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John Sternal posted a blog post
LAUNCHER.SOLUTIONS Integrates with CarletonDocs® to Provide Lenders Enhanced Document Compliance
Jacksonville, Fla: LAUNCHER.SOLUTIONS (Launcher), a technology provider of loan origination technology for automotive and consumer lenders, announced today a strategic product integration between its appTRAKER™ Loan Origination System (LOS) and CarletonDocs® from Carleton, Inc.’s compliant document generation platform.By incorporating CarletonDocs® into the appTRAKER™ platform, Launcher further strengthens its comprehensive loan origination ecosystem, providing lenders with a seamless process…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Vehicle Management Systems Moves Out of "Stealth Mode" to Scale Disruptive AI Platform With New Web Presence
New website reflects the company’s evolution into a disruptive, AI-first platform built for modern vehicle and fleet operations Jackson, Wyo. – Vehicle Management Systems (VMS), an AI-first vehicle and fleet middleware platform serving both fleet and auto retail environments today announced the launch of its new website marking a key milestone as the company steps out from behind the scenes and accelerates engagement across the automotive and fleet industries. The…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx To Unveil “Revive,” a New Lead Re-Engagement Solution at NADA 2026
Dealers will get an up-close look at how Revive helps sales teams re-engage closed-lost shoppers when they return to the market, transforming missed opportunities into renewed sales conversations DETROIT (January 29, 2026) — Lotlinx, the auto industry’s first and only VIN Performance platform built to help dealers maximize profitability, announced today the launch of Lotlinx Revive, a new solution designed to help…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx Appoints Randy Kobat as Chief Commercial Officer
Veteran Automotive Executive to Lead Sales, Marketing, and Client Success as Lotlinx Enters Next Phase of Growth DETROIT (January 14, 2026) – Lotlinx, the auto industry’s first and only VIN Performance platform built to help dealers maximize profitability, announced today the appointment of Randy Kobat as Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Kobat brings decades of…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
The Uptime Imperative: How AI is Transforming the Dealership Service Lane into a Proactive Profit Center
For decades, the dealership service model has been largely reactive: a vehicle breaks down, the customer brings it in, and the dealership service team performs the repair. This break/fix mentality has been a stable, but ultimately limited revenue model. However, the combination of today’s advanced vehicle telematics and cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now fundamentally changing this dynamic, promising to transform the service department from a reactive repair center into a…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx Introduces LotGPT, the Industry’s First Dealer-Facing AI Advisor
The only chatbot built exclusively for dealers – powered by the industry’s largest dataset of VIN and shopper data, it delivers real-time VIN-level intelligence, market insights, and merchandising optimization to improve profitability. DETROIT — Lotlinx, the auto industry’s first and only VIN Performance platform built to help dealers maximize profitability, today announced the launch of LotGPT, a first-of-its-kind AI…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
The Precision Trap: Why Lease Payment Accuracy Is the Highest Stake in Auto
The automotive market in 2025 has been characterized by elevated vehicle prices and consequently, a steadily growing reliance on leasing to manage consumer payments. For lenders and dealers, this trend elevates the stakes attached to a single, crucial figure: the lease payment. While sales professionals have long known that leasing is a product focused almost entirely on the basis of the payment—it’s 100% about the payment, not the price—the industry is now waking up to the critical reality…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Beyond the Lot: Proactive Strategies to Combat Hidden Inventory Risk
The rhythm of an auto dealership is a constant, energetic hum. Sales teams work the showroom floor, service bays are filled, and the F&I department finalizes deals. But in the midst of this controlled chaos, a silent threat lurks in the back lot: hidden inventory risk. For too long, dealers have operated with a critical blind spot, relying on lagging indicators like rising days on lot or unexpected markdowns to signal a problem. By the time a vehicle shows up on a stale inventory report,…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx Q2 Quarterly Vincensus Report Highlights Affordability-Driven Surge for Hybrids and ICE, Market Headwinds for EVs
