When customers call an auto dealership, chances are they’re not looking for a sales pitch—they just want service: schedule an oil change, get an update on a repair, or figure out which department to talk to. Kenect, a Utah-based provider of AI tools for dealerships, believes those calls are overdue for an upgrade.

This week, the company rolled out Voice AI, a 24/7 virtual receptionist designed to handle the grind of inbound calls and routine service questions. Think of it as a mix between a scheduling assistant and a call triage system, powered by artificial intelligence.

What It Does

Kenect’s Voice AI isn’t just another chatbot with a phone number. The platform is tightly integrated with dealership management systems, allowing it to:

• Answer calls instantly and provide consistent responses.

• Route inquiries to the right department or staff member.

• Schedule service appointments automatically, no human needed.

• Filter calls based on customer status or repair order.

In practice, that means fewer “please hold” moments and less frustration for customers trying to get a quick answer during peak hours—or after hours.

The Business Impact

For dealerships, the pitch is clear: fewer calls bogging down service writers and more capacity for actual revenue-generating work. Early adopters have already reported:

• 61% reduction in service staff call volume

• Over two hours saved daily per service writer

• 23% increase in service revenue

Those numbers are hard to ignore in an industry where margins are often tight and customer satisfaction scores can make or break loyalty.

AI Creeps Into the Service Bay

Kenect isn’t the first to eye the dealership service desk as fertile ground for AI. Companies like Xtime and CDK Global have been automating scheduling for years. What’s new here is the blend of voice AI and dealership system integration, which promises to bridge the last-mile gap between customer intent and dealership logistics.

It also underscores a broader trend: AI is moving past flashy showroom demos and embedding itself in less glamorous but high-friction areas of automotive retail. Voice AI is less about selling cars and more about making sure customers stick around for maintenance—the part of the business that often delivers steadier profit.

Why It Matters

The launch comes as dealerships face labor shortages and rising customer expectations for responsiveness. Consumers, conditioned by 24/7 digital services elsewhere, now expect the same from their local service bay. A bot that can answer the phone at midnight and book an appointment may not win awards for innovation, but it could win customer loyalty.

Kenect’s move also highlights the next phase of dealership AI adoption: shifting from marketing tools to operational AI—automation that directly reduces workload and drives measurable ROI. If the reported efficiency and revenue boosts hold true across a broader rollout, Voice AI could quickly shift from a nice-to-have to a competitive necessity.

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