Taking Control: Why Dealerships Must Own Their Data Now

Qore Conversations

In this episode, Todd Smith, CEO of QoreAI, unpacks one of the most urgent topics facing automotive retailers today: data ownership. As AI rapidly reshapes the competitive landscape, Todd outlines why dealers can no longer afford to rely on middleware and third-party systems to access and manage their own data.

He breaks down the limitations of current vendor-controlled environments, where critical customer and operational data is fragmented across disparate systems—and where dealers are paying to access insights that should inherently belong to them. The conversation dives into why middleware, including common platforms like CDPs, is quickly becoming obsolete in a world where speed, precision, and control are non-negotiable.

Todd explains how data fragmentation leads to operational inefficiencies, decision-making delays, and a lack of visibility that directly impacts dealership profitability. More importantly, he highlights how clean, structured, and centralized proprietary data unlocks the real value of AI—enabling faster insights, smarter marketing, better resource allocation, and ultimately, a more competitive and agile dealership.

The episode also explores the hard truths about dealer tech stacks today: most organizations have redundant systems, inaccurate data, and limited ability to extract intelligence from their own operations. Todd shares the foundational steps every dealership must take to shift from data renters to data owners—starting with mapping data infrastructure, auditing current systems, and implementing a unified architecture that positions the dealership to fully leverage AI.

With margins tightening and customer expectations increasing, the pressure to operate efficiently and intelligently has never been greater. This episode is a strategic guide for any dealership leader ready to take control of their data, unlock real organizational intelligence, and build the competitive foundation required for the future of automotive retail.

For more information about QoreAI, visit our website: www.qoreai.com.

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Podcast Directed and Produced by Hired Guns Agency: https://www.hiredgunsagency.com

Chapters

1. Taking Control: Why Dealerships Must Own Their Data Now (00:00:00)

2. Introduction to Data Ownership Crisis (00:00:05)

3. The Problem with Middleware (00:03:15)

4. Knowledge vs. Proprietary Experience (00:08:32)

5. Risks of Renting vs. Owning Data (00:17:12)

6. First Steps to Data Ownership (00:23:20)

7. AI-First Dealerships Will Win (00:36:16)