2025 was a year full of shifts, surprises and changing customer expectations, and Irish dealerships quickly learned what genuinely moved the needle, and what held them back.
In Summary:
What Worked in 2025
✓ Faster digital journeys
Dealers who invested in smoother online-to-showroom experiences saw stronger conversion.
✓ Flexible finance panels
Those who expanded beyond prime lenders reduced declines and kept deals alive.
✓ Real-time stock visibility
Customers increasingly chose dealers who had accurate online stock feeds.
What Didn’t Work
✗ Relying on traditional sales peaks
Seasonality wasn’t as predictable; dealers lost out by waiting for “busy spells.”
✗ Over-complicated finance processes
Buyers abandoned deals when asked for too many steps or repeated information.
✗ Ignoring non-prime buyers
A growing segment was left underserved — and competitors stepped in.
What’s Next for 2026
▶ A rise in non-prime and near-prime applications
Cost-of-living pressures continue, increasing demand for broader finance solutions.
▶ Embedded finance in the showroom
Dealers will win by offering finance decisions earlier in the sales journey.
▶ Operational efficiency becomes the differentiator
Time-to-approval will be a core KPI for high-performing retailers.
Gary Murtagh – Business Development Manager – LM Operations
Looking ahead, I don’t think 2026 is going to reinvent the wheel, but I do think it’s going to highlight which dealers are truly adapting to the way customers now behave. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that people want clarity, speed and a sense of guidance. And the dealers who have the right partners around them will feel the benefit.
One of the clearest shifts I’m seeing is around the near-prime space. More customers are sitting just outside prime, not because they aren’t good payers, but because life has been expensive and the “perfect” credit profile is becoming less common. The dealers who leaned into near-prime options last year saw a real lift. This is exactly where LM Operations fits in; we specialise in supporting those customers who need a fair assessment and a quick, human-led conversation.
Speed is another big theme. Customers want decisions quickly and updates even faster. And with the world becoming more digital by the day, expectations will only go one way.
But, there’s something important to acknowledge: AI isn’t foolproof. It’s clever, it’s improving, but it makes mistakes and in finance, those mistakes can cost deals. That’s why at LM Operations, we’ve deliberately invested in more people, not just more technology. Our tech is there to gather the right information; our people are there to make the right decisions. It’s a combination that gives dealers accuracy, fairness and speed — not shortcuts.
I also think 2026 will be a year where digital tools really settle into the dealership workflow. Not to replace people but to give them breathing space. LM Operations already supports dealers with quick eligibility checks, cleaner document flows and fast communication back into the showroom. When the customer arrives with half the work already done, everything moves forward sooner.
And finally, efficiency inside the dealership is becoming a genuine competitive advantage. The dealers who cut out unnecessary steps and keep communication tight are the ones who get more from every lead. Partnering with us helps here too — because when you’re not chasing lenders for updates, or trying to decipher an unclear decline, your team can focus on actual customers, not admin.
So if I were to pin down what 2026 will reward, it’s this: dealers who stay flexible, work smarter and choose partners who actively support the process, not slow it down. At LM Operations, that’s exactly what we’re here to do. We’re the hands-on partner in your corner, making sure your team has the tools, the support and the human backup to turn more applications into completed deals.
The opportunity in 2026 is real, and with the right support, it’s absolutely yours to win.
Start 2026 on the front foot with an LM Operations partnership 👇.