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In this episode of In The Dirt at the 2024 NADA Show, Kyle Mountsier chats with Brian Kramer, the Executive Vice President of Cars Commerce and General Manager of Accu-Trade, at the Cars Commerce booth. Brian shares insights from his unique journey transitioning from a retail auto dealer to a technology innovator. He discusses the capabilities of Accu-Trade in simplifying and revolutionizing the car acquisition process. Brian also delves into the integration of inventory management as a seamless extension of acquisition, highlighting the real-time updates feature that keeps inventory current, akin to e-commerce platforms. The conversation touches upon omni-channel retailing and how Accu-Trade's approach is changing the game for dealerships.
0:06 - Introduction to Brian Kramer and Accu-Trade
0:37 - Brian's Background and the Genesis of Accu-Trade
1:10 - Transforming Car Appraisals and Inventory Strategies
1:38 - Innovations in Car Acquisition and Inventory Management
2:32 - Omni-channel Retailing and Full Cycle Inventory Management
3:09 - Real-Time Inventory Updates and Market Impact
3:37 - The Future of Car Inventory Management
3:54 - Closing Thoughts and Brian's Excitement for Accu-Trade's Future Developments
Brian Kramer is the Executive Vice President of Cars Commerce and General Manager of Accu-Trade
This interview was brought to you by Cars Commerce: https://www.carscommerce.inc/
Kyle Mountsier: 0:06Alright, I'm hanging out with Brian Kramer, the man, the myth, the legend, he is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Accutrade. And we're here at the newly renamed cars commerce hanging out talking about all the things that cars and active traders are doing, Brian, for the people that don't know, if they don't know, they're just not in the world, I understand that. But for the people that don't know, tell us a little bit about like, what your unique proposition it within the cars commerce arena actually is.
Brian Kramer: 0:37
So I've got a background as a as a retail auto dealer. Background as retail auto dealer, and I was able to bridge the gap with technology in my former life, you know, with acquisitions accutrade, and as a power user of accutrade. That's how I came to be a cars and I wanted to, you know, help the industry out with acquire more vehicles, doing it in a decentralized way, and basically scale what we were doing it germane toyota of naples, and do it across the country of simple and fast and easy.
Kyle Mountsier: 1:10
Yeah. So I mean, you have been around the country showing how appraisals can get done at the press of a button on the side of the road. And you've always told me about this massive goal of not just like getting the appraisal and knowing what a vehicle is worth and making sure that whether you're a salesperson or a sales manager can do it. But taking that all the way into the inventory strategy. What's the new thing that you're doing that is allowing more than just here's the value, but what do we do with this car?
Brian Kramer: 1:39
So it's great question. So the foundational piece, the well the foundation of active trade is the acquisition during the acquisition in that fast and simple, easy way, that's pretty much point and click the My 12 year old appraises cars with it. But as long as you do the things that are supposed to be done, you're basically also building out your your vehicle for inventory. So there's also that many less clicks, it's almost like a one click transition from the acquisition to inventory management. And we don't look at inventory management, like a separate product we look at as an extension of the acquisition. Same thing with new cars, I mean, all of those things we believe should be holistic, we don't think that you should need you don't need a separate website widget and a separate vital and a separate vice center with also a another inventory tool that also, you know, possibly needed to park hours of service drive, we believe that's one product, and that you don't need five elements
Kyle Mountsier: 2:32
of Nikes inventory management, it's like we've been you know, we you are a large advocate to omni channel and omni channel retailing when you're at the dealership and making it seamless, easy for someone to buy online or in the store or a combination of both. And this is really the compliment. I feel like on the inventory side. It's like no full cycle inventory management. What does that look like
Brian Kramer: 2:53
real time updates. So like when your card when somebody puts a deposit on smart books sold in the DMS, or wherever it's going to immediately not at 2am. But like right now it's gonna see their sale pending, or it's gonna go offline. And then you're actually gonna have real time like, like a real You
Kyle Mountsier: 3:10
mean, like, inventory normally works in the world. Crazy stuff.
Brian Kramer: 3:14
So if you buy some of Amazon, and there's no more of it, it's not listed on there. An inventory isn't like that way. So well, if you're a dealer inspired dealer, cars, commerce, platform user cars.com user accurate trade, it will be real time immediately, two seconds.
Kyle Mountsier: 3:31
So it's it's almost like the Check Availability button shouldn't exist anymore, is what you're trying to say.
Brian Kramer: 3:38
I'm gonna steal that from you because I didn't think about that. Yes, yeah, you can eliminate one more, you know, CTA off of the Yeah. Transactions blew
Kyle Mountsier: 3:47
your mind. totally change your whole thing.
Brian Kramer: 3:50
We're gonna change our whole go to market strategy now. Because now you're gonna be able to transact
Kyle Mountsier: 3:54
unbelievable, amazing. Well, Brian, thanks for spending some time with you're glad we blew your mind got you excited and I'm excited to what you're bringing to market. Cool. Thank you.