EPISODE 23
From Clipboard to Kiosk: A Modern Fixed Ops Makeover
Featuring Guest Richard Lupo
Episode Description
Most customers expect a modern, seamless experience everywhere they go, so why does the dealership service lane still rely on clipboards and key drops? It’s time to ask whether your service experience reflects the kind of innovation and convenience today’s customers take for granted.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, we talk with Richard Lupo, Fixed Operations Director at Apple Tree Honda and Acura, about how he’s transformed his service department with 24/7 kiosks, media-rich inspections, and full tech integration with Reynolds & Reynolds. Richard shares how these changes are driving customer retention, advisor satisfaction, and increased revenue, plus why building trust, empowering employees, and redefining value are just as important as any tool or tech.
Takeaways from this episode:
- How 24/7 kiosks improve customer convenience, upsells, and advisor efficiency
- Why limiting third-party tools and going all-in with one system can boost consistency
- Practical strategies to turn tire sales into a loyalty builder, not a loss leader
- The cultural impact of building trust and transparency with your team
- How a modern customer experience starts with rethinking value

BILL SPRINGER
and president of Krex Inc.

Richard Lupo
Fixed Operations Director
Would you like to Be a guest on our podcast?
What AI Can Teach You About Service Defection
What if your biggest threat to retention isn’t the competition, but your own calendar? Most dealerships don’t lose customers all at once. They just stop showing up. But with AI and a few simple process shifts, you can catch defection before it happens and make retention feel automatic.
From Transactional to Relational: The Service Advisor Shift
What if your best retention strategy had nothing to do with pricing, loyalty programs, or even your shop’s hours, and everything to do with how your service advisors say “good morning”? Most customers don’t come back because they weren’t helped… they were handled. The fix? Train your advisors to build relationships, not just close tickets.
Service on the Move: Why Dealerships Are Going Mobile in 2025
Offering mobile service sounds like a win-win, but for many dealerships, the logistics feel overwhelming. How do you staff it? Route it? Make money on it? And will customers even use it consistently? In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill sits down with Amit Chandarana, CEO of Curbee, a mobile service software platform that’s helping dealerships turn these questions into action.