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An AI BDC answers and follows up leads instantly at any hour; a human BDC builds relationships, handles phone calls and manages tricky situations. Most dealers get the best results from both: AI for speed and persistence, people for calls, confirmations and judgment. For aged leads specifically, a pay per appointment service is a third option.
What does an AI BDC do well?
- Speed. Replies in seconds, which matters when Maritz treats 30 minutes as the benchmark and many stores miss it.
- Coverage. Nights, weekends and holidays.
- Persistence. Follows up for weeks without forgetting.
- Consistency. Same quality on the 500th lead as the first.
What does a human BDC do well?
- Phone calls. Phone leads set far more often than internet leads, and they need a person.
- Relationships. Repeat and referral customers.
- Judgment. Complaints, unusual deals and sensitive finance questions.
- Confirmations and show rate. A personal call before an appointment still matters.
How much does AI BDC software cost?
Pricing varies. TECOBI publishes plans of $1,995 a month for stores selling up to 100 cars, $2,995 for 100 to 300 and $3,995 for more than 300, with a setup fee on standard terms. Others, including Matador and Impel, quote on a demo. See AI BDC for car dealers for a comparison table with sources.
How do you decide?
| If your problem is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Slow response to new leads | AI BDC software for instant replies |
| Missed and unanswered calls | People, or call handling |
| Low show rate | Human confirmations plus reminders |
| Thousands of aged leads nobody works | A reactivation service on your aged pool |
Where does Setterly fit?
Setterly isn't an AI BDC platform. It works the aged leads your BDC and software leave behind, by two-way AI text, and books showroom visits, test drives and callbacks with notes. You pay per booked appointment. There is no setup fee and no retainer. CRM integration is optional for a one-off fee. That makes it a low-risk add-on to whatever BDC setup you have. See lead reactivation for car dealers.
Our published automotive results are UK campaigns: 91 appointments from 725 leads for a UK franchised dealer group with 20+ sites, and 114 for CarFinance247. Past results, not a forecast.
What's the takeaway?
Don't frame it as AI or people. Use AI for speed and persistence, people for calls and judgment, and give your aged leads a structured process of their own. Benchmarks are in BDC appointment set rate benchmarks.
Frequently asked questions
Can an AI BDC replace a human BDC?
For instant replies and follow-up, often yes. For phone calls, confirmations and judgment, most stores still need people.
How much does an AI BDC cost?
TECOBI publishes plans from $1,995 a month; others quote on a demo. Pricing is usually monthly per store.
What's the difference between an AI BDC and Setterly?
AI BDC software handles live leads on a subscription. Setterly works aged leads for you and charges per booked appointment.
Does AI improve show rate?
Reminders help, but a personal confirmation call still matters for many stores.
Sources
Works for: Car dealerships, Independent dealers, Buy here pay here