Kukui

What Kukui does

Kukui is a Las Vegas-based SaaS company that provides an all-in-one marketing and customer engagement platform built specifically for independent auto repair shops and adjacent automotive service verticals (tire shops, quick lubes, collision repair). Founded around 2011 and operating as KUKUI Holdings, Inc. (Delaware-incorporated), the platform integrates directly with shop Point-of-Sale and Shop Management Systems to track customers from first marketing touchpoint through to revenue conversion. The core platform comprises custom-branded websites with SEO optimization, a CRM module with lead tracking and customer communication tools, and a growing catalog of add-on modules including Digital Ads Management (Google Ads with conversion tracking), Text Marketing, Live Web Chat, Live Scheduler, Digital Vehicle Inspections, Direct Mail postcards, MyRewards loyalty, Social Toolkit, AI Review Responder, and AI Call Insights.

Kukui monetizes through tiered monthly subscriptions (Website-only, CRM-only, Pro, Pro Plus) plus Enterprise multi-year contracts for multi-shop operators, with most add-on modules sold as incremental subscriptions. Go-to-market combines self-service options for smaller shops with sales-assisted onboarding for mid-market and enterprise customers, anchored by a flagship channel partnership with NAPA Auto Care (Vendor of the Year 2023) and a Google Premier Partner relationship maintained since 2014. The company has raised approximately $28.6M across three funding rounds, with a $27M Series 2 from SSM Partners in June 2019. As of the latest data, Kukui serves 2,200+ auto repair shops across the USA and Canada with 51-100 employees, an engineering presence in Bulgaria, and a product roadmap increasingly oriented toward AI-augmented features (proprietary automotive review responder model, AI-powered call scoring, computer-vision-enabled vehicle inspections).

Name

Kukui

Legal name

KUKUI Holdings, Inc.

Website

https://kukui.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kukui provides an all-in-one SaaS marketing platform purpose-built for independent auto repair shops, integrating custom websites, CRM, digital advertising, scheduling, and AI tools with shop POS systems. It serves 2,200+ shops across the USA and Canada through tiered subscriptions and a NAPA Auto Care channel partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Marketing Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

akta.pro primary industry

Marketing Automation, CRM & Lifecycle Messaging (BPAMALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marketing Automation & Campaign Management CRM (HDAEAFAB), Marketing Technology, AdTech & MarTech Services (BPAFAAAN)

Keywords

• Automotive marketing software
• Auto repair CRM
• Shop management software
• Digital marketing automation
• POS-integrated marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SaaS Platform Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from marketing platform plans (Website, CRM, Pro, Pro Plus, Enterprise tiers) with monthly or annual billing. Includes base platform features with optional add-ons for additional capabilities.
2. Platform Add-ons: Additional modules and features available for purchase including Live Scheduler, Digital Vehicle Inspections, Text Marketing, AI Review Responder, Direct Mail, and AI Call Insights, typically as add-on purchases to base plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kukui sells an all-in-one marketing platform for auto repair shops that combines custom-branded websites and a CRM module with direct Point-of-Sale (POS) and Shop Management System (SMS) integration. The platform is sold via tiered subscriptions (Website-only, CRM-only, Pro, Pro Plus, Enterprise) and a set of paid add-on modules covering managed Google/Microsoft/Bing Ads, text marketing, live web chat, social media management, online scheduling, digital vehicle inspections, direct mail postcards, loyalty programs, and AI-powered review responses and call analytics.

Product overview

Kukui is an all-in-one marketing platform for auto repair shops, combining custom-branded websites with a comprehensive suite of marketing and customer management tools. The platform architecture consists of a core website and CRM foundation, with integrated add-on modules for advertising (Digital Ads Management with Google Premier Partner status), communication (Text Marketing, Live Web Chat), engagement (AI Review Responder, My Rewards, Social Toolkit), and operations (Live Scheduler, AI Call Insights, Digital Vehicle Inspections, Direct Mail Postcards). The platform integrates directly with shop Point-of-Sale systems and Shop Management Systems to track leads from marketing touchpoints through to actual customer conversions and revenue. All components share a unified dashboard and customer data layer, enabling shops to measure marketing ROI and customer retention from a single platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• All-in-One Success Platform: KUKUI's comprehensive marketing platform for auto repair shops featuring websites, CRM, digital advertising, scheduling, and analytics.

