In today’s fast-paced digital world, customer expectations have changed permanently. People are used to seamless, mobile-first experiences in every aspect of life, from ordering coffee to managing finances. When it comes to automotive service, however, many dealerships are still using outdated methods for appointment scheduling, vehicle check-in, and customer communications. This is not only inefficient it’s a missed opportunity.
Enter Xtime, a modern, cloud-based platform designed to help automotive dealerships manage and elevate their fixed operations. Xtime equips service departments with digital tools that enhance customer satisfaction, streamline workflows, and generate more revenue. As a Cox Automotive brand, Xtime leverages powerful integrations, industry data, and user-friendly design to lead the future of fixed ops.
What is Xtime?
Xtime is a service experience management platform built specifically for automotive dealerships. It connects the entire service lifecycle, enabling a frictionless journey for customers and a more productive environment for dealership employees.
The platform is centered around four powerful tools that work together to deliver a “Connected Service Experience”:
Schedule – Online and mobile appointment scheduling with real-time service capacity management.
Engage – A digital check-in experience that enhances advisor-customer interactions.
Inspect – Multi-point digital vehicle inspections with photo and video support.
Invite – Targeted marketing tools that help bring customers back through personalized outreach.
These modules don’t function in isolation—they are integrated under the Xtime platform to provide continuity from the moment a customer books a service to the time they drive away satisfied.
Why Xtime Matters in Today’s Dealerships
The average dealership’s service department accounts for nearly half of its gross profit. Despite this, many dealerships are still using legacy systems or manual processes that create friction, delay revenue opportunities, and frustrate customers.
Xtime was created to solve those challenges. It enables dealerships to modernize their operations, deliver exceptional customer service, and unlock more value from every interaction.
Key challenges that Xtime addresses:
Inconsistent customer communication
Unoptimized technician scheduling
Low conversion of service recommendations
Poor follow-up on declined services
Lack of insight into service department performance
Deep Dive into Xtime’s Core Modules
1. Xtime Schedule: Empowering Customers with Convenience
Xtime Schedule is more than just a calendar it's a dynamic appointment booking engine that gives customers the power to book anytime, from any device. Whether they’re at home on a desktop or on the go with a smartphone, customers can:
View real-time availability
Select services and transportation options (e.g., shuttle, loaner, or pickup/drop-off)
See pricing and expected timeframes
Get instant confirmation and reminders
For dealerships, Schedule ensures appointments are automatically aligned with shop capacity, technician skills, and available resources. This helps prevent overbooking, minimizes downtime, and keeps the service bay running smoothly.
2. Xtime Engage: Creating a Digital Check-In Experience
Customer satisfaction often hinges on the first in-person interaction. Xtime Engage allows advisors to greet customers with a tablet-based experience that is fast, professional, and informative.
Through Engage, service advisors can:
Digitally check in customers
Review past services and upcoming maintenance needs
Present service menus and special offers
Capture electronic signatures for approvals
This modern, guided process helps advisors build trust while increasing transparency and upsell opportunities.
3. Xtime Inspect: Boosting Transparency with Digital Inspections
One of Xtime’s most impactful features is its digital inspection tool. Xtime Inspect allows technicians to perform multipoint vehicle inspections using a tablet or mobile device. They can document issues, take photos or videos, and send results directly to customers via text or email.
The benefits of this feature are profound:
Faster approvals – Customers often authorize additional repairs within minutes.
Increased repair revenue – Visual proof builds confidence in recommendations.
Higher customer satisfaction – Transparency leads to trust and repeat business.
It also keeps everything documented and trackable, providing accountability and a clear service history for every vehicle.
4. Xtime Invite: Driving Retention and Revenue
Xtime Invite is the marketing engine of the platform. It identifies customers who are due for service, declined prior recommendations, or haven’t visited recently, then automatically sends tailored messages encouraging them to return.
This proactive approach increases:
Customer retention
Appointment volume
Declined service recovery
With Invite, dealerships no longer have to rely solely on generic mass emails or outdated postcards. Instead, they can send personalized, data-driven communications that actually convert.
Real-World Benefits of Using Xtime
Dealerships that use Xtime often report measurable improvements in several key areas:
Increased average repair order (ARO): Customers who use online booking and approve services digitally tend to spend more.
Higher service retention: Consistent follow-up and professional service experiences keep customers coming back.
Improved technician productivity: Smarter scheduling and faster approvals mean more cars are serviced each day.
Boosted CSI scores: Digital tools result in shorter wait times and more informed customers, directly influencing customer satisfaction scores.
Seamless Integration and Support
Xtime integrates with leading Dealer Management Systems (DMS), including Dealertrack, CDK Global, and Reynolds Reynolds. It also connects with CRM tools, marketing platforms, and Cox Automotive’s broader ecosystem creating a unified technology environment.
Additionally, Xtime offers support, training, and onboarding assistance to help dealerships maximize their use of the platform. Whether it's one-on-one training or real-time tech support, the Xtime team ensures dealerships are never left in the dark.
Security, Scalability, and Mobility
Xtime is cloud-based, ensuring that dealership teams can access data securely from anywhere. This flexibility is especially useful for mobile check-ins, technician tablets, and real-time communications.
The platform is designed to scale, making it suitable for both single-point dealerships and large automotive groups. Whether a store sees 10 or 1,000 cars per day, Xtime can adapt to meet that need.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Fixed Ops with Xtime
As customer behavior continues to evolve and service departments become more critical to dealership success, Xtime is poised to lead the next generation of automotive service technology.
Upcoming innovations include:
AI-driven scheduling assistants
Enhanced communication platforms
Predictive maintenance insights using vehicle data
By investing in a forward-looking tool like Xtime, dealerships can prepare for the digital demands of the future while improving performance today.
In a highly competitive automotive environment, fixed operations are more important than ever. Dealerships that invest in smart technology not only run more efficiently—they also create the kind of experience that customers remember and return for.
Xtime offers a full-service platform that connects people, processes, and performance. From booking to inspection to marketing, it enables dealerships to operate at a higher level.
