On this episode of Better Car Washing Everywhere, host Matt DeWolf continues a conversation recorded live at the Arcadian Services booth during the 2026 Car Wash Show. His guest is Meddy Ali, founder and CEO of HelloWash, an AI-powered answering service and customer support platform built specifically for the car wash industry.

Ali's path to car washing started somewhere else entirely: the restaurant business. He and his team originally built AI phone technology to take restaurant orders, but the sales cycle proved difficult. Their first customers, almost by accident, were car washes, and the fit was immediate. Car wash operators, Ali explains, are excellent at washing cars but were historically behind on customer service technology. HelloWash filled that gap, and the company now serves more than 500 locations, with plans to cross 1,000 by the end of the year.

The conversation covers what sets HelloWash apart from off-the-shelf AI vendors. Because the company owns its technology outright rather than white-labeling someone else's model, it can adapt quickly for the industry it serves. Ali and DeWolf dig into how the platform has evolved from simple call answering into active retention, offering discounts to save a membership on the spot, and a full ticketing and customer relationship platform that integrates directly with a wash's point-of-sale system.

They also talk candidly about the noise in the AI space right now: how easy it has become for anyone to spin up a convincing-looking company, and why Ali is careful never to oversell what AI can actually automate. The two close with a philosophy Ali says now guides HelloWash entirely, AI-powered, human-centered, plus a personal reminder about stepping away from work in time for bedtime.

Featured Guest: Meddy Ali, Founder and CEO, HelloWash

AI is reshaping how car wash operators run their businesses, but most are still in the early stages of figuring out how to use it well, according to Mike Ohlinger, director of operations and organizational development at OhmCo Carwash Marketing.

Ohlinger joined host Matt DeWolf in the Arcadian Services booth at the Car Wash Show 2026 to talk through the real state of AI adoption in the car wash marketing space -- what is working, what is overpromised and where operators are leaving opportunity on the table. With seven years of car wash marketing experience, Ohlinger brings a grounded, practical perspective to a topic that is easy to get swept up in.

The conversation covers a wide range of ground, from using AI to build SOPs that stay current automatically, to understanding why Answer Engine Optimization is now one of the most important investments an operator can make in their online presence. Ohlinger and DeWolf also dig into the pitfalls of AI-generated marketing content, the risks of fake reviews, and why the shift in search behavior driven by AI is changing the rules for how car washes compete online.

For operators wondering whether AI is worth their time and money right now, this episode offers an honest, experience-backed answer -- along with specific steps they can take today to get ahead of their competition without throwing a ton of resources at it.

Featured Guest:

Mike Ohlinger, director of operations and organizational development, OhmCo Carwash Marketing

In this episode of Better Car Washing Everywhere, host Matt DeWolf sits down with Nikita Klinisovs, National Sales Manager at McClean Solutions, to talk about a side of the car wash industry that often flies under the radar: self-serve and in-bay washes.

While tunnel washes tend to dominate industry conversations, Nikita shares a different perspective shaped by his own path into chemistry and the car wash industry straight out of college. DeWolf and Klinisovs explore ideas for real innovation, differentiation, customer experience, and creative membership models that are driving growth, even in crowded markets.

This conversation offers practical, real-world ideas for standing out and an argument for self-serve and in-bay automatic models over the tunnels that have captured that industry’s attention. The episode also touches on the importance of celebrating small wins and supporting your team along the way.

Whether you operate a tunnel wash or are involved in the self-serve space, this episode delivers fresh insight and actionable takeaways to help build stronger customer connections and move your business forward.