From the start, it was clear this year’s show was about execution. Not bigger ideas. Not buzzwords. Results. At the BizzyCar booth, the conversations started early and rarely slowed down. Fixed Ops directors, service managers, general managers, and dealer principals pulled up chairs, grabbed espresso, compared notes, and asked us:
“How do we drive more service appointments without adding more workload?”
That was the defining question of our conversations in Las Vegas, and it reinforced a simple truth: the future of automotive innovation is measured in booked appointments, not ideas.
At NADA 2026, we officially launched our latest fully automated, fully integrated Fixed Ops management solution: BizzyCar Service Engine. Service Engine landed right on time amid conversations about short staffing, inconsistent follow-up, missed service intervals, and the difficulty of driving outbound engagement at scale.
This software was built to address those constraints directly by:
What stood out most in our conversations about Service Engine wasn’t excitement about “new tech.” Our automated platform now extends beyond recalls while keeping the same hands-off execution model. Dealers cared that it integrates with the systems they already use and drives measurable appointment volume — not more dashboards to manage.
Across dozens of conversations at NADA, one theme was consistent: no one wants to rip and replace. They want complementary automation that strengthens what’s already in place. Service Engine is a direct response to what operators have been asking for.
After NADA 2026, we compared our wide range of interactions, and some common themes emerged: 1) dealers have some serious questions about AI, 2) one metric matters more than all the others, and 3) the interest in better recall management continues to grow.
If there was one word everywhere at NADA 2026, it was AI. Inbound AI BDCs, SMS image generators, add-on “AI features” layered into legacy platforms, sales tools repositioned for service.
But underneath the buzzwords, dealers were asking a simpler question: does it actually drive appointments and revenue or is it just another feature? Across dozens of conversations, we heard consistent themes:
There’s a lot of noise in the market right now, but dealers are increasingly clear on needing execution vs. novelty. They’re asking sharper questions about integration, consistency, and measurable outcomes. They want to know what AI actually does for them.
One question surfaced repeatedly on the show floor: “How many appointments will this drive?”
Dealers told us they wanted volume: predictable, repeatable, measurable appointment flow.
With new vehicle margins tightening and the average age of vehicles on U.S. roads continuing to climb, they can see that Fixed Ops is carrying more strategic weight than ever. Service departments are expected to deliver steady throughput while managing technician shortages, capacity constraints, and OEM pressure. That reality leaves little patience for partial solutions.
Dealers described fatigue with tools that:
The appetite was clear: fewer tools, more execution. That clarity shaped the reception to everything we discussed at NADA, including our Service Engine launch.
In conversation after conversation, recall management was a strategy, not an afterthought.
Dealers understand recall service appointments as:
Recall work isn’t speculative demand; it's a guaranteed need. But it’s often underleveraged because managing it manually is time-consuming and inconsistent. When the lane gets busy, recall outreach gets deprioritized. When parts or capacity don’t align, scheduling becomes inefficient. When communication with customers relies on fragmented systems, completion rates suffer.
One of the strongest competitive insights we heard all week was that dealers respect recall data that is current, trusted, and continuously updated. They want partners who treat recalls as foundational, not as a feature bolted onto a broader sales play.
While other software companies are blending sales and service AI under a single umbrella, dealers increasingly view recalls as a distinct operational opportunity that requires dedicated automation. And recall management automation is exactly where BizzyCar leads.
Read BizzyCar’s Q4 2025 Recall Report.
NADA is all about building relationships, so we were excited to see our booth design and location generate strong traffic throughout the week. The espresso bar became a natural gathering point, poker chips sparked friendly competition and booking conversations, and our private meeting space fueled deeper operational discussions away from the noise.
But most important were the insights from our conversations. We spoke with dealer groups navigating technician shortages, GMs looking for clearer ROI attribution, service leaders trying to balance capacity with retention, and senior stakeholders seeking more visibility into how automation connects to revenue outcomes. We were inspired by the honesty and depth of these discussions, and we left NADA 2026 energized to continue evolving our products to better serve the people we met there.
One of the week’s highlights was participating in the ATI Breakfast as a premium sponsor. Our CEO, Ryan Maher, joined Joe Shaker, Jason Scott, and Sam Baker on the “Dealers That Invest in Tech” panel, hosted by AutoTech Investments.
The discussion centered on how forward-thinking dealers are strategically investing in technology to drive measurable growth, from service retention and operational efficiency to scalable customer engagement.
The audience was filled with operators, investors, and leaders who think in terms of throughput, efficiency, and sustainable revenue — not buzzwords. The breakfast panel reflected the throughline we observed in our conversations with these decision makers: technology choices in 2026 are less about experimentation and more about disciplined growth. Dealers are investing carefully and deliberately.
Every show teaches you something. This year reinforced several clear lessons:
Execution beats hype. AI terminology doesn’t impress on its own. Automation must reduce workload and drive real appointments.
Appointment volume is the north star. Dealers measure success in ROs, throughput, and service lane traffic.
ROI clarity matters. Attribution questions are getting sharper. Senior stakeholders want transparent, defensible storytelling around results.
Recall remains a strategic wedge. Dealers view recalls as a reliable entry point for both revenue and retention, when properly automated. And it’s where we win. While others are layering AI onto generic inbound tools, we built an outbound, automated recall platform first - with the data, workflows and integrations purpose-built. We automate the highest-intent work in the service drive and prove it in appointment volume.
Most importantly, the conversations we had confirmed that Fixed Ops is not a secondary function. It is a strategic growth engine, and it requires automation built specifically for its realities.
To every dealer, partner, and industry peer who stopped by the booth, joined the ATI Breakfast, or took the time to talk through operational challenges: thank you.
NADA is a whirlwind. We know your time is valuable, and we don’t take those conversations lightly. We left Las Vegas energized by the clarity of the market and encouraged by the seriousness with which dealers are approaching service automation.
We understand that the industry isn’t looking for more noise. It’s looking for reliable engines that drive real outcomes, and we’re committed to continuing to build exactly that.
If you didn’t get a chance to connect with us at NADA, or if you’d like a deeper look at our approach to recall and service automation, we’d love to talk.
Schedule a demo today and see how BizzyCar turns fully automated, fully integrated recall and outbound service engagement into measurable service lane revenue.