Last week, I had the opportunity to represent myKaarma at the Nissan North America (NNA) Aftersales Expo in Austin, Texas. Held at a stunning new golf resort, the event brought together nearly 700 dealers across two sessions. This wasn’t just a gathering; it was a concentrated effort to elevate profitability and improve customer experiences in Nissan and INFINITI dealerships nationwide.
Big Themes: Profitability and Certified Solutions
Two things stood out to me at the event: the focus on driving dealership profitability and the push to get more dealers on certified service lane technology. NNA has roughly 1,300 dealerships across the country, and a third of them aren’t yet using one of the five approved platforms. Nissan and INFINITI made it clear—they prefer all their dealers use a certified solution like myKaarma through their NCAR and ICAR programs.
Why? Because certified platforms work. They integrate essential tools like digital MPIs, mobile payments, and video inspections into the dealership’s workflow. The result? A better customer experience and more dollars per repair order. Dealers using certified technology see a measurable lift in revenue, and those numbers don’t lie. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Why Nissan and INFINITI Invests in Certified Partners
You might wonder why OEMs like Nissan and INFINITI bother with preferred vendor programs. It boils down to three key reasons:
- Customer Experience: Certified solutions give partners like us access to Nissan’s service history, recall data, and loyalty programs. When a dealership uses these tools, it creates a seamless experience for the customer—whether they’re scheduling an appointment or approving a repair.
- Increased Dealer Revenue: When dealerships use these tools—texting customers instead of calling, sending technician videos, offering valet service—they consistently see higher repair order revenue. For example, at the Expo INFINITI showed a dealer with a $200 per RO increase when Valet was used.
- Simplifying Choices for Dealers: Having a short list of certified vendors eliminates the noise for dealers. Instead of being bombarded by countless pitches, they can focus on trusted partners. Plus, Nissan incentivizes certified solutions with financial benefits, like bonus dollars and percentage payouts for INFINITI dealers.
Conversations That Stood Out
At every event like this, one thing is always clear: myKaarma customers love myKaarma. Sure, there are always small things—someone might need help with a login—but the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, many dealers were still thanking us for how we handled the recent CDK outage. That kind of feedback reinforces why we do what we do.
Interestingly, a recurring theme this year was frustration with other platforms. I had multiple conversations with dealers who came by our booth specifically because they wanted an alternative. These moments often started with a casual, “What do you guys do?” but quickly turned into meaningful discussions. Some of those conversations are already leading to demos with our Product Consultants.
What’s Next for Dealers
The reality is clear: modern customers expect more from their dealership experience. Services like mobile payments, pickup and delivery, and digital MPIs aren’t just nice to have—they’re essential. And the numbers back it up. Dealers who use these tools see higher repair approvals, bigger ticket sizes, and more satisfied customers.
For those dealerships still undecided, Nissan is running a test drive promotion. Dealers who take two demos earn $500 in internal credits, and signing up for a certified solution unlocks $2,000 toward installation. At myKaarma, we’re matching that offer for a limited time to help dealers take the next step.
Looking Ahead
This event reinforced something I’ve known for a while: dealerships that invest in certified technology are setting themselves up for long-term success. They’re delivering better customer experiences, boosting their profitability, and positioning themselves as leaders in the industry.
If you’re ready to see how myKaarma can help you achieve the same, I encourage you to connect with us and request a demo. Let’s start a conversation about what’s next for your dealership.