Xtime: The Digital Backbone of Modern Dealership Service Operations
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In an automotive world that’s more competitive and customer-focused than ever before, dealerships face growing pressure to deliver efficient, personalized, and technology-driven service experiences. Xtime, a fixed operations platform under the Cox Automotive umbrella, provides a comprehensive suite of tools to help service departments modernize operations and elevate the customer journey. With digital scheduling, real-time inspections, and intelligent communication, Xtime transforms service lanes into high-performance, customer-centric environments.
What Is Xtime?
Xtime is a cloud-based Service Experience Platform designed to help automotive dealerships improve the efficiency, transparency, and profitability of their service departments. From online appointment scheduling to technician video inspections and customer communication tools, Xtime provides an integrated solution that connects service advisors, technicians, and customers throughout the entire service process.
It’s not just about operational convenience—Xtime enhances how dealerships engage with customers at every stage of the ownership experience, making it easier to build trust, improve retention, and increase revenue per visit.
The Four Pillars of the Xtime Platform
Xtime offers its capabilities through four core modules that make up its complete platform, often referred to as the Xtime Spectrum:
1. Invite – Intelligent Marketing and Retention
Invite enables dealerships to automate service marketing efforts, from maintenance reminders to follow-ups on declined services. Using customer data and OEM schedules, Invite sends personalized, timely messages that drive customers back to the service drive. The goal: fill your bays consistently and improve long-term retention.
2. Schedule – Simplified Online Booking
Customers today expect convenience. Xtime Schedule allows them to book appointments 24/7 via mobile or desktop, while giving service departments full visibility into technician availability, loaner car inventory, and shop capacity. This module integrates with OEM and DMS platforms, reducing double entry and increasing accuracy.
3. Engage – Digital Check-In and Real-Time Communication
With Engage, dealerships digitize the check-in experience. Service advisors can complete walkaround inspections on a tablet, review past service history, and confirm customer needs. More importantly, they can communicate with customers via text or email throughout the day, updating them on progress and getting quick approvals for recommended work.
4. Inspect – Multimedia Vehicle Inspections
One of Xtime’s most powerful features is Inspect, which allows technicians to share high-definition photos and videos of vehicle issues with customers. This transparency improves trust and boosts approval rates for additional repairs. Dealers using Inspect often see significantly higher revenue per repair order due to better communication and credibility.
Why Xtime Matters to Dealerships Today
The automotive service industry is undergoing a digital transformation. Customers want the same convenience they experience in other industries—online banking, food delivery, and retail—when it comes to servicing their vehicles. Dealerships that rely on traditional methods risk falling behind, especially when independent repair shops are quick to adopt digital-first experiences.
Xtime bridges that gap by making dealership service processes faster, easier, and more transparent. Here are just a few reasons why forward-thinking dealers are investing in this technology:
Higher Customer Satisfaction
Customers are more likely to return when service feels easy and trustworthy. Real-time updates, digital inspections, and faster check-ins make the process feel modern and transparent.
Increased Revenue Per RO
By showcasing repair needs visually and enabling instant communication, Xtime helps service advisors get faster approvals on additional services. This leads to higher average repair orders (ROs).
Improved Technician Productivity
Technicians waste less time waiting for advisor approval or chasing down paperwork. Digital workflows help them stay focused on actual repairs.
Better Retention
Tools like Invite keep the dealership top-of-mind with customers through automated reminders and personalized follow-ups, which can lead to increased long-term loyalty.
Integration with DMS and OEM Systems
One of the key advantages of Xtime is how well it integrates with Dealer Management Systems (DMS), Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) systems, and other tools dealerships already use. This allows for smoother workflows, less duplication of effort, and accurate reporting.
Whether it’s syncing repair orders, updating customer profiles, or connecting with vehicle telematics, Xtime ensures that all parts of the service operation are aligned and efficient.
Real-World Impact
Dealerships using Xtime report:
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Shorter customer wait times
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Improved RO throughput
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Reduced no-show rates
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More upsell approvals thanks to visual inspections
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Higher customer satisfaction scores
It’s not just about the tech—it’s about building a culture of efficiency and transparency that today’s customers demand.
A Platform That Evolves with the Industry
Xtime isn’t a static tool. It’s regularly updated with new features that reflect changes in consumer behavior and dealership needs. For example, recent improvements include:
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Enhanced video editing for technician inspections
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Centralized messaging for customer communication
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Better analytics dashboards for dealership leaders
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Integration with rideshare services for customer transport options
These updates show that Xtime is committed to staying ahead of trends and ensuring dealerships remain competitive in a fast-moving market.
Xtime is more than just a scheduling tool—it’s a complete service management platform designed for modern dealerships. By unifying digital scheduling, inspections, customer communication, and retention marketing, it delivers a seamless service experience that delights customers and drives business results.
Whether your dealership is focused on improving operational efficiency, increasing customer satisfaction, or growing fixed-ops revenue, Xtime offers the tools and flexibility to make it happen. As service continues to grow in importance for long-term profitability, having a platform like Xtime is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity.
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