Automotive BDC Tips: Ultimate Way to Follow Up in 2025
In 2025, automotive sales are more digital, data-driven, and customer-focused than ever. Whether you’re running a small automotive BDC at a car dealership or overseeing operations at a multi-location group, one question still rules your sales strategy: What’s the best way to follow up with auto leads—text, call, or email?
The short answer? It depends.
But with the rise of BDC AI and advanced tools like AI call software, the way we approach lead follow-up has shifted. Let’s break it down.
What Is a BDC and Why Does It Matter?
An automotive BDC (Business Development Center) is the heart of any car dealership’s lead nurturing process. It’s where the magic of BDC sales, BDC car sales, and appointment setting happens. Whether it’s a dedicated automotive BDC team or an automotive BDC powered by AI, these departments ensure every lead gets the attention it deserves.
The Rise of AI in Automotive Dealerships
In 2025, many top-performing stores have adopted AI BDC systems. These platforms automate repetitive follow-up tasks and improve lead response time. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), digital communication and BDC efficiency remain top priorities for dealerships in 2025. With dealership AI, you can now:
- Send personalized texts seconds after a lead submits a form
- Analyze which follow-up method works best for each customer
- Use voice AI to nurture cold leads back into the funnel
BDC automotive teams powered by AI are not just faster—they’re smarter.
Call, Text, or Email? What Works Best?
Here’s a look at each method through the lens of dealership best practices:
Text
- Open rate: 98%
- Best for: Quick responses, appointment reminders, follow-up nudges
- Pro tip: Use BDC.AI to automate first-touch texts and filter out non-buyers fast.
Call
- Conversion rate: Still king for complex sales
- Best for: Live appointment setting, trade-in discussions, financing questions
- Pro tip: Use BDC.AI for Sales Calls to prequalify leads.
- Best for: Long-form info, follow-up on no-shows, sending pricing
- Pro tip: Use BDC.AI to score email engagement and prompt BDC reps to follow up.
Smarter Follow-Up With AI and Automation
The smartest dealership BDC operations in 2025 are using:
- AI BDC systems for instant responses
- BDC sales data to personalize outreach
- AI calls with BDC.AI for sales leads, service appointments and more
This hybrid model of automotive BDC workflows + AI lets sales teams work smarter, not harder.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still debating the best way to follow up, remember: it’s not about choosing just text, call, or email—it’s about knowing which one to use and when. With the help of AI, BDC dealership teams are evolving fast.
2025 is the year to modernize your follow-up, boost your BDC car sales, and let technology carry the weight—so your people can focus on closing deals.
Ready to bring AI to your BDC?
Let’s talk about how to optimize your automotive BDC today.
