Podium is putting its AI-powered sales assistant—affectionately nicknamed “Jerry”—in the driver’s seat for Ford and Lincoln dealerships nationwide. The customer engagement company announced its AI BDC (Business Development Center) solution is now officially part of the FordDirect program, giving dealers exclusive pricing and direct integration into FordDirect’s Customer Journey Platform (CJP).

The move comes as dealerships face a trifecta of challenges: staffing shortages, tighter competition, and increasingly impatient consumers who expect instant responses. “This partnership is about delivering an end-to-end communication platform that drives measurable results,” said Eric Rea, Podium’s co-founder and CEO.

Why Dealers Should Care

Podium’s AI BDC is designed to handle every inbound lead instantly—with a human-like tone, in the dealership’s own voice—while drawing on more than a decade of automotive data to tailor responses. The system is built to schedule more appointments, lock in higher show rates, and free up staff for in-person sales.

Proven results from over 1,800 dealerships using Podium AI include:

• 80% increase in after-hours appointments

• 10% boost in appointment show rates

• 70% reduction in lead response times

• 30% improvement in lead-to-sale conversions

The FordDirect Advantage

With the integration, Podium’s AI BDC plugs directly into the FordDirect CJP, ensuring leads from multiple digital channels get an immediate, consistent response. For dealers, that means no more missed opportunities because a salesperson was tied up on the floor.

“FordDirect is proud to expand our partnership with Podium,” said Dean Stoneley, CEO of FordDirect. “This gives our dealers the ability to execute superior customer engagement, improving both customer and dealer satisfaction.”

Bigger Picture: AI in the Showroom

The automotive retail sector is no stranger to AI, but most implementations focus on inventory management or marketing analytics. Podium’s approach—embedding AI in the customer communication workflow—underscores a shift toward real-time, personalized engagement as a competitive differentiator.

For Ford and Lincoln dealers, this could mean more than just better efficiency; it’s about turning speed into sales. And in an industry where the first responder often wins the deal, “Jerry” might just become the most valuable employee in the showroom.

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