Digital modernization and proactive inventory management remain key as aged inventory and rising prices challenge profitability, with Lotlinx customers outperforming market benchmarks DETROIT (July 22, 2025) — Lotlinx, the auto industry’s first and only VIN Performance platform built to help dealers maximize profitability, announced today its Q2 2025 Quarterly Vincensus Report, the most comprehensive quarterly inventory report in the industry. Leveraging over…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx Wins “LLM Innovation Award” in 2025 Artificial Intelligence Breakthrough Awards Program
Prestigious International Annual Awards Program Honors Standout AI Companies & Solutions DETROIT – (July 9, 2025) – Lotlinx, the auto industry’s leading VIN-specific data company for dealership inventory management, today announced that its advanced generative AI inventory and pricing management solution has been selected as winner of the “LLM Innovation Award” in…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Lotlinx Announces Industry Honors For Two Senior Female Executives
Company Recognizes CMO Kerri Wise and CRO Carla Wade for National Recognition Celebrating Leadership, Innovation, and Advocacy in Automotive Industry DETROIT (June 25, 2025) – Lotlinx, the auto industry’s leading VIN-specific data company for dealership inventory management, announced today that Chief Marketing Officer Kerri…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
Generative AI and the Dealership: How GPT Tools Are Changing Expectations from the Lot to the Bay
The automotive dealership model is facing yet another modernization opportunity—this time driven by artificial intelligence, specifically generative AI and GPT-style technologies. These tools, which allow users to query complex data systems using natural language and automate time consuming repetitive tasks, are increasingly being explored across commercial vehicle operations for their potential to increase efficiency, simplify analysis, and improve decision-making. For dealerships,…See More
John Sternal posted a blog post
How AI Is Reshaping Dealer Strategies Amid Affordability Challenges
As economic uncertainty continues to weigh on consumers, vehicle affordability continues today as a driving issue in the auto retail sector. High interest rates, lingering inflation, and constrained supply chains have converged to create a complex marketplace—one where both consumers and dealers are navigating a delicate balancing act between price sensitivity and profit margins.In response, dealers are looking to leverage AI and machine learning as a strategic tool to maintain profitability…See More
Profile Information
- Which best describes you?
- Vendor Partner
- What company do you work for (or own)?
- Merit Mile
- What is your current position within your organization?
- Director
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- http://meritmile.com
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John Sternal's Blog
New Carleton Survey Finds Lending Industry Facing a Migration Crisis as Legacy Systems Threaten Compliance, Security and Growth
Posted on June 2, 2026 at 5:20pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
More than three-quarters of lending professionals rate modernization as extremely or very urgent, yet cost constraints, limited resources and disruption concerns continue to slow progress
SOUTH BEND, IN (June 2, 2026) — Carleton, a leading provider of compliant loan calculation and disclosure solutions, today released findings from its inaugural Platform Migration and Modernization Survey, revealing…
ContinueNation Safe Drivers Earns Great Place To Work® Certification™
Posted on May 18, 2026 at 11:14am 0 Comments 0 Likes
Employee feedback recognizes NSD’s people-first culture, welcoming workplace environment, and commitment to growth
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Continue Market in Motion: Why Demand Has Shifted — and Why Dealers Must Shift With It
Posted on May 14, 2026 at 10:45am 0 Comments 0 Likes
The rhythm of a modern dealership still feels familiar: vehicles arriving on transport trucks, showroom deliveries, digital leads coming in overnight, and teams working to keep metal moving. But underneath that steady cadence, something more structural is happening. Demand has not disappeared—it has moved. And it has moved faster than many inventory strategies have been able to follow.
This is no longer a question of whether…
ContinueVehicle Management Systems Introduces Virtual Fleet Manager: The AI-First Operating Layer for Connected Fleets and Vehicles
Posted on April 20, 2026 at 10:12am 0 Comments 0 Likes
AI-native platform introduces a new class of distributed AI systems that move the industry beyond dashboards to real-time, autonomous action that improves uptime and lowers total cost of ownership
Jackson, Wyo. – (April 20, 2026) – Vehicle Management Systems (VMS), an AI-first fleet and vehicle middleware platform serving both fleet and auto retail environments, today announced the…
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