AI Takes the Wheel: CDK Event Previews Future of Automotive Retail

AUSTIN, TX – March 23, 2026 – As the automotive industry accelerates its digital transformation, CDK Global is set to showcase the next wave of innovation at its fourth annual CDK CONNECT Live event. From May 19-21 in Nashville, the leading automotive and truck retail software provider will bring together dealership leaders, OEM partners, and industry influencers to explore a future heavily influenced by artificial intelligence, data analytics, and integrated software ecosystems.

The three-day conference promises an inside look at technologies designed to streamline operations, enhance customer engagement, and improve financial performance. The event will feature a keynote address from Jonathan Brill, ranked by Forbes as the world's No. 1 futurist, who will discuss the forces shaping the next era of dealer transformation. For dealerships navigating a complex market of rising operational costs, staffing shortages, and evolving customer expectations, the event's focus is clear: leveraging technology to build a more resilient and profitable business.

"AI is reshaping automotive and heavy truck retail, and CDK is at the forefront of that transformation,” said Brian MacDonald, president and chief executive officer of CDK, in a statement announcing the event. He emphasized that the conference will provide dealers with a look at innovations "creating a more connected, intelligent, and high-performing dealership ecosystem for the road ahead.”

The AI Revolution in the Showroom and Service Bay

A central theme of CDK CONNECT Live is the practical application of artificial intelligence to solve everyday dealership challenges. The industry is rapidly moving beyond AI as a buzzword and into a phase of tangible implementation, a trend reflected in the event's agenda. CDK plans to spotlight solutions that automate routine tasks and provide predictive insights, freeing up staff to focus on high-value customer interactions.

One of the flagship technologies to be featured is AIVA, the company's AI Virtual Assistant. Designed for fixed operations, AIVA operates 24/7, scheduling service appointments via phone, text, or web chat in over 50 languages. The system can handle multiple calls simultaneously, drastically reducing customer hold times and preventing missed opportunities for service revenue. By integrating directly into a dealership's scheduling system, it can book appointments in real-time, manage service bay capacity, and transfer complex inquiries to human advisors when necessary. Early adopters have reported significant gains, with some dealerships attributing dozens of new sales directly to appointments booked by AIVA without any initial human interaction.

Beyond scheduling, the event will explore AI's role in predictive analytics. This includes predictive maintenance, where AI analyzes vehicle data to anticipate repair needs, and predictive scheduling, which optimizes service appointments to eliminate gaps and overlaps. These tools represent a shift from reactive to proactive service, enhancing the customer experience while maximizing shop efficiency. The technology track at the conference will offer deep dives into these capabilities, providing hands-on workshops and demos that illustrate how embedded AI can deliver measurable results.

Solving Core Business Challenges with Smarter Software

While the promise of AI is a major draw, CDK CONNECT Live also aims to address the immediate, bottom-line pressures facing modern dealerships. The conference's Accounting and Truck tracks are designed to showcase practical solutions that optimize revenue, streamline financial processes, and improve operational efficiency.

A key highlight is the CDK Warranty Revenue Assistance Program (WRAP). Warranty claims are a critical but often complex revenue stream for dealers. WRAP uses a data-driven approach, analyzing a dealership's DMS data to identify the optimal reimbursement rates for labor and parts. The program then guides dealers through the OEM submission process, boasting a near-100% first-time acceptance rate. CDK reports that the program has the potential to uncover over $100,000 in additional annual revenue for a single dealership by ensuring they receive the maximum allowable reimbursement from manufacturers.

Another solution taking center stage is CDK SimplePay, a cloud-based payment processing platform integrated directly into CDK's core systems. Dealerships often spend significant time reconciling payments from third-party processors, a manual and error-prone task. SimplePay automates this reconciliation and offers modern payment options like text-to-pay and contactless transactions. It also supports compliant credit card surcharging, allowing dealers to offset processing fees and improve cash flow. For the heavy truck sector, the event will introduce CDK Unit Scan, a new inventory solution that provides real-time asset visibility, minimizes audit risks, and frees up staff from manual inventory counts.

A Competitive and Collaborative Landscape

The innovations showcased at CDK CONNECT Live arrive at a pivotal moment for the automotive retail technology market. The global Dealer Management System (DMS) market is projected to grow significantly, with some estimates projecting it to surpass $13 billion by 2035. This growth is fueled by a demand for cloud-based, data-driven platforms that can unify a dealership's fragmented operations.

CDK operates in a highly competitive space alongside major players like Reynolds and Reynolds, which holds a substantial market share, and newer, AI-native platforms like Tekion. This competitive pressure is a powerful catalyst for innovation, pushing providers to develop more sophisticated, integrated, and user-friendly solutions. The industry-wide shift is toward creating a single, cohesive ecosystem where data flows seamlessly between sales, F&I, service, and accounting departments.

The CDK CONNECT Live event itself serves as a microcosm of this collaborative push. By bringing together dealership principals, OEM executives, and third-party software providers, the conference aims to foster the partnerships necessary to build a more integrated future. Networking events, including a rooftop reception in Nashville, are designed to facilitate these crucial conversations. The ultimate goal, as echoed by industry leaders, is to leverage technology not just to sell and service cars more efficiently, but to create a simple, convenient, and personalized experience for the end customer, ensuring the dealership remains central to the automotive ownership journey. The more than 50 breakout sessions, spanning technology, accounting, and truck-specific topics, are designed to equip attendees with the strategies and certifications needed to navigate this evolving landscape successfully.