The Localise team recently headed to the NEC in Birmingham for Automotive Management Live (AM Live) to officially launch our new automotive-specific platform, Customer Connect.
From the moment the doors opened, the energy on the exhibition floor was fantastic. Speaking directly with dealer groups, single-site retailers, and industry leaders confirmed one thing: dealerships are tired of fragmented tools and want a simpler, smarter way to manage their digital reputation and local presence.
Here is a look back at the highlights from the day and the features that caught dealers’ attention.
What dealers loved most at the show
The competitor benchmark tool
One of the biggest talking points at our stand was the Benchmark feature. Dealers loved being able to see instantly where their dealership ranks on Google in terms of star rating compared to their nearest ten competitors. Better yet, the platform puts those scores into real-world context by providing both the local average and national average, making it effortless to spot where you are winning and where there is room to pull ahead.
Practical AI that actually helps run your dealership
There is a lot of noise around artificial intelligence at the moment, so dealers were thrilled to see that the AI built into Customer Connect isn’t just a gimmick. It is a genuinely useful day-to-day operational tool.
Rather than forcing managers to manually read through hundreds of online reviews, our AI analyses customer reviews for sentiment, flags recurring topics and themes (such as “bad communication”, handover delays, or workshop efficiency), and picks up on specific staff mentions. This gives dealer principals and heads of business a crystal-clear picture of where their sites are performing well and where their downfalls are, allowing them to immediately celebrate high performers while pinpointing targeted training opportunities before small issues become bigger habits.
100% accurate Apple listings via our new Apple Business Partnership
Outdated opening hours, wrong phone numbers, and inaccurate map pins are a major headache for busy dealer groups. Sharing the news that Localise has recently become an official Apple Business partner was music to dealers’ ears. Through Customer Connect, retailers can now ensure their dealership information on Apple Maps and across the Apple ecosystem stays 100% accurate at all times eliminating frustrating customer journeys caused by incorrect listings.
What’s Coming Next: The AI Visibility Module
We also gave attendees an exclusive sneak peek at our product roadmap, including the upcoming AI Visibility module.
As car buyers increasingly turn to generative AI tools to research vehicles and find trusted local retailers, knowing how your dealership appears in AI search is critical. Soon, Customer Connect users will be able to track and measure their visibility across major AI platforms including Google Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude ensuring their rooftops stay front of mind wherever customers are searching.
Thank you for visiting us in Birmingham
A massive thank you to everyone who stopped by the Localise stand at AM Live to chat with the team and see Customer Connect in action. If you missed us on the day or want a closer look at how your dealership stacks up against your local competitors visit www.customerconnect.co.uk to book a quick demo.
