Mailbox
Manage inbound email leads and ADF enquiries from your dealership's dedicated lead inbox.
The Mailbox is a centralised email inbox for your dealership's inbound lead communications. It captures emails and ADF (Auto/Lead Data Format) leads arriving from listing sites like AutoTrader.com, Cars.com, and your own website, presenting them in a familiar email-style interface.
What is an ADF Lead?
ADF (Auto/Lead Data Format) is the automotive industry-standard XML format used by vehicle listing platforms and dealership websites to transmit customer enquiry data. When a customer submits an enquiry form on AutoTrader or your dealership website, the platform sends an ADF message to your DealerAI inbox.
DealerAI automatically parses the ADF data — extracting the customer's name, contact information, and vehicle interest — and initiates a personalised response via SMS or email on your behalf.
Navigating the Mailbox
The Mailbox uses a three-panel layout:
| Panel | Content |
|---|---|
| Left sidebar | Folder navigation (Inbox, Sent, etc.) |
| Centre panel | List of messages in the selected folder |
| Right panel | Full message content for the selected email |
Folders
| Folder | Contains |
|---|---|
| Inbox | All inbound emails and ADF leads |
| Sent | Outbound messages sent by DealerAI on your behalf |
Use the folder sidebar to switch between views. The inbox count shows the number of unread or unprocessed messages.
Reading a Message
Click any message in the centre list to open it in the right panel. For ADF leads, the panel displays the parsed customer details:
- Customer name, phone, and email
- Vehicle(s) of interest
- Enquiry type (purchase, trade-in, financing, etc.)
- Original enquiry text
- Source (the listing site or form that submitted the lead)
Automatic Lead Processing
DealerAI handles ADF leads automatically. When a new ADF email arrives, the system parses the lead, creates a contact record, and sends an AI-generated response to the customer via their preferred channel — without any manual action required.
You can review the automated response that was sent by clicking the linked conversation from the message detail panel.
Manual Follow-Up
If an ADF lead requires personal attention or the automated response was insufficient, open the linked conversation from the message detail and send a manual message directly to the customer via the Chat Panel.