Through a direct integration with FordDirect's Customer Journey Platform (CJP), dealers will be able to leverage proprietary customer data and Impel AI to deliver hyper-personalized concierge experiences at every stage of the customer lifecycle.
SYRACUSE, N.Y., Jan. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Impel, a global leader in AI solutions for the automotive industry, announced today a strategic partnership with FordDirect, a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchise dealer network. The partnership brings Impel's conversational AI products to Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers throughout the United States. Through a direct integration with FordDirect's Customer Journey Platform (CJP), dealers will be able to leverage proprietary customer data and Impel AI to deliver hyper-personalized concierge experiences at every stage of the customer lifecycle. The two companies will celebrate the partnership announcement at the 2025 NADA Show in New Orleans with a ribbon cutting ceremony and demonstration at Impel's booth (#4651) on January 24th at 1:30pm CT.
Automotive retailers generate vast amounts of customer behavioral data, yet due to siloed legacy systems and a patchwork of digital platforms, aggregating and accessing this valuable asset has been a longstanding struggle. Customer Data Platforms (CDPs) were designed to address these challenges, but without the ability to fully activate this data, the business impact of these investments is limited. The development of generative AI applications has created new opportunities for harnessing customer data and insights to deliver more relevant and impactful experiences at every customer touchpoint.
Impel's Automotive AI platform leverages state-of-the-art conversational AI technology paired with proprietary language models to activate CDP data and engage customers with personalized content and experiences. Through a bi-directional integration of FordDirect's CJP with Impel AI, the companies are creating a virtuous cycle that grows stronger with every interaction. Customer data and insights are used to inform AI interactions, while AI interactions generate new self-reported customer data that is fed back into the CJP.
"By activating FordDirect's deep consumer insights with Impel's conversational AI capabilities, we're enabling our Dealers and Retailers to connect with customers in more meaningful and impactful ways," said Dean Stoneley, CEO of FordDirect. "The results from our early pilots with Impel demonstrate the power of intelligent automation for dealers and consumers alike. Together we're not just responding to the needs of today's automotive market—we're shaping the future."
Impel's AI solutions reduce friction for consumers and increase productivity and performance for dealers. In a recent pilot program, participating Ford Dealers using Impel AI reported measurable business impacts including:
- A 65% lift in showroom appointments set from inbound sales leads
- A significant increase in sales team productivity, including a 24% increase in outbound phone calls made and 2x total touches per lead
- An average of 132 incremental service repair orders (ROs) per dealer per month
"Impel and FordDirect are united in our vision to transform automotive retailing by making every interaction with every customer more efficient, effective and engaging," said Devin Daly, Co-Founder and CEO of Impel. "This partnership is not just about implementing technology - it's about building more meaningful relationships that inspire lifelong customer loyalty. Together with FordDirect, we're equipping dealers with solutions that not only streamline operations but also elevate the customer experience. We couldn't be more excited to bring these powerful new capabilities to Ford Motor Company's more than 3,000 dealers."
Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers can learn more about the partnership by visiting the Impel booth (#4651) at the 2025 NADA Show in New Orleans from January 24 – 26.
About Impel
Impel offers automotive dealers, OEMs, and third-party marketplaces the industry's most advanced AI Operating System. The company's end-to-end omnichannel solution leverages proprietary consumer behavioral data and generative conversational AI technology to deliver hyper-personalized sales, marketing, and service experiences at every touchpoint of the customer lifecycle. Impel's fully integrated automotive retail platform works seamlessly with all major website, inventory, CRM, and DMS platforms. To date, the company has delivered over 27 billion shopper interactions, influencing more than $7 billion in sales and service revenue across 51 countries. To learn more about Impel, visit impel.ai.
About FordDirect
FordDirect, headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, connects the worlds of data, analytics, and technology to provide best-in-class digital marketing and advertising solutions exclusively for Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers. FordDirect is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its dealers with a mission of helping Ford and Lincoln dealerships sell more cars and trucks.
Media Contact
Alexis Cardona, Impel, 1 8443846735, [email protected], https://impel.ai/
SOURCE Impel
Share this article