In today’s automotive industry, customer expectations are higher than ever. Car owners demand convenience, transparency, and personalization, especially when it comes to service and maintenance. This is where Xtime emerges as a transformative solution. Owned by Cox Automotive, Xtime provides an integrated software platform that enhances the way dealerships handle service operations digitally connecting every step of the customer journey from scheduling to checkout.
Let’s take a deep dive into what makes Xtime an industry leader, the components of its flagship platform Spectrum, and how it’s shaping the future of automotive fixed operations.
What Is Xtime?
Xtime is a cloud-based service experience platform used by nearly 7,000 dealerships and trusted by over 20 automotive manufacturers (OEMs) across North America. It’s designed to streamline the entire service lifecycle from appointment scheduling and digital check-ins to real-time vehicle inspections, communication, and marketing follow-ups.
Its key mission is to deliver a modern, efficient, and customer-centric experience while increasing dealership revenue, improving retention, and enhancing operational efficiency.
The Spectrum Platform: A Unified Service Experience
Xtime’s core product suite is known as Spectrum, a four-part platform that seamlessly integrates various aspects of fixed operations. The four modules Schedule, Engage, Inspect, and Invite work together to deliver a unified service journey.
1. Schedule: Intelligent Appointment Booking
With customers expecting flexibility and immediacy, Xtime’s Schedule module provides dealerships with a 24/7 online appointment system. This tool allows customers to:
Book services anytime via web or mobile
Receive recall and warranty notifications
View real-time availability
Upload multimedia (photos/videos) of vehicle issues
Choose from transport options like shuttle or Lyft
For dealerships, Schedule offers real-time shop load balancing and integration with DMS platforms, helping optimize bay and technician utilization.
2. Engage: Digital Check-In and Checkout
Xtime Engage transforms the traditional service lane experience with in-lane digital tools that:
Offer interactive service menus
Display transparent pricing
Enable customers to approve work remotely or in-lane
Collect digital signatures
Facilitate mobile payments
This enhances trust and convenience for customers while improving upsell opportunities and reducing time advisors spend on manual processes.
3. Inspect: Multimedia Vehicle Inspections
Inspect, powered by Service Pro, empowers technicians to perform multi-point inspections with high-quality photos and videos. These visuals are shared directly with customers often with annotations and voiceovers providing transparency and aiding faster decision-making.
Key features include:
Branded and subtitled inspection videos
Technician comments and repair recommendations
Integration with parts quoting
Instant customer notifications for approval
This leads to higher acceptance of additional service recommendations and improved communication between technicians, advisors, and customers.
4. Invite: Data-Driven Customer Retention
Maintaining customer loyalty requires more than just good service it requires targeted communication. Xtime Invite uses dealership data to send automated emails and texts for:
Declined services
Maintenance reminders
Recall notifications
Lost customer campaigns
It also optimizes outreach timing by filling underutilized capacity in the shop schedule, helping dealerships recapture missed opportunities and fill open service slots.
Business Benefits of Using Xtime
The impact of implementing Xtime Spectrum goes beyond convenience it delivers measurable business outcomes. Here’s how dealerships benefit:
Increased Revenue per RO
Dealers using the full Spectrum suite have seen significant growth in their average revenue per repair order (RO), particularly through additional approved services from transparent inspections and in-lane upsells.
Higher Customer Retention
Xtime helps convert first-time service visits into loyal customers by enhancing transparency and engagement. Modules like Schedule and Invite make it easier to bring customers back at regular intervals.
Operational Efficiency
Automating appointment booking, check-in, quoting, and payment processes reduces labor hours and minimizes human error. The platform also integrates with many dealer management systems (DMS), streamlining workflows.
Actionable Insights
Xtime includes built-in dashboards that help dealerships track performance KPIs such as appointment show rate, upsell approval rates, and customer satisfaction metrics. This allows managers to make data-driven decisions.
New Features in 2025: What’s Changing?
As of early 2025, Xtime rolled out several feature updates to address growing dealership needs and customer expectations. These include:
New Messaging Center: Enables service teams to send bulk or individual messages via text or email to prospects and customers.
Enhanced Video Capabilities: Technicians can now shoot high-resolution, branded inspection videos with subtitles and reduced background noise.
Real-Time Dashboards: Track shop productivity, MPI conversion rates, and customer engagement metrics with new visual reports.
Expanded DMS Integration: Tighter sync with Dealertrack, CDK, and other systems improves repair order accuracy and part inventory management.
These additions aim to provide a deeper level of service personalization, shop performance tracking, and dealership-wide connectivity.
Integration with Cox Automotive’s Retail360
Xtime is a cornerstone of Retail360, Cox Automotive’s ecosystem that links together sales, service, CRM, and inventory tools.
Xtime integrates with:
Dealertrack DMS for service billing and repair orders
VinSolutions CRM for coordinated outreach and customer data access
vAuto and Kelley Blue Book for equity mining and trade-in offers during service appointments
This means dealerships can provide a continuous, connected experience that spans from the showroom to the service lane.
Real-World Feedback: What Do Users Say?
Xtime is widely adopted, but like any system, it has its strengths and areas for improvement.
What Users Like:
Customer Transparency: Video inspections and digital approvals create trust.
User-Friendly Interface: Advisors and technicians report that it’s easy to learn and use.
Consistent Communication: Text reminders and updates improve show rates and customer satisfaction.
Common Challenges:
Parts Integration: Some users report issues with quoting accuracy or syncing with DMS platforms like CDK.
Initial Learning Curve: Onboarding can take time if not adequately supported by dealership leadership.
Cost: Some smaller dealerships consider it a significant investment, especially if only using one or two modules.
Despite these concerns, most agree that the platform is highly effective once fully adopted.
Tips for Successful Implementation
To get the most from Xtime, dealerships should:
Adopt a phased approach – Start with Schedule and Inspect before rolling out Engage and Invite.
Invest in training – Ensure advisors and technicians receive hands-on education.
Monitor KPIs – Use Xtime’s dashboard to continuously refine your strategy.
Stay updated – Take advantage of Xtime’s latest features and integrations.
Encourage customer feedback – Use post-service surveys to improve experiences.The Future of Dealership Service Is Here
In an increasingly digital world, providing a fast, transparent, and personalized service experience is non-negotiable. Xtime offers the tools, technology, and insights that modern dealerships need to stay competitive and profitable.
With innovations like AI scheduling, branded videos, automated campaigns, and CRM integration, Xtime isn’t just responding to change it’s driving it.
Whether you’re a service manager aiming to improve your team’s efficiency or a dealer principal focused on increasing customer lifetime value, Xtime delivers measurable results. It doesn’t just digitize service it transforms it.
