"Fewer Leads, More Sales"– Massive Upsides, Fatal Flaws, and Sobering Reality of AI BDCs | Daniel Kim, Director of Operations at Barnes Crossing Auto Group

Sep 2, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Daniel Kim, Director of Operations at Barnes Crossing Auto Group, shares his fascinating journey from tech entrepreneur to automotive leader. He dives into the promises and pitfalls of AI in Business Development Centers, emphasizing why keeping teams on the phones is crucial. Daniel also highlights the importance of clean data for effective customer outreach and discusses the innovative 'bake-off' method for selecting vendors. His insights blend humor with insightful strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of dealership operations.

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ANECDOTE

Founding Orbi From A Simple Idea

Daniel started Orbi after seeing 360-degree car views and building a product with university engineers.
The first demo was with CarMax and the company evolved into a CDP over time.

INSIGHT

AI Agents Plus Data Ownership

Daniel focuses on AI agents and ownership of data as his top priorities at the dealer group.
He uses a data warehouse to normalize vendor data and coordinate customer outreach.

ADVICE

Do A Live Vendor Bake-Off

Run a live bake-off by splitting stores and testing two vendors in production rather than relying on demos alone.
Measure clear success metrics and choose vendors who act as true partners during rollout.

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