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August 1, 2025

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3 mins

Embedded F&I is Now Live

Rodrigo Chousal Cantú

Engineering

What It Is

The Protection Menu is a new step in our purchase flow that brings F&I directly into the checkout experience. Dealers can present curated coverage bundles like Essential or Premier with just a few clicks, whether the sale is happening online or in-store.

For dealers, that means higher penetration, streamlined workflows, and no paperwork bottlenecks. For buyers, it means clear options, transparent pricing, and totals that update automatically—whether they’re completing the purchase from their phone or at the desk with a salesperson.

Why It Matters

Historically, dealers have preferred in-store transactions in part because F&I often performs best when it’s personal. Sitting across from a buyer makes it easier to ask the right questions—Will the vehicle be stored outside? Is theft more of a concern in their area?—and then recommend products that actually fit the customer’s ownership reality.

The flip side is that the traditional process is slow, reliant on paper and manual steps, and puts buyers on high alert the moment they enter the F&I office. That sense of being “sold to” erodes trust and ultimately lowers penetration.

The Protection Menu changes the equation. With Ekho’s embedded F&I platform, dealers can bring personalization and efficiency into every sale:

  • Online, coverage bundles adapt dynamically based on dealer settings and buyer context, surfacing the options most likely to convert while still delivering appropriate protection.
  • In-store, salespeople and F&I managers can enter key details, present tailored packages, and adjust pricing on the fly—without the paperwork bottlenecks that slow deals down.

It’s the same tailored conversation dealers value, but with the manual grind stripped away.

The outcome is clear: no handoff gaps, fewer missed opportunities, higher penetration, better coverage for buyers, and a more streamlined process across the board.

How It Works

Coverage bundles appear right before payment (for cash buyers) or immediately after financing approval (for financed buyers). Once a buyer makes a selection, their documents and totals update automatically. Dealers keep profitability intact, and shoppers gain transparency and control—all without leaving the checkout flow.

What’s Next

We’re already building on this foundation by expanding bundle logic to account for vehicle eligibility. This will unlock richer upsell opportunities and smarter defaults. Longer term, coverage options—such as type, term length, and deductible—will become fully customizable, giving both dealers and buyers even greater flexibility.

Built with 💪 by Rodrigo, Jon, Bongi, David, and the Ekho team.

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