Drivetime

• Gear change: Middle East auto trends and transformation

  In this lighter, fast-paced Gear Change edition, Jacqui Barker reconnects with Andy Barratt to unpack the rapid transformation of the Middle East automotive market. From the explosion of Chinese OEMs to the urgent need for CRM innovation and strategic thinking, Andy shares practical tips and personal reflections. The episode also explores how tech, data, and customer experience are reshaping the industry, and ends with a fun dive into Andy’s dream road trip and playlist picks. The conversation covers:The Middle East’s shift from brand loyalty to customer empowermentHow dealers can build future-proof ecosystems and leverage CRMThe power of connected vehicle data and predictive servicingWhy consumers are buying technology and convenience, not just carsThe role of WhatsApp, social media, and mobile-first experiencesPlaylist picks: David Gray, Josh Groban, and Harry Styles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Middle East Special - Innovation, disruption & strategic shifts

  In this special Middle East-focused episode, Jacqui Barker sits down with Andy Barratt, former Chair of Ford UK and now a leading voice in Middle Eastern automotive trends. Andy shares his unique journey from finance apprentice to CEO at Ford, as well as his current work across the Middle East, offering insights from his LinkedIn newsletter, Middle East Auto Insight. The conversation explores the rapid evolution of the region’s automotive landscape, the rise of Chinese OEMs, the importance of strategic thinking, and the critical role of data and digital transformation. Key topics include:The Middle East’s automotive boom and regional differencesStrategic challenges for retailers and distributors in the regionThe importance of CRM, data, and digital tools in modern auto retailEV adoption trends and infrastructure challengesCommercial vehicle innovation and last-mile deliveryThe role of social media and TikTok in car salesTalent gaps and the need for fresh thinking in the Middle East auto sectorDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast designed to help you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Gear change - Making sense of data

  Keyloop’s Senior Product Director, Jon Clay, returns for this week’s Gear Change episode.He and Jacqui discuss: Why you don’t need to be an expert to understand dataThe importance of collecting data correctlyHow differentiating your data comes from the use case you’ve identifiedWhy John can’t live without Claude And, as always, we ask Jon to share the soundtrack to his dream roadtrip. Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast dedicated to helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Unifying the auto industry: Data, AI, and the Keyloop vision

  This week, Jacqui sits down with Jon Clay, the Senior Product Director at Keyloop. With a rich background in automotive, including FinTech and insurance, Jon shares his insights on how technology is transforming the industry from the inside out.Topics Covered: Jon’s journey from FinTech to automotive, and the transformational impact of financial technology on the sectorThe ongoing challenge of making vehicle emission figures clearer and more accessible for consumersLessons from the automotive insurance industry, including the need for exceptionally accurate data (think five sigma accuracy!)How Jon and the team at Keyloop are connecting systems to deliver a seamless, unified experience for retailers and customersAn introduction to Keyloop’s Operate domain—what it is, and how it empowers automotive retailersWhy standardisation is crucial for scaling quickly and reducing software development costsThe evolution from Software-as-a-Service to agent-to-agent automation, and what this means for exponential industry growthA first look at Vega, Keyloop’s new AI-powered business intelligence solution Tune in to hear Jon’s unique perspective on the future of automotive technology, and how Keyloop is driving innovation across the industry. Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast dedicated to helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Gear change: Simple steps to smarter data

  Jane Smith returns for this week’s Gear Change episode of Drivetime. Jane is the Field Chief Data & AI Officer for EMEA at ThoughtSpot – the world’s leading agentic analytics platform. In just 13 minutes, she shares practical insights you can put to work today, including:Why you don’t need a specialist team to access your dataThe one data point most dealerships overlook (and shouldn’t)Simple steps to start unlocking value from your data nowHow Keyloop and ThoughtSpot are partnering to power auto retailer intelligencePreparing for the agentic AI futureTwo free resources to level up your AI educationDrivetime is the global auto tech podcast helping you navigate the fast-moving world of automotive innovation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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