DealerAI Docs
Portal Guide

Reach

Configure automated lead follow-up, re-engagement campaigns, and inbound sequences for SMS and email outreach.

Reach is DealerAI's automated outreach system. It handles proactive communication with leads and past customers through SMS and email — sending the right message at the right time without requiring manual effort from your team.

Overview

When a customer enquires about a vehicle or service, Reach ensures they don't fall through the cracks. It automates:

  • Follow-up messages to new leads who haven't responded
  • Re-engagement of contacts who have gone cold
  • Inbound sequences that respond to specific customer triggers
  • Forward Leads configuration for routing ADF leads to the correct agent
  • Fall-through handling for leads that haven't been actioned within a threshold

Navigate to Reach in the sidebar and select your dealership to access these settings.

General Configuration

The General Configuration tab contains the master settings for Reach:

SettingDescription
Reach enabledToggle to turn automated outreach on or off for this dealership
Default channelWhether to prefer SMS or email for outbound messages
Opt-out handlingHow to treat customers who have unsubscribed
TimezoneThe timezone used to schedule messages at appropriate local times

Follow-Up

Follow-Up sequences are sent to new leads who haven't replied after initial contact. Configure message intervals and copy to keep your dealership top-of-mind without being intrusive.

Setting up a Follow-Up sequence

Go to Reach → Follow-Up
Click Add Step to create a new message in the sequence
Set the delay — how many hours or days after the previous step to send the message
Write the message content. Use merge tags (e.g., {{first_name}}) for personalisation
Add additional steps until the sequence is complete, then Save

Follow-Up sequences stop automatically when a customer replies or opts out. You do not need to manually remove them once they engage.

Re-Engagement

Re-Engagement sequences target customers who previously enquired but have since gone quiet. These are typically sent days or weeks after the last interaction.

Configure re-engagement in the same way as Follow-Up — define a series of timed messages with personalised copy to reignite customer interest.

Inbound Sequences

Inbound Sequences are triggered by specific customer actions, such as submitting a web form or responding to a specific keyword via SMS. Each sequence can be configured with:

OptionDescription
TriggerThe event that starts the sequence (e.g., ADF lead received, keyword reply)
ChannelWhether to respond via SMS, email, or both
MessagesThe series of messages to send, with timing between each
End conditionWhen the sequence stops (customer replies, appointment booked, etc.)

Forward Leads

The Forward Leads section determines how ADF leads arriving by email are routed. You can configure which agent handles leads from specific sources (AutoTrader, Cars.com, your website, etc.) so each type of enquiry is handled by the most appropriate agent.

Fall-Through

Fall-Through catches leads that have passed through all sequences without converting. Configure a final action for these contacts:

  • Send a closing message
  • Flag them for manual follow-up by a staff member
  • Archive and stop all outreach

Use Fall-Through to ensure no lead is silently abandoned without a deliberate decision.

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