Don’t miss episode #123 of the Car Dealership Guy podcast with Bill Cariss, CEO of Holman Strategic Ventures! In this episode, Bill shares insights from Orbee’s recent working group meeting at Holman’s HQ, where top dealership groups explored strategies to boost customer engagement with the help of CDPs. He also highlights Holman’s decision to officially select Orbee as their CDP provider after a thorough evaluation, reinforcing our commitment to delivering personalized, data-driven customer experiences. Beyond our partnership, the podcast dives into a broader discussion about how Holman is deploying $9 billion into the next generation of automotive disruptors, Bill’s journey from car dealer to venture capital leader, his experience as an early investor in Rivian, and much more. Tune in to the full podcast below! #CarDealershipGuy #Holman #CustomerData #CDP #AutomotiveInnovation
From car dealer to venture capital giant: Bill Cariss is on a mission to funnel $9 billion into the next generation of auto disruptors. I recently spoke with Bill, President and CEO of Holman Strategic Ventures, to discuss how dealers are leveraging their post-COVID cash to invest in tech that will drive business forward. Top lessons learned from Bill: 1. Tech innovation. – High car prices and margins left dealers with excess cash to invest in technology and innovative products. – Holman is channeling its funds into A.I., robotics, and data solutions that can transform operations. 2. A.I. and data are upending retail. – Data is the foundation for problem-solving and efficiency in every department. – While A.I. can optimize processes, the true value is in leveraging data to enhance experiences. — Software as a Service (SaaS) investments were once the gold standard, but their valuation multiples have dropped from 15-20x revenue to 6-8x. 3. Robotics could be the next big disruptor. – Robotics are gaining traction as a new area of investment, specifically for dealership parts warehouses. – Bill envisions robots sorting and moving components, similar to Amazon. – Some startups are even working on integrating robotics into the dealership management system (DMS). 4. Consolidation is reshaping the landscape. – Mergers and acquisitions are creating larger, integrated platforms while reducing competition. – There’s still room for innovation from startups, which are often more agile and capable of creating breakthrough tech. 5. The future of dealership tech investments. – Investments in dealership tech are shifting towards delivering long-term strategic advantages, like automation and data analytics. – Despite headwinds, Bill encourages dealers to continue investing in technology to future-proof their businesses. The full episode is live! Stream it now — Apple: https://lnkd.in/euJpwYpn Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eMwhfMJ7 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eUt8WRT2