The automotive retail industry has long relied on legacy systems that slow down operations and disconnect teams. Enter Tekion, a company built to change that reality. Founded in 2016 by Jay Vijayan, former CIO of Tesla, Tekion is transforming how dealerships operate by offering a cloud-native, AI-powered platform designed to modernize the entire retail automotive experience—from customer interactions to back-office operations.
With cutting-edge technology at its core, Tekion provides dealers with the tools they need to streamline processes, connect teams, and deliver a seamless customer experience across every touchpoint.
A Unified Automotive Retail Platform
Tekion’s flagship product, the Automotive Retail Cloud (ARC), is an all-in-one solution that replaces fragmented legacy systems. By combining key dealership functions into one cohesive platform—including CRM, DMS, digital retail, service, parts, payments, and analytics—ARC allows dealerships to operate with greater speed, visibility, and efficiency.
Key Capabilities of the ARC Platform:
Cloud-Native Infrastructure
Unlike older dealership systems, Tekion’s platform is built entirely in the cloud. This ensures secure, real-time access to data across devices and locations, without the limitations of outdated, on-premise software.
AI-Driven Automation
Tekion uses artificial intelligence to power smarter workflows. From predicting customer needs to automating service communications, AI helps reduce manual work while improving accuracy and response time. The platform’s intelligent assistants, like Tekion’s AI Agents, can now manage complex tasks such as service appointments and repair updates with minimal staff involvement.
Digital Retailing from Start to Finish
Tekion enables a complete online car-buying journey—from browsing and deal negotiation to digital paperwork and financing. Whether a customer starts online or walks into the showroom, the experience is consistent, seamless, and integrated.
Modern Service Experience
Through Tekion’s mobile-first design, customers can receive real-time service updates, review videos and diagnostics, approve repairs, and pay directly from their phones. This level of transparency and ease builds long-term trust between dealerships and their customers.
Integrated Payments with Tekion Pay
Tekion Pay simplifies the payment experience with built-in tools for secure transactions. Dealerships can process payments quickly and efficiently, with options like digital receipts, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), mobile card processing, and e-signatures.
Real-Time Analytics
The platform provides comprehensive dashboards and insights that track performance across departments. Dealership leaders can access KPIs in real-time, helping them make informed decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.
Built for the Future: AI and Automation
Tekion’s AI capabilities go far beyond basic automation. The platform includes:
- Predictive tools for anticipating customer service needs.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) to generate responses and summarize communication.
- Autonomous AI Agents that can take action without human input—starting with service operations and soon expanding across more dealership functions.
These technologies help dealerships move faster, operate smarter, and serve customers better.
Strong Growth and Industry Recognition
Tekion’s innovation has attracted strong investor interest. To date, the company has raised over $600 million and achieved a valuation of more than $4 billion.
In 2024, Tekion added Binu Mathew as Chief Technology Officer to lead its next phase of product innovation. Founder Jay Vijayan has also received widespread recognition, including being named a “Most Exceptional Entrepreneur” by Goldman Sachs three years in a row.
A Disruptor in the DMS Space
Tekion’s rapid rise has disrupted the automotive software space, leading to industry conflict. In late 2024, Tekion filed an antitrust lawsuit against long-time DMS leader CDK Global, claiming CDK restricted dealer access to their own data. CDK responded with a countersuit alleging unauthorized access.
While the legal battle continues, it highlights the pressure traditional systems are under as more dealers adopt modern platforms like Tekion.
What Dealers Are Saying
Dealers who have adopted Tekion report numerous benefits, including faster operations, improved customer satisfaction, and better visibility across departments.
Positive feedback includes:
- Clean, user-friendly interface
- Seamless integration between departments
- Strong mobile capabilities
- Efficient customer communication tools
Common challenges during onboarding:
- Initial learning curve for staff
- Parts workflows may require refinement
- Integration with certain third-party tools can take time
Despite these early challenges, many dealerships report strong results after implementation, particularly when supported by proper training and change management.
Why Tekion Matters
Tekion isn’t just a software provider—it’s a technology partner helping the automotive industry adapt to a digital world. As customer expectations shift and operational efficiency becomes more critical, dealerships need tools that are agile, intelligent, and designed for the future.
By combining cloud-native infrastructure, AI-driven automation, and a customer-first design, Tekion is helping dealerships of all sizes reimagine what’s possible.
Tekion is setting a new standard for automotive retail technology. With its unified platform, intelligent tools, and future-ready capabilities, Tekion empowers dealerships to deliver a better customer experience while operating more efficiently behind the scenes.
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