DealerAI Docs
Portal Guide

Onboarding

Step-by-step setup wizard that guides new dealerships through configuring DealerAI for the first time.

The Onboarding wizard walks new dealerships through every step required to get DealerAI up and running. It is the recommended starting point for any new dealership joining the platform.

The Onboarding section is only accessible to users with the Onboarder role. Once onboarding is complete, your account manager will transition your account to a standard user role with access to the full portal.

Overview

The onboarding wizard collects all the information DealerAI needs to configure your AI agents, communication channels, and billing — in one guided flow. Each step builds on the previous one, so complete them in order.

Onboarding Steps

1. Dealership Profile

Enter your dealership's basic information:

  • Dealership name and website URL
  • Physical address and timezone
  • Primary contact phone and email

This information populates your Settings and Knowledge Base as a starting point.

2. Manufacturer and Brand

Select the vehicle manufacturers your dealership sells (e.g., Toyota, Ford, BMW). This helps the AI position itself correctly and prepopulate relevant inventory categories.

3. Communication Channels

Choose which channels you want DealerAI to handle:

  • WebChat (embedded widget on your website)
  • SMS
  • Email / lead processing

Channels selected here are activated and configured during setup.

4. AI Agent Setup

Configure the initial agent for your primary department (typically Sales). You can:

  • Set the agent's tone (professional, friendly, casual)
  • Add a basic greeting and introduction
  • Enable appointment booking for the agent

Additional agents (Service, Test Drive, etc.) can be configured after onboarding via the Agents section.

5. Business Hours

Set your dealership's operating hours for each department. The AI uses these to schedule appointments and inform customers of your availability.

6. Billing

Complete your subscription setup by selecting a plan and entering payment details. Billing is processed securely through Stripe.

After Onboarding

Once the wizard is complete:

Your account transitions to full portal access
Use Preview to test your webchat widget before embedding it on your site
Expand your Knowledge Base with additional dealership details
Add your vehicle Inventory if it has not been synced automatically
Configure the remaining AI Agents for Service, Test Drive, and other departments

Your DealerAI account manager will be in touch after onboarding to assist with any remaining setup and to ensure everything is working correctly before go-live.

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