In Episode 75 of Crossroad Conversations with the Lewis Brothers, the team breaks down what they learned at the NADA Conference in Las Vegas and how to make smarter decisions when choosing tools, systems, vendors, and technology for your business. With thousands of pitches and hundreds of vendors, the biggest takeaway is simple: new tech doesn’t fix broken processes — it magnifies them.

Fresh off NADA (the National Automobile Dealers Association conference), the brothers explain why going to industry events is one of the fastest ways to see what’s coming next, compare tools side-by-side, and network with leaders who are actually building the platforms you use. They share why they brought the largest team they’ve ever taken, how they stayed structured in a 4.6 million square-foot expo space, and why splitting up, taking notes, and sharing findings is the only way to get true value from a conference.

What’s in the Garage features a two-door 2026 Jeep Wrangler built to hit a price point: automatic, air conditioning, big screen, soft top, and a 10-year/120,000-mile warranty — all for $33,900. The conversation then shifts back into the business side: how vendors pitch hard in the moment, why you should never sign contracts at the show, and how to filter hype from real value when everyone is selling “AI.”

The brothers dig into a real problem many businesses face: too many systems that don’t talk to each other. From CRM to appraisals to service write-up tools, texting platforms, phone systems, marketing vendors, and dealer management software, they explain how costs add up fast — and why the goal isn’t collecting tools, it’s creating a better experience for customers and employees by getting systems to communicate.

A major theme in this episode is decision-making discipline. They explain how they evaluate vendors using key questions like: What problem does it solve? Are we already paying for something similar? Is it month-to-month? What’s setup cost? What can we delete if we add this? And most importantly: how good is the support when the system breaks?

They also explain why internal buy-in is often more important than the tool itself. Even the “best” system fails if employees hate using it or don’t believe in it — and involving department leaders early creates accountability and smoother implementation when bugs inevitably happen.

The episode closes with a rapid-fire look at AI realities: what AI can’t replace, why AI struggles in gray areas, and why “AI fatigue” at conferences can cause people to miss the tools that actually matter. Final takeaways focus on fully utilizing the systems you already pay for, slowing down to review the customer record, and making sure your digital footprint (social, website, online scheduling, pricing transparency) matches the real culture and experience inside your store.

KEYWORDS NADA conference, dealer systems, vendor selection, business systems, dealership software, AI in business, process improvement, customer experience, CRM, dealer management system, service scheduling, digital footprint, leadership, business strategy, vendor support

TAKEAWAYS

New technology amplifies broken processes if your people and workflow aren’t solid Go to industry events with a mission, split up, take notes, and reconvene to share learnings Never sign vendor contracts at the conference — collect data and decide after emotions settle If you add a system, identify what it replaces or deletes to avoid tool overload Support and usability matter more than flashy features Systems must communicate across departments to improve customer experience Employee buy-in determines whether a new tool succeeds or fails Your digital footprint should match the culture and experience inside your business

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 New tech magnifies process problems 00:24 Episode intro + recap of Episode 74 01:42 What’s in the garage: 2026 2-door Wrangler ($33,900) 03:41 Inside NADA: size, setup, and strategy 07:41 Conference tips: split up + take notes 11:15 Networking and “buying power” badges 15:37 Why you can’t afford to skip industry conferences 16:19 Systems audit + the true cost of tool overload 20:19 The real goal: systems talking to each other 21:48 Don’t sign contracts at the show (vendor checklist) 23:21 Mythbuster: newest tech isn’t always best 27:33 Vendor filters: usability + support + replacement value 31:18 Does it write back into the customer record? 35:05 AI fatigue + what matters about AI integration 36:28 What AI can’t replace (human judgment + gray areas) 38:17 Vendor fatigue and how to stay sharp 44:23 Buy-in: why employee adoption matters most 49:02 Final takeaways + digital footprint consistency 52:42 Wrap-up + where to listen and connect