In the evolving world of automotive retail, delivering a seamless and digitally engaging service lane isn’t just an advantage it’s a necessity. Xtime, a cornerstone of Cox Automotive’s Retail360 ecosystem, reformulates how dealerships manage appointments, inspections, customer interactions, and follow-ups. It’s an end-to-end Service Experience Platform that prioritizes convenience, transparency, and profitability—from booking to payment.

What Makes Xtime Stand Out

As highlighted on the official site, Xtime empowers dealers to:

• Service more vehicles in less time, boosting throughput and uptime.

• Deliver video-backed service recommendations that customers approve in as fast as 7 minutes, spurring higher upsell performance.

• Operate within a unified suite of modules—Schedule, Engage, Inspect, and Invite—that streamline front-line and back-end workflows. 

• Connect seamlessly with DMS, CRM, and payment systems, ensuring a fluid tech ecosystem. 

The Four Pillars of Xtime’s Technology Suite

Schedule

Enables effortless, 全天候-online booking with real-time availability and shop loading insights. This module lowers phone traffic, boosts show rates, and puts convenient control in the customer's hands. 

Engage

Delivers a digitized check-in/check-out experience via tablet, complete with self check-in, text updates, and intelligent diagnostics. Advisors can engage customers personally, improving satisfaction and operational speed. 

Inspect

Empowers technicians with mobile-enabled multi-point inspections—complete with photos and video—that customers can review and approve instantly. These interactions help build trust, speed approvals, and elevate average repair order (RO) value.

Invite

Enables targeted marketing for declined services or recall reminders, ensuring customers return and the service bay stays productive.

New Features Powering 2025

Recent enhancements reflect Xtime’s commitment to innovation:

• Messaging Center: Advanced texting capabilities, including bulk messaging, help dealers communicate effectively with customers and prospects. 

• Multimedia Inspection Upgrades: Enhanced video features (noise cancellation, subtitles, OEM branding) increase clarity and trust, enabling ASRs to gain approval in as little as 7 minutes. 

• Real-Time Dashboards & Scoring: Managers now have real-time visibility into performance metrics, ideal for driving upsells and operational efficiency. 

• Improved Reporting & DMS Sync: Simplified analytics and tighter DMS integrations eliminate friction between fixed ops and back-office systems. 

These features help meet the expectations of a digital-first customer base—where 65% prioritize digital communication tools. 

Performance & Adoption Metrics

Xtime’s output is impressive: Trusted by nearly 7,000 franchise dealerships and over 20 OEMs, the platform has processed over $23 billion in service revenue for more than 7,300 dealers annually. 

Dealers leveraging Xtime report:

• Faster approval times for ASRs.

• Higher revenue per RO.

• Stronger customer loyalty through transparent and responsive service journeys.

Voices from the Field: Real Dealer Feedback

What Works Well (Reddit Insights)

“Once you figure out Xtime, it’s pretty damn good. FANTASTIC for communicating with Advisors and Techs.” 

“XTime as a customer-facing tool is fantastic. It’s clean, crisp, and user-friendly. Customers love it.” 

Dealers appreciate Xtime’s clean interface, intuitive interaction flow, and communication improvements.

Challenges & Frustrations

“It just straight doesn’t work at times… feels buggy… jumping to the top of the page after adding parts… syncing delays.” 

“Switching from DealerLogix was rough… messaging doesn’t work… quoting is horrific… API errors 50% of the time.” 

“Moving from CDK—double-entry, poor parts integration, duplicate work.” 

Many issues stem from integration with other DMS systems, highlighting that efficient software doesn’t guarantee smooth operation unless set up and maintained correctly.

Best Practices for Xtime Success

Dealerships that thrive with Xtime typically follow these steps:

1. Cross-Team Setup & Training
   Ensure service advisors, parts, techs, and managers are onboarded with role-tailored training. 

2. Optimize DMS Integration
   Maximize integration to minimize double entry, especially for parts and billing workflows. 

3. Leverage Multimedia & Messaging Tools
   Use video ASRs and messaging campaigns to drive approvals and engagement. 

4. Monitor and Adjust
   Use real-time dashboards and performance scoring for continuous improvement. 

Why Xtime Matters Today

Fixed operations now deliver almost half of dealership profits. To compete, service lanes must operate with speed, transparency, and technological cohesion. Xtime delivers:

• A modern, Service-first digital experience.

• Higher productivity and upsell potential.

• Better customer communication through digital channels.

• Integrated workflow that spans scheduling, inspection, payment, and retention marketing.

Xtime stands as a comprehensive, feature-rich service experience platform, offering:

When the platform is properly implemented, Xtime becomes a strategic asset—transforming the service lane into a growth engine, not just a support function.