In today’s competitive automotive industry, dealerships must do more than just service vehicles — they must deliver an exceptional service experience that meets the expectations of modern vehicle owners. Gone are the days when customers were satisfied with phone-only bookings and opaque repair processes. Instead, convenience, transparency, and fast communication are key to fostering customer loyalty, increasing repeat business, and driving fixed-ops profitability. Xtime, a leading automotive service experience platform from Cox Automotive, is designed to help dealerships meet these expectations and transform fixed operations into a growth-driving engine.
What Is Xtime?
Xtime is a comprehensive automotive service experience platform built to streamline and enhance dealership service operations. Its suite of integrated tools empowers fixed operations teams to deliver superior customer experiences while increasing efficiency, revenue, and retention. As part of the broader Cox Automotive Retail360 ecosystem, Xtime integrates with dealer management systems (DMS), CRM platforms, and payment processors, enabling a seamless workflow across the entire dealership.
At its heart, Xtime helps dealerships service more vehicles in less time, while enabling better communication, more transparent inspections, and smarter marketing — all aimed at creating loyal customers and more profitable service departments.
Core Features of Xtime
Xtime is built around several powerful modules, each designed to address a specific stage of the automotive service process. These modules work together to create a connected, digital experience for both dealership staff and customers.
1. Online Service Booking with Xtime Schedule
The first step in delivering a great service experience is making it easy for customers to book appointments. Xtime Schedule allows customers to schedule service online or via mobile devices 24/7, offering real-time availability and automated reminders. This not only enhances customer convenience but also helps dealerships manage shop capacity more efficiently. Intelligent capacity management tools give service managers the ability to balance workload and optimize technician utilization for maximum throughput.
By removing barriers to scheduling and reducing no-shows through automated reminders, Xtime Schedule increases both customer satisfaction and dealership revenue.
2. Personalized Interactions with Xtime Engage
Once a customer arrives at the dealership, the experience needs to be smooth, informative, and personal. Xtime Engage helps service teams deliver just that. With features like mobile tablet check-in, self check-in options, and real-time updates via text or email, Engage keeps customers informed throughout the service visit. The platform also supports faster checkout with online payment capabilities, reducing wait times and creating a seamless end-to-end service experience.
Engage also enables service advisors to pull up service history, pricing menus, and recommendations on the spot, enhancing transparency and building trust with customers. This elevated level of communication often leads to higher approval rates for recommended services and stronger customer loyalty.
3. Visual Inspections with Xtime Inspect
Understanding the condition of a vehicle is critical for customers when making informed decisions about repairs. Xtime Inspect brings clarity and transparency by enabling technicians to capture photos and videos of vehicle issues and share them directly with customers. This approach helps customers see exactly what’s happening under the hood, making it easier for them to approve necessary services.
Recent enhancements to the multimedia inspection experience — such as higher-resolution videos, noise cancellation, and subtitles — further improve communication and can lead to service approvals in as little as seven minutes. Technicians and service advisors also benefit from performance dashboards that track inspection progress and help optimize workflows.
4. Targeted Retention with Xtime Invite
Keeping customers coming back after their initial visit is essential for long-term success. Xtime Invite is a marketing automation tool that helps dealerships reconnect with customers through personalized messages and service offers. Using data from past visits, declined repairs, and maintenance history, Invite sends timely outreach that drives repeat service appointments and fills empty shop slots.
By reaching the right customers with the right message at the right time, dealerships can boost service revenue and retention, turning occasional visitors into loyal patrons.
5. Seamless Integrations and Operational Efficiency
One of Xtime’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to integrate smoothly with existing dealership systems, such as DMS, CRM, and payment platforms. This connectivity ensures that customer and operational data flows seamlessly throughout the dealership, eliminating redundant tasks and reducing friction for service advisors and technicians.
These integrations support a unified workflow where information — from appointment details and inspection results to marketing insights — is accessible in real time. This efficiency not only streamlines internal processes but also supports a consistent and satisfying customer experience from start to finish.
Benefits of Implementing Xtime
Dealerships that adopt Xtime often see remarkable improvements in multiple areas of their fixed operations:
Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
Customers now expect digital convenience and personalized attention. Xtime delivers both — from online booking and real-time updates to transparent inspections — helping elevate the overall service experience and build loyalty.
Increased Service Revenue
With better scheduling, more efficient workflows, and improved approval rates for recommended repairs, dealerships can boost average revenue per repair order and overall profitability. Features like enhanced multimedia inspections also contribute to higher conversion rates for service upsells.
Greater Operational Efficiency
Automating routine tasks such as scheduling and communication frees up staff to focus on higher-value work. Integrations reduce manual data entry and streamline service processes, improving productivity across the department.
Improved Customer Retention
Targeted marketing and personalized follow-ups from tools like Xtime Invite encourage repeat visits, strengthening long-term customer relationships and maximizing lifetime value.
Xtime stands at the forefront of automotive service innovation — helping dealerships deliver the digital convenience, transparency, and communication that today’s customers demand. By offering tools for online scheduling, personalized engagement, visual inspections, and intelligent marketing, Xtime transforms fixed operations into a powerful driver of customer satisfaction and revenue growth. Whether you’re looking to optimize workflows, build stronger customer relationships, or boost your service department’s profitability, Xtime provides a comprehensive, integrated solution that meets the needs of modern dealerships. As the automotive industry continues to embrace digital transformation, platforms like Xtime are essential for staying competitive and providing a service experience that keeps customers coming back.
