Kicking off this year’s AED Summit was keynote speaker Sean Alexander, former Microsoft AI executive and current executive advisor to The Persimmon Group. His presentation set the stage for a technology-focused 3-day Summit that drew 2,500 members to Orlando, Fla., to learn and leverage the latest technology, embrace innovative solutions and network with fellow equipment dealers and industry partners. Alexander offered a basic definition of artificial intelligence (AI) and its broad application across all facets of business, reviewed the history and emergence of the Fourth Industrial Age, and shared actionable insights.

“AI is not a strategy, it’s a tool. AI is a partner and not a replacement in every industry,” Alexander said.

He cited findings from multiple research projects reinforcing the potential for improved sales, productivity and profitability. The Work Trends Index found a 31% increase in employee productivity, 41% increase in salesperson and marketing efficiencies, 26% increase in employee wellbeing. Eliminating employee time spent on low-value activities, increasing inclusivity and helping employees with necessary but repetitive or mundane tasks were also highlighted as value-added benefits. Alexander shared his experience at Microsoft with teams working to implement the Microsoft AI program for the first time, and focused on the importance of building a responsible AI framework.

Alexander closed his keynote by offering an Industry 4.0 Checklist which included these 5 essentials:

  1. Foster culture change (fixed vs. growth mindset)
  2. Establish clear AU governance and measurement
  3. Prioritize data quality, Security and Privacy
  4. Be intentional about workforce development
  5. Lead from the front, by building exec AI fluency

How to Leverage AI in Dealerships Today

Zeroing in on “Ag Automated Intelligence,” in one of many educational sessions focusing on technology, Russ Green, consultant with MACKAYBEN and a member of the Machinery Advisors Consortium (MAC), reinforced the many benefits of incorporating artificial intelligence, or automated intelligence as he prefers to refer to it, for equipment dealers.

Green detailed the ways AI exists and can be further put to use in dealerships today.

  • Parts stocking: analyze historical data; demand patterns; correct seasonal parts
  • Inventory management: hit turn targets; adjust seasonally; track machine content; geo-fencing with prescriptive maintenance
  • CRM/customer trends: purchasing behaviors; preferences and trends; marketing strategies; personalized communication; account-based marketing; anticipatory performance

Additionally, Green cited an analysis by McKinsey & Co. in reinforcing the importance of keeping up with generative AI as a competitive advantage for businesses, which wrote this: “Digital leaders have widened their competitive distance by 60% in the past three years, according to senior partner Eric Lanarre and colleagues. But tortoises have a way of catching up: to stay ahead, leaders will have to accelerate their transformations.”

Emerging Technologies in the Spotlight

Delivering perspective from the mind of an Alaska-based equipment dealer and an agricultural technology executive, Sean McLaughlin of Craig Taylor Equipment, CEO/founder of Flyntkok Software, delivered a message driving home the vital need of dealers to embrace technology across the entirety of their businesses. McLaughlin’s company is a cloud-based dealer business system designed specifically for equipment dealers. Noting that dealers are in the data management business by nature, he explained that software as a service (SaaS) allows them to concentrate on being the best DMS or DBS while leveraging the best general ledger, shipping/receiving, instant messaging, emailing, image management from other partners in the cloud.

In “Identifying Emerging Technologies Most Critical for Dealer Success,” Taylor spoke candidly and directly to issue a clarion call for OEMs, dealers and principals to not only understand the value of emerging technology, but to compel their teams to strategize a plan to grow the business by upgrading and leveraging the wide-ranging software solutions and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems, or risk losing their businesses altogether.

Best Practices Panel Delivers Best Practices & Industry Insights

In another standing room only session on the final day of 2025 AED Summit, a panel of experienced industry experts offered their insights and observations and hard-earned advice with best practices and emerging trends. The panel, sponsored by Rocketwise, included: Ron Barlet, CEO at Bejac Corporation; John Berry of Berry Companies; Keith Kreps of 21st Century Equipment and Roberts Farm Equipment’s Brian Osterndorff. They joined with moderator and Machinery Advisors Consortium (MAC) founder George Russell to address the hottest topics and most pressing challenges behind and ahead of equipment dealers, manufacturers and tech companies.

Industry Addresses Workforce Challenges by Tapping Existing Resources

From the first keynote session to the final morning and afternoon of AED 2025 Summit, the issue of workforce development was top of mind. Presenting on center stage Friday morning to the entirety of attendees, and during a Friday afternoon educational session on the final day of the event, Eric Hill, Youth Workforce Development. Foundation CEO shared ways dealers can develop a sustainable pipeline through tech apprenticeships.

On the final day of the event, AED President/CEO Brian McGuire announced an initiative by the organization to address the technician shortage. In discussing the AED Research Report: Utilizing Foreign-born Talent to Address Technician Shortage, he urged members to promote immigration reforms and reinforced the value of advocacy toward that end.