Frequently Asked Questions

What is Podium for automotive dealerships?

Podium is an AI Operating System that responds to every lead, converts more test drives and service appointments, and re-engages customers from your DMS without adding headcount. Sales AI, Service AI, and Voice AI work across every channel: text, phone, webchat, and social, 24/7.

Does Podium replace my current CRM?

Podium works alongside your existing CRM rather than replacing it. It connects to CRMs including VinSolutions, DealerSocket, eLead, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds, and Tekion, pulling lead and customer data so Jerry can respond and follow up without anyone re-keying information between systems. Jerry writes notes and updates fields directly inside your CRM so you maintain one source of truth.

Podium also integrates with Frazer, Wayne Reaves, DealerCenter, ProMax.

What is Jerry and what can he do?

Jerry is Podium’s AI agent and the #1 converting AI Employee for dealerships, trusted by over 25% of the US auto market. He responds to every inbound lead in about 36 seconds across text, webchat, social, and email, 24/7; knows your full inventory; books test drives and service appointments; follows up on cold leads; and performs a warm handoff to your sales rep when a buyer is ready.

Jerry converts leads 40% better than the industry average, and top-quartile users see conversion rates of 14%, nearly 3x the industry standard.

Can Jerry respond to leads without a human reviewing first?

Yes, Jerry responds to inbound leads autonomously, without requiring human review before each reply. He responds in an average of 36 seconds and, in documented cases, has booked 100% of test drive appointments fully autonomously. Across a sample of 100 dealerships, AI books appointments autonomously 72% of the time.

How does Jerry know our inventory, policies, and how we sell?

Jerry is trained on your inventory and learns your dealership’s specific playbooks, policies, and tone through AI Studio, with no code or support tickets required. Out of the box, Jerry uses “golden playbooks” which we’ve developed from years of industry knowledge. You can also write rules in plain English (e.g., “no price estimates without inspection”), and Jerry applies them to every conversation automatically. He also adjusts his approach based on lead source and message context, so his responses reflect how your specific store operates, not a one-size-fits-all script.

When does Jerry hand off to a human sales rep or service advisor?

Jerry handles the chase autonomously and hands off to a human when a buyer is ready to close or when the conversation requires it. When transferring, he passes full conversation context to the rep or advisor so the customer never has to repeat themselves. This warm handoff model means your team spends time closing deals, not chasing leads.

Can I coach Jerry if he’s not responding the way I want?

Yes, Jerry is the most customizable AI agent on the market, and coaching him requires no developers or support tickets. You can give a thumbs-down to any response directly in the inbox and Jerry updates that same day. You can also give direction in plain language, rather than code. Dealers who actively use Podium’s AI Studio feedback see 26% higher conversion.

Does Jerry work for both sales and service departments?

Yes, Jerry operates across both sales and Fixed Ops through Sales AI, Service AI, and Voice AI. On the sales side he responds to leads, books test drives, and mines for lease renewals, trade-ins, and warranty expirations; on the service side he answers calls 24/7, books ROs directly into Xtime and Tekion across 200+ op codes, and follows up on declined services and overdue maintenance.

What DMS platforms does Podium integrate with?

Podium integrates with 180+ systems, including the dominant DMS platforms: CDK Global, Reynolds & Reynolds, Tekion, Dealertrack, and PBS. For scheduling, Service AI and Voice AI write directly into Xtime and Tekion, with Autosoft Flex/Go, AutoMate, PBS, Dominion, and Quorum supported via DealerVault.

Does Podium support multi-rooftop dealer groups?

Yes, Podium is built to scale across single rooftops, mid-market groups (2 to 25 locations), and enterprise groups (25+). For larger groups, Podium provides multi-store reporting, consistent AI behavior across rooftops, and vendor consolidation, addressing the key concern of managing sprawl and variability at scale. We implement a forward-deployed engineering model to make your experience great and in person as much as possible. groups (25+). For larger groups, Podium provides multi-store reporting, consistent AI behavior across rooftops, and vendor consolidation, addressing the key concern of managing sprawl and variability at scale.

How long does implementation take?

Podium onboards dealerships as fast as they’d like, with white-glove setup. The team handles the heavy lifting, configuring integrations, testing the agent, and customizing playbooks, so stores go live quickly without downtime. A dedicated Customer Success Manager stays on for the long run, treating Jerry like a new employee and gives him ongoing feedback.

What reporting does Podium provide?

Podium’s AI Studio gives dealers visibility into agent performance, every customization made, and how feedback has been implemented, all in one place. Dealers can track conversion rates, appointment volume, and follow-up outcomes, and can test scenarios before they go live with customers. The unified inbox also provides a complete cross-channel conversation history tied to each customer, giving managers full transparency into what reps and AI agents have done.

Is AI reliable enough to book test drives and service appointments autonomously?

Yes, AI is reliable enough to book test drives and service appointments autonomously. Jerry responds in 36 seconds on average, 87% of Voice AI calls are fully resolved without a human, and Podium customers have seen an 86% reduction in missed calls. Across a sample of 100 dealerships, AI books appointments autonomously 72% of the time.

How is Podium different from a chatbot or other AI tools?

Most AI tools capture leads. Jerry closes them. He checks your calendar, confirms availability, and writes the appointment directly into your scheduling system. No human needed to close the loop. Jerry knows your inventory, follows your policies, and improves when you give him feedback.