you trust them to handle your calls during business hours? Reply with your experience and I might feature you in the next issue.

– Bryan