After five years away, coming back to NADA with a dedicated presence and a custom-tailored solution built for what dealers are facing today truly felt like coming home, and like owning the moment on the biggest stage. Dealers have told us loud and clear: they’re done juggling disconnected tools. They want one platform that delivers real, consolidated, integrated value for their dealership. That’s exactly why we’re here.
From the first hour we hit the floor until the very last guest left, the energy was just incredible. Conversations were non-stop. Our booth packed. Demos were double- and triple-booked. And everywhere I looked, folks were excited about real, smarter technology.
Leaving Vegas, I felt more fired up than ever. The message was clear: the market is moving fast, and GoTo is here to lead the charge. Throughout the week, hundreds of conversations at NADA showed strong momentum for change. From these conversations, three key themes dominated the week for me and for GoTo.
1. Affordability: Innovation Under Pressure
IT budgets aren’t getting any bigger, and the pressure to serve customers faster, better, and smarter never stops. At NADA, the theme I kept hearing from dealers was the need to consolidate toolsets. They’re tired of juggling disconnected tools with high rooftop fees and are focused on unifying everything under one platform that delivers true value for both their employees and customers.
Dealers are actively shedding expensive, disconnected point solutions in favor of unified platforms that simplify operations, empower their employees, and deliver exceptional outcomes. Efficiency is no longer optional. It’s become a competitive weapon. Transparent pricing today is simply table stakes. Today’s leaders are building flexibility into every deal, introducing smarter payment options, streamlining processes, and using technology to lower internal costs.
2. Customer Experience and Unified Solutions: The New Standard
If NADA proved anything this year, it’s that customers have zero tolerance for friction or frustration.
“Please hold while I transfer you” is dead.
Missed calls, disconnected systems, and siloed teams cost dealerships potential customers and, in the end, real revenue. The winners are those consolidating their voice, reporting, CRM, and DMS into a single platform that delivers a faster, more personal, and exceptional human experience.
We’ve seen this first hand, and during my session with Tekion on their mainstage, we were able to highlight how breaking down those siloes completely changes how a dealership runs. It leads to less frustration for staff, greater transparency for leadership, and measurable ROI across the business.
And integrations are at the heart of it. When you integrate with your existing dealer systems, you don’t just ensure every customer has the best possible experience, but you also automatically capture key details from calls, texts and emails right as they happen. This means you always know exactly what happened in every interaction, and you’re alerted to issues in real-time so you can react immediately. That’s the power of a truly unified platform.
Integrated solutions aren’t just the future. They’re the new standard.
3. AI in Practice: From Buzz to Business Impact
AI was everywhere at NADA. But what stood out wasn’t the hype, it was the result.
One thing is certain, GM’s know exactly how much each call missed costs their business. Dealers are searching for ways to leverage AI to assist teams during operating hours, but also handle scheduling when their doors are closed. Dealers are looking for ways that AI can help with managing leads, booking appointments, and freeing staff to focus on what really matters: relationships. The challenge is that many of the AI solutions out there are just as disjointed as all the other technology they’re using.
At GoTo’s speakeasy booth, the energy was electric. Conversations centered on AI-powered reporting, sentiment analysis, quality management, and scheduling – tools that deliver tangible outcomes, not just more dashboards.
Dealers told us the same story:
Less busy work.
Better insights.
Stronger teams.
Happier customers.
More closed deals.
The bottom line? AI is no longer optional. It is mission critical for dealerships that want to move faster than the market.
Want proof? Don’t just take my word for it – watch the video.
What NADA 2026 Made Clear: The Future is Bright
As NADA wrapped, it felt less like an ending and more like a launchpad, with our engines revved and eyes on the road ahead…with a few important takeaways…
- Get creative about affordability – for your buyers and your business.
- Tear down silos – unified platforms build happier customers, higher-performing teams.
- Embrace AI – no longer just a buzzword, it’s a force multiplier that lets your people and dealership shine.
GoTo: Setting the pace.
At GoTo, we’re not reacting to industry change – we’re driving it.
GoTo Connect for Automotive is the only truly integrated AI-powered all-in-one platform designed specifically for dealerships. We streamline tech stacks, eliminating costly, point solutions and connect directly to the heart of your operations through deep, expansive CRM and DMS integrations. And, with our AI Receptionist, no opportunity slips through the cracks – day or night.
In the end, we left NADA energized, confident and more convinced than ever: the dealerships that win will be unified, intelligent and relentlessly focused on an exceptional customer experience. We’re here to help.
See you next year – or hopefully even sooner – as the auto world shifts gears and we accelerate into a smarter, more connected future together.