This is a new series of articles leading up to the 2026 Digital Marketing Strategies Conference (DMSC). I decided to highlight some of the keynote messages which will be shared at the conference. Not everyone has sent me their final decks, so as more come to me, I will continue to provide you with highlights of the great leaders coming to DMSC.
Today’s keynote teaser:
“The Dealership Platform — Winning in the Age of AI Agents” presented by Matt Leone, CEO of DriveCentric
Innovation in automotive retailing is accelerating faster than I have ever witnessed. I might be bold enough to say the automotive industry is entering a defining moment, where AI agents, data, and platform strategy will determine which dealerships win and who falls behind.
That is why I’m excited to provide the platform for a forward-looking keynote message from Matt Leone, CEO of DriveCentric. He paints a clear vision for the modern dealership and outlines the five critical problems dealers must solve to compete in 2026 and beyond.
Tech consolidation is here
I’ve been writing and advising dealers to be wary of buying multiple AI tools which work in their own operating data silos. Matt will develop his position why technology consolidation is no longer optional. According to Matt:
“Dealers must simplify their stack, not just to reduce cost, but to unlock more powerful AI capabilities, improve security, ensure compliance, and truly own their data.”
Matt will also address one of the industry’s biggest hidden challenges: operational leakage caused by disconnected systems and departments. From Sales to F&I to Service and even in the payment process, gaps in process and communication are costing dealerships revenue and impacting the customer experience on a daily basis.
Data governance & activation
I’ve also asked Matt to share his vision for data governance, transparency, and clean data practices, including how to unify CRM, CDP, MAP, and Agent capabilities into a single platform that works across rooftop and enterprise levels—while keeping humans in the loop for high-risk decisions.
With increasing regulatory pressure and evolving consumer privacy expectations, dealers need a solid framework for data privacy/compliance, opt-in strategies, and emerging platform changes to stay protected, engaged, and effective.
CRM evolution
Matt will also redefine the term CRM, which needs a refresh. According to Matt, “The future ‘CRM’ must evolve into a true engagement platform serving not just as a system of record, but as a system of context; one that captures the full history of every customer interaction to power AI-driven decisions, improve efficiency, and scale growth.”
Join me at DMSC
If you want to understand where dealership technology is headed, and how to position your business to win in the age of AI, this is a keynote you don’t want to miss.
Conference details can be found here: https://digitalmarketingstrategies.org/