Products and services

• Custom Websites Award-winning auto repair websites that convert visitors to customers at 4x the industry standard, with SEO optimization, mobile-first responsive design, intuitive editor, and llms.txt files for AI search visibility. Targeted at independent and multi-location auto repair shops seeking strong online presence.
• CRM (Customer Relationship Management) Comprehensive CRM for auto repair shops with lead tracking, phone call tracking, email campaigns, review management, customer analytics, QR code generation, and POS/SMS integration. For independent and multi-location auto repair shops seeking a single hub for customer data and engagement.
• Digital Ads Management Expertly managed Google Ads, Local Services Ads, Microsoft/Bing Search Ads, and Map Ads campaigns run by automotive marketing specialists, with proprietary keyword database and Shop Management System integration for ROI tracking. For auto repair shops seeking professional paid search advertising without in-house expertise.
• Text Marketing SMS and text message marketing platform enabling customer engagement through convenient text messages, including text blast campaigns, customer retention campaigns, and opt-in management for TCPA compliance. For auto repair shops seeking high-open-rate direct customer communication.
• Live Web Chat Real-time chat tool enabling customers to communicate with auto repair shops directly through the Kukui website, with automated responses, appointment scheduling, real-time notifications, multi-location support, and mobile app management.
• Social Toolkit Self-service social media management for auto repair shops to create, schedule, and publish posts across Facebook, Instagram, Google Business Profile, and LinkedIn from a single dashboard, with two automated posts per week and performance tracking.
• AI Review Responder AI-powered feature that generates personalized responses to customer reviews using a proprietary language model built specifically for auto repair shops, with an auto-respond feature and configurable timing.
• My Rewards Built-in loyalty program integrated with CRM and MyGarage customer portal, featuring referral programs and loyalty dashboard for tracking performance, helping auto repair shops strengthen customer relationships and encourage repeat visits.
• Direct Mail Postcards Automated postcard campaigns using POS database integration to identify customers needing services, with custom branding, ROI tracking, and campaign types for new customer acquisition, retention, and service reminders.
• AI Call Insights AI-powered phone call analysis that uses OpenAI's business API to automatically transcribe and score recorded calls against best practices, assign Lead Viability Scores (1-100), identify coaching opportunities, and capture services, vehicles, and keywords mentioned during calls.
• Live Scheduler Online appointment scheduling tool with configurable calendar that considers existing appointments, service types, and technician availability, with Google Book Online button integration. Designed to address appointment booking pain points for auto repair shops.
• Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) Digital inspection tool enabling technicians to share photos, video, and voice-to-text notes with customers for transparent vehicle inspection reports, integrated with CRM for seamless sharing via email or text. Proven to increase repair orders by 20% or more.
• Centralized Campaign Management (Enterprise Email) Enterprise email feature enabling multi-location operators to dispatch individual campaigns across multiple shop locations from one central platform with consistent branding, tailored for MSOs and enterprise operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4x higher website visitor to customer conversion rate compared to industry standard
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability9 records

Feature13 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Google Premier Partner since 2014. Kukui manages Google Ads campaigns including Local Services Ads (LSA), Search Ads, Microsoft/Bing Ads, and Map Ads for auto repair shops. Premier status indicates expertise in digital advertising with access to latest insights, product updates, and promotional offers.
• NAPA Auto CareflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNAPA Auto Care's 2023 Vendor of the Year. Kukui provides marketing platform services to NAPA shops with special pricing packages. The partnership includes event sponsorship, referral programs, and integration with NAPA network. Kukui has been recognized for commitment to the NAPA Auto Care program.
• CastrolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred industry partner displayed on Kukui website. Castrol is a major automotive lubricant brand.
• BridgestoneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred industry partner displayed on Kukui website. Bridgestone is a major tire manufacturer.
• NAPA AUTOPROminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred industry partner. NAPA AUTOPRO is another NAPA-branded auto service network.
• ATI (Automotive Training Institute)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred industry partner. ATI provides automotive training and education services.
• ACA (Auto Care Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred industry partner. ACA is the automotive aftermarket industry association.
• Repair Shop of TomorrowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred industry partner. Repair Shop of Tomorrow is an industry initiative or organization.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shopmonkey: All-in-one cloud shop management and marketing SaaS for auto repair shops. Closest direct competitor to Kukui, targeting the same independent and MSO customer base with website, CRM, scheduling, payments, and customer communication features.
• Tekmetric: Shop management platform for auto repair shops with workflow, customer communication, and digital presence tooling. Comparable vertical SaaS targeting independent shops and MSOs with a similar end-to-end product vision.
• RepairPal: Auto repair shop network and marketing platform that helps independent shops acquire customers through fair-price estimates and SEO-driven directory listings. Comparable go-to-market angle of helping repair shops drive customer flow online.
• Podium: Customer interaction and marketing platform for local businesses including auto repair shops. Competes directly on text messaging, review management, web chat, and lead conversion — overlapping a large portion of Kukui's add-on suite.
• Birdeye: Reputation management, social media, and customer experience platform widely used by SMB service businesses including auto repair. Direct overlap on review management, listings, messaging, and customer surveys, now incorporating Demandforce.
• Demandforce: Patient/customer communication and marketing automation platform (now part of Birdeye) historically focused on healthcare and dental but also used by auto repair shops. Comparable lifecycle messaging, recall, and reputation tooling.

Broad incumbents

• Mitchell 1: Long-established provider of shop management software, estimating, and marketing services for the automotive aftermarket. A broader incumbent with overlapping shop-management and customer-communication capabilities sold alongside diagnostics content.
• Yext: Enterprise listings and digital presence management platform. Broad incumbent addressing the local-SEO and online-listing layer that Kukui also covers via Social Toolkit and website features, but at much larger scale across industries.

Emerging players

• Garage360: Shop management and customer engagement software for auto repair shops. Smaller, emerging player with overlapping CRM, texting, and marketing features but a less mature product suite than Kukui.
• AutoFluent: Shop management software with customer communication and marketing features for auto repair shops. Niche emerging competitor overlapping Kukui's CRM, texting, and review modules with a smaller footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kukuicorp
• Facebookfacebook.com/kukuicorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kukuiit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kukui