Over the past year, AI has gone from being an experiment to becoming part of everyday dealership operations. Sales, service, marketing, accounting, HR and fixed operations are all testing new tools, while some dealerships are even building their own AI solutions.

This raises an important leadership question.

Should dealerships designate one person to oversee AI strategy, vendor selection, governance and employee training? Or should each department be responsible for implementing AI within its own operation?

The wrong approach could lead to duplicate software, inconsistent customer experiences and unnecessary spending. On the other hand, centralizing everything could slow innovation and prevent departments from solving their own problems.

How is your dealership approaching AI leadership today? If you were building an AI strategy from scratch, who would own it and what would be their top priorities over the next 12 months?

Who currently makes AI decisions at your dealership?
Has AI reduced expenses or primarily improved productivity?
Which department has seen the biggest benefit from AI?
Are dealerships buying too many AI tools without a clear strategy?