DriveCentric Introduces the Future of CRM: Intelligent, Integrated, Built for Dealers

A next-gen strategy connecting dealers, partners, and data to shape the future of retail dealerships

DriveCentric, a leading provider of automotive CRM and AI-driven customer engagement solutions, announced a bold strategy centered on innovation and integration. In a briefing with industry analysts, DriveCentric’s CEO Matt Leone outlined the company’s evolution from a standalone CRM system into a flexible platform designed to manage the entire dealership customer lifecycle. This future-ready approach positions DriveCentric as a growth-minded partner to dealers, unlike legacy systems built to lock dealers in.

Leone emphasized that DriveCentric will become the hub for “anything that engages with the customer” in a dealership’s operations. Building on DriveCentric’s success with core features like conversational AI, Chat, Marketing Automation, and Desking – which has made the CRM “more relevant than it’s ever been in auto tech” – the company is investing heavily to expand its native capabilities and integrate with complementary solutions. Recent development initiatives include new digital retailing, reputation management, and service workflow modules, extending the platform beyond traditional CRM features. “Dealers today want fewer silos,” said Leone. “Our goal is to give dealers one powerful platform that covers the car buyer’s journey end-to-end, while seamlessly integrating with other tools dealers rely on. We’re making sure DriveCentric fits into your ecosystem easily.”

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DriveCentric’s strategy centers on building the smartest, fastest engagement platform for retail dealerships—powered by cutting-edge innovation and deep integrations that unlock better data and smarter engagement. While the platform has long supported integrations with major DMS providers, LMS tools, and OEM programs, DriveCentric is making that openness easier to access and scale. “There’s been a perception that DriveCentric operates in a closed ecosystem,” Leone noted. “In reality, we’ve integrated with 100s of partners over the years. What’s changing now is the speed at which we do that.” Going forward, the company will actively seek partnerships in three tiers: data providers (like lead sources or vehicle data services) that feed valuable information into DriveCentric’s AI engine; strategic tech integrations that enhance the core platform; and select third-party add-ons that fill niche needs for dealers. “We’re prioritizing partners that help us deliver more value to our dealers – it’s all about bringing in good data and capabilities that make DriveCentric smarter and our customers more successful,” Leone explained. For cases where a specialized add-on is needed, DriveCentric’s API will allow approved vendors to connect, backed by a formal developer program and data agreements. This open-but-strategic approach ensures that any integration truly benefits the dealer, while safeguarding data security and performance.

DriveCentric’s renewed efforts also means easier transitions for dealers. The company reports that its platform already integrates with major partner companies (from websites to DMS connectors to OEMs), reducing the friction for new customers coming on board. “We want to remove any reason a dealer hesitates to switch to DriveCentric,” added Leone. “Whether that means turning on a data feed from a partner or offering an API alternative for a feature we’ll have in the future, our message is: we’ll meet you where you are. And once you’re on DriveCentric, everything just works better together.” According to the company, dealerships using DriveCentric’s integrated platform see higher customer engagement and efficiency, contributing to DriveCentric’s explosive growth in recent years.

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Internally, DriveCentric is aligning resources to support its platform vision. The company follows an “invest and grow” philosophy with the original founders (Phil Fusz & Dave Fultz) still hand-ons in the business. Now serving thousands of dealers across North America, DriveCentric plans to expand its footprint with a more comprehensive solution. “Our vision is simple: if it engages the customer, it belongs in DriveCentric,” Leone said. “By connecting sales, F&I, service, marketing, and follow-up — and leveraging AI at each step — we’re helping dealers deliver the experience today’s customers expect in an open, collaborative way unheard of from legacy providers.”