Drivetime

In this episode of Drivetime, Jacqui is joined by Siddharth Kashyap, Consulting Partner at Tata Consultancy Services, to explore the systems, processes and data behind the modern automotive customer journey. Drawing on 15 years in the automotive industry, Siddharth explains why transformation should begin by identifying where the journey breaks, rather than immediately blaming the technology. They discuss the growing problem of “system spaghetti”, including retailer groups navigating around 27 applications across OEM and retail environments. Siddharth stresses that poor processes can’t be fixed by sophisticated technology alone, and why businesses need to address process first, then data, and finally architecture. The conversation also explores why change management is often the greatest hurdle in a transformation programme. Going live is only the beginning. For technology to deliver value, the people using it every day must be involved early, understand what it offers them and see how it removes administrative friction from their roles.

He also introduces his filed patent for an autonomous EV charging solution, designed to combine vehicle data with charger availability, pricing, booking and navigation. Finally, he discusses work to create an orchestration layer that allows OEM and retailer systems to exchange information seamlessly, removing duplicate data entry and simplifying the experience for users.

Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Gear Change episode of Drivetime, Jacqui continues the conversation with James Crouch, Marketing Communications Director at Mazda UK. They dive deeper into his experience helping drive digital adoption across Mazda Europe and what marketers can learn from the industry's ongoing transformation. James reflects on his time as part of a specialist European team tasked with shaping Mazda's digital future, from building data infrastructure and defining use cases to creating the foundations that support modern customer journeys today. The conversation also explores the growing importance of influencer marketing, why retailers shouldn't overcomplicate creator partnerships, and how data is becoming the engine behind every marketing decision. Plus, James shares the technology he can't live without, the innovation he's most excited about, and his dream automotive road trip.

Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it take to evolve a heritage automotive brand through 15 years of digital disruption? In this episode of Drivetime, Jacqui sits down with James Crouch, Marketing Communications Director at Mazda UK, to explore how automotive marketing has transformed from dealer magazines and TV campaigns to influencers, AI, streaming partnerships and digital customer journeys.

Together, they discuss the enduring appeal of the Mazda brand, the importance of Japanese craftsmanship, and how Mazda is balancing innovation with authenticity. The conversation explores the rise of influencer marketing, the changing role of TV advertising, Mazda's partnership with HBO Max, and how AI is forcing marketers to rethink everything from content discovery to customer attribution.

They also unpack Mazda's approach to electrification, why the brand describes itself as "distinctively Japanese", and how retailers can navigate the rapid pace of technological change without getting left behind.

Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does successful AI adoption actually look like in practice? In this week’s gear change episode of Drivetime, Jacqui Barker is joined once again by Caz Moore, AI Centre of Excellence Director at Keyloop, for a fast-paced conversation packed with practical advice, leadership insights and actionable AI tips.

Caz breaks down the three pillars of Keyloop's AI Centre of Excellence, explains why governance and ROI are critical to every initiative, and shares what she's learned from helping teams embrace AI across the business. The discussion also explores data quality, AI adoption, change management and why starting small is often the best way to unlock long-term value. From AI evangelists and workshop strategies to robotic hoovers, and healthy AI boundaries, this episode offers a refreshing and practical perspective on how organisations can make AI work for people rather than simply chasing the latest trend.

Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AI is everywhere, but how do you move beyond the hype and start using it in a way that delivers real value? In this episode of Drivetime, Jacqui sits down with Caz Moore, AI Centre of Excellence Director at Keyloop, to explore what it takes to build a practical, people-focused AI strategy. From creating AI evangelist networks and measuring ROI to managing governance, change and adoption, Caz shares the lessons she's learned from helping embed AI across the business.

The conversation tackles some of the biggest questions facing organisations today: Will AI replace jobs? How do you use it responsibly? And where should you start if you're feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change? Along the way, Caz shares her favourite AI use cases, explains & discusses the importance of AI literacy, and offers practical advice for leaders looking to drive innovation without losing sight of the human element.

Drivetime is the global auto tech podcast powered by Keyloop.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.