In today’s fast-moving automotive industry, staying competitive means delivering not just great cars, but exceptional after-sales service. For dealerships, this translates into efficient scheduling, seamless communication, and consistent customer satisfaction. That’s where Xtime, a leader in cloud-based service technology, plays a crucial role.

Powered by Cox Automotive, Xtime is more than a scheduling tool—it’s a full-service solution that transforms the fixed operations side of dealerships. With its all-in-one platform, dealerships can modernize the entire service journey, from online appointments to digital inspections and real-time engagement.

Let’s explore how Xtime is redefining automotive service and why it’s become the go-to solution for thousands of dealerships across North America.

What is Xtime?

Xtime is a comprehensive cloud-based software platform designed to enhance dealership service departments. It enables dealerships to offer a modern, connected, and customer-friendly service experience. Xtime supports both the dealership team service advisors, technicians, and managers—and the customer throughout the entire service lifecycle.

The platform is trusted by over 7,000 dealerships and is integrated with more than 25 automotive OEMs, demonstrating its flexibility and industry credibility. From appointment booking to post-service marketing outreach, Xtime streamlines every touchpoint in the customer journey.

Core Platform: Xtime Spectrum

Xtime’s central offering is the Spectrum platform, which consists of four main modules. Each module serves a specific stage in the vehicle service process, but all work together to provide a cohesive experience:

1. Schedule – Smarter Appointment Booking

Today’s customers expect the ability to book service appointments anytime, from anywhere. Xtime’s Schedule module gives them that power. Whether through a dealership’s website, mobile app, or integrated CRM, Schedule makes it easy to:

• View real-time service availability

• Select transportation options (like shuttle or rideshare)

• Get pricing estimates

• Receive reminders and notifications

For dealers, it offers tools for load balancing, recall visibility, and appointment optimization, increasing both shop efficiency and customer retention.

2. Engage – Digital Check-In and Upsell

The Engage module equips service advisors with digital tools to streamline the customer check-in process. Using tablets, advisors can walk customers through:

• Maintenance menus

• Service history

• Pricing breakdowns

• Loyalty program offers

Customers can approve services via text or email, and even pay electronically. This digital-first interaction not only speeds up the process but also boosts customer satisfaction and upsell potential.

3. Inspect – Trust Through Transparency

Modern consumers value transparency—and nothing builds trust like being shown what’s wrong with their vehicle. With Inspect, technicians can record high-quality videos and photos during multi-point inspections and share them with customers in real time.

This visual storytelling enhances the advisor’s explanation and encourages faster approvals on recommended repairs, leading to:

• Higher average revenue per repair order

• Improved communication between techs and customers

• Fewer misunderstandings and disputes

4. Invite – Service Marketing Reimagined

Invite turns service marketing into a science. It uses real-time shop capacity data and customer behavior patterns to send timely reminders and promotional offers via text or email.

It also helps dealerships target:

• Lost customers

• Declined services

• Maintenance intervals

• Seasonal campaigns

Because Invite is integrated into the Spectrum ecosystem, all campaigns align with the dealership’s real-time availability and current offers, making each outreach smarter and more effective.

How Xtime Benefits Dealerships

Implementing Xtime brings tangible benefits to both dealership operations and the bottom line. Here’s what makes it a game-changer:

 Increased Revenue Per RO

By improving upsell transparency and offering easy approval mechanisms, dealers using Xtime typically see a measurable increase in average repair order (RO) value. Visual MPIs (multi-point inspections) and interactive menus give customers more confidence in saying “yes” to needed work.

 Higher Show Rates

Appointment confirmations, reminders, and text updates help reduce no-shows. Customers are more likely to follow through when they’re reminded and engaged leading up to their appointment.

 Improved Customer Retention

Retention is the key to long-term dealership success. Xtime’s customer-focused tools—like convenient booking, transparent inspections, and follow-up marketing—encourage return visits and build brand loyalty.

 Streamlined Operations

Manual processes are time-consuming and error-prone. With Xtime, workflows are digitized, allowing your service department to focus more on customer care than paperwork. Integration with dealer management systems (DMS) ensures seamless data flow and less double entry.

New Features and Innovation

Xtime continues to evolve. Recent updates include:

• Texting & Messaging Tools: Bulk or individual messages can now be sent directly through the platform.

• Subtitled Technician Videos: These allow service videos to be more accessible and professional.

• Real-Time KPIs: Dashboards now provide insights into customer approval rates, technician productivity, and campaign ROI.

• AI Scheduling Assistants: Tools like Brooke.ai allow customers to schedule appointments using voice-activated systems or AI chatbots.

All these features reflect Xtime’s ongoing commitment to automation, personalization, and transparency.

Integration with Cox Automotive’s Ecosystem

As part of the Cox Automotive Retail360 family, Xtime doesn’t operate in a vacuum. It integrates seamlessly with:

• Dealertrack DMS – Real-time updates for repair orders and parts quotes

• VinSolutions CRM – Unified customer profile management

• vAuto – Equity mining during service appointments

• Kelley Blue Book – Trade-in and appraisal integration

This integration ensures that the dealership ecosystem communicates effectively across departments—sales, service, and marketing—creating a 360-degree view of every customer.

Real-World Results

According to Xtime’s internal data and industry studies:

• Dealers using the full Spectrum suite experience over 20% higher RO values than those without.

• Inspection approval time drops from hours to minutes with multimedia sharing.

• Invite campaigns recover thousands in potential revenue from declined services and overdue maintenance.

Customer satisfaction scores also increase when service departments use digital check-ins and status updates, aligning with what modern customers expect.

What Customers and Advisors Are Saying

Feedback from the field reinforces Xtime’s strengths:

• Service Advisors appreciate having all the tools—menus, history, pricing—in one place, improving efficiency.

• Technicians say that the ability to communicate with customers through video helps eliminate confusion.

• Customers report a more transparent and comfortable experience, especially when approving services remotely.

Some users mention that proper training and onboarding are essential to realizing the platform’s full value, especially in larger stores with complex processes.

Best Practices for Dealerships

To make the most of Xtime, dealerships should:

1. Start with Training – Equip staff with the knowledge and confidence to use the platform fully.

2. Use All Modules – Combining Schedule, Engage, Inspect, and Invite creates the best experience.

3. Monitor Performance – Use dashboards to track success and identify areas for improvement.

4. Involve Leadership – Success depends on buy-in from managers and team leads.

5. Promote Digital Adoption – Encourage customers to use online booking and text communication.

In an increasingly digital and convenience-driven world, dealerships must evolve or risk falling behind. Xtime empowers fixed operations to become more efficient, transparent, and customer-focused. With cutting-edge tools and seamless integrations, it’s not just solving today’s problems it’s preparing service departments for the future.