It's 3:45 PM on a Wednesday. Sarah, a busy executive, has exactly 15 minutes between meetings to call her local dealership about an odd noise coming from her brakes. She dials the number, expecting the usual interminable wait.
But today, something unusual happens: on the first ring, someone picks up.
"Hello, this is Sandra. How can I help you today?"
This friendly, natural-sounding voice belongs to Sandra, an AI receptionist developed by Sandra AI, a startup that's quietly revolutionizing the customer experience at car dealerships worldwide.
A universal frustration becomes an innovation opportunity
At most car dealerships, a missed call equals a missed opportunity. Whether it's a potential buyer or a customer trying to schedule service, if no one answers, potential revenue evaporates.
This reality, observed firsthand by Badr El Idrissi Mokdad during his years consulting at McKinsey and Bain & Company, became the catalyst for an innovative solution. Specializing in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and customer service operations, Badr had a clear vision: use AI to solve this pervasive problem.
"The traditional call-center model - with long waits, frustrated callers, and overwhelmed staff - was quickly becoming obsolete," explains a dealership partner of Sandra AI. "Badr identified this opportunity and assembled the perfect team to seize it."
That team includes Ismail Majjad, who spent his career at McKinsey designing digital solutions for major automotive companies. Holding a dual degree in Data Science from École Polytechnique and HEC Paris, Ismail brings deep understanding of the daily challenges dealerships face.
"My experience showed me that AI could simplify the complex dance between dealerships and customers, turning confusion into clarity and delays into decisive action," shares Ismail, head of product development.
The trio is completed by Skandere Sahli, the technical genius behind Sandra's remarkable capabilities. After spending three years at QuantumBlack, McKinsey's prestigious AI division, Skandere developed advanced conversational technology capable of understanding human nuances and responding in real-time. A graduate of École Polytechnique and MIT, he oversees the development of the company's conversational stack - from speech recognition to real-time reasoning.
"Our goal was to create an AI that doesn't just understand words, but grasps the intent behind them," explains Skandere. "Sandra needs to navigate complex conversations and take meaningful action, just as a human receptionist would."
Badr, Skandere & Ismail in San Francisco
An expanding AI team
What began with Sandra, the AI receptionist, has grown into a complete team of virtual assistants.
Sam, the AI sales assistant, takes initiative by reaching out to leads via phone and text, helping dealerships reconnect with potential buyers and service customers. He sends follow-up messages, nurtures leads, and nudges them toward their next appointment - all without ever dropping the ball. He's like a digital BDC (Business Development Center) that never goes off-shift.
Amy completes the team as the voice-driven call router who ensures every customer lands in the right department - no dead ends, no unnecessary hold time. She understands caller intent and directs people to service, sales, finance, or parts with seamless transitions that feel like a real receptionist.
Tangible results
Dealerships using Sandra AI report immediate improvements: calls answered instantly, bookings increased significantly, and most importantly, customers delighted rather than disappointed.
"For Sarah, the experience with Sandra was seamless," notes a customer service agent who has observed the transformation. "She described the issue with her brakes, and Sandra immediately found the earliest available service slot and booked it - all without Sarah waiting even a minute."
Sandra AI has quickly become indispensable at dealerships from France to Utah through Georgia. Users report that the real revolution isn't just operational - it's emotional. Customers no longer dread calling dealerships.
A promising future
Sandra AI's impact on the automotive sector is just the beginning. Recently accepted into Y Combinator's inaugural Fall 2024 batch and backed by prestigious VC funds, the company is attracting attention from industry leaders.
As their technology continues to evolve, one thing is clear: Badr, Ismail, and Skandere aren't simply looking to improve existing systems; they're completely reinventing the customer experience at car dealerships.
The next time you call your local dealership, don't be surprised if you don't have time to get frustrated. Because before you know it, someone named Sandra will pick up immediately and simply ask: "How can I help you today?"