SA born AI wizard wows at NADA Connect 2025

At NADA Connect 2025, Dr Jay van Zyl, a South African-born computational social scientist, delivered an enlightening talk on the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) in the automotive retail industry.

25 Nada Connect21

As a leading expert in computational social science, he offered a compelling vision of how AI is revolutionising the way businesses interact with customers, manage operations and anticipate industry trends.

Understanding computational social science and AI’s Role:

Jay began by explaining the essence of computational social science—how it seeks to understand human behaviour through data rather than intuition. Traditional business interactions have long relied on personal intuition and experience, but computational social science focuses on analysing the digital footprints individuals leave behind. Every transaction, interaction and behaviour form a data trail that AI can process, providing businesses with actionable insights without relying on subjective judgement.

Learning from the "Magnificent Seven":

He highlighted how the world’s most successful companies – Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Meta, Nvidia, Tesla, Apple and Amazon – have built their trillion-dollar empires on AI. Their success stems from leveraging AI to make strategic decisions, optimise operations and enhance customer experiences. The automotive industry is now poised for a similar AI revolution, where data-driven intelligence will dictate the future of dealerships, vehicle sales and customer engagement.

AI’s evolution and integration into everyday life:

AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is embedded in our daily lives. One of the most significant shifts has been AI’s ability to understand and predict consumer behaviour. Jay used Spotify as an example, demonstrating how AI curates personalised playlists by analysing user behaviour. Similarly, in the automotive sector, AI can anticipate customer preferences, recommend vehicles and streamline the buying process.

Revolutionising dealerships with AI:

For automobile dealerships, AI is reshaping operations in three critical areas:

  • · Personalised Customer Interactions
  • · Automating Sales and Service Processes

AI-powered systems can analyse vast amounts of customer data to provide personalised recommendations. For instance, customers searching for a family SUV with advanced safety features can receive curated options based on their previous interactions, budget and lifestyle needs.

AI-driven automation is making dealership operations more efficient. Traditional sales models often require multiple touchpoints and extensive human intervention. However, AI can streamline these processes by:

• Identifying potential buyers based on online browsing behaviour.

• Scheduling service appointments automatically.

• Predicting vehicle maintenance needs before issues.

• Enhancing lead management through AI-powered CRM systems.

Enhanced Decision-Making Through Data-Driven Insights:

AI does not just improve customer interactions; it also empowers dealerships with valuable business intelligence. By analysing purchasing trends, regional demand and financial data, AI helps dealerships optimise inventory management, pricing strategies and marketing campaigns. This data-driven approach reduces guesswork and increases profitability.

AI agents and radical Automation:

Jay emphasised that the future of AI is shifting towards intelligent agents – systems capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. These AI agents will handle everything from negotiating car prices to assisting customers with financing options, dramatically reducing the need for human intervention.

Despite its immense potential, AI also raises ethical and regulatory concerns. Data privacy, job displacement and algorithmic biases remain significant challenges that businesses must address. He stressed the importance of responsible AI deployment, ensuring that automation enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.

Jay’s address painted an exciting picture of an AI-powered automotive industry, where dealerships become smarter, customer experiences become hyper-personalised, and decision-making becomes more precise.

For automotive dealerships, the message is clear: AI is not a distant future—it is happening now.

More Industry News stories

GAC Motor SA and soccer foundation kick ball together

GAC Motor SA and soccer foundation kick ball together

In a demonstration of a purpose-driven partnership, GAC Motor South Africa has joined forces with the Real Madrid Foundation South Africa as its official mobility partner – a collaboration dedicated to creating real opportunities for young people through the transformative power of football and education.

  • 20 June 2025
Maserati SA clarifies its sole official dealer and service network

Maserati SA clarifies its sole official dealer and service network

Maserati addressed recent developments in the South African market regarding unauthorised parties claiming to be official Maserati dealers and service centres. These claims are both false and misleading to customers, and we consider this to be a matter of serious concern.

  • 18 June 2025
Distracted driving decreases in some places

Distracted driving decreases in some places

Following the recent international awareness month of driving while distracted (DWD), positive news from the City of Cape Town has been shared. The City revealed that between July 2022 and June 2024, impoundments of cellphones reduced by 16%. Cellphone-related offences also dropped by 11.5%.

  • 20 June 2025