If you are thinking about buying for a car, there is a lot you've got to know. There are a lot of car salesmen out there waiting to do their best to sell you their cars, but they may not be the right care for you. Take a look at these car buying tips to get a better idea of what you must think about. If you are in the market for a used car, a great way to tell if the speedometer is correct is to look at the gas and brake pedals. If someone says the car has 30,000 miles on it, and the brake and gas pedals are worn, it is a good indication the odometer was turned back.
Do not pay for lots of extras when you are buying a car. Sure, it would be nice to have a lot of fun features in your new car, but do you really need them? Every toy or gadget you add jacks up the price of the car considerably. Figure out what you really need, and just stick to that. Before you set foot into a dealership, do some research online? Check nearby dealership's websites and record their listed price on the vehicle you want, as well as any special deals they might be offering.
Don't fold to pressure. The salesman doesn't want you to walk out of his dealership, so he will tell you whatever it takes to get you to sign a contract at that moment. Ignore him. Do what is best for you, and if you need to have some time to think about it, take the time you need. When buying a vehicle from a private seller, make sure a mechanic does an inspection first. If the dealership does not let you to bring your own mechanic, you should go somewhere else. This could mean you have to pay for problems that aren't evident at the time. You probably shouldn't get into this without figuring out who they are first.
Playing deejay with voice commands will get easier for more Americans
this fall as some best-selling cars get updated with software that
integrates smartphones into the dashboard.
With the 2016 model
year, Apple’s CarPlay and Google’s Android Auto will turn cars as
affordable as a base model Chevy Spark into rolling robotic assistants
that give directions to nearby restaurants or play the latest hits with
commands as simple as “Play Ellie Goulding.”
The Associated Press
recently tried out both systems on a 2016 Honda Accord. As with phones,
voice-activated car technologies don’t always work as intended, bringing
up inaccurate directions or failing to open an app, for example. But
overall the two systems are convenient and incredibly intuitive.
Both
CarPlay and Android Auto should give drivers more time to keep their
eyes on the road compared with the automakers’ own voice systems, which
can require multiple steps and looking at on-screen menus. Still, as
with any system that requires driver input, there are concerns about
distraction.
“Anything that takes your attention away from the
task of driving is not something you want to engage in,” said Kathy
Lane, a spokeswoman for the National Safety Council, a nonprofit
organization created by Congress to promote safety.
Neither system
has been tested yet by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, says
spokesman Russ Rader. The institute studies both human and mechanical
factors in trying to reduce the number of vehicle crashes.
Consumers
increasingly want to use their smartphone while driving — without
running afoul of the law. For the last few years, drivers of most new
cars have been able to speak to their phones and have audio stream
through a car’s speakers using the nearly ubiquitous Bluetooth wireless
standard. However, doing so can require fiddling with the phone, like
holding down the home button first.
Both CarPlay and Android Auto
allow voice commands to be turned on with a touch of a steering wheel
button. Phones need to be plugged into the USB port, where the phone is
kept charging and powering the in-car entertainment. You can access
maps, voice mail, phone contacts and music apps using a touch screen
embedded in the dashboard — no need to grab your phone.
There are
two limitations with the Apple system, whether or not you’re using it on
CarPlay. One is that Apple reserves voice commands for its proprietary
apps — phone, maps, texts and Apple Music.
The other is that you
must be a subscriber to Apple’s $10 a month Apple Music service if you
want ask the digital voice assistant Siri such complicated tasks as
“play the top song from 2011.” (It’s Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to
Know,” if you were wondering.) However, you can use your voice to play
songs you have downloaded and own on your iPhone.
The less
restrictive Android Auto will allow you to use apps like Spotify as long
as you specifically tell it to “play Aerosmith on Spotify,” or set
Spotify as the default music app. A Spotify subscription also costs $10 a
month.
The systems themselves can cost users a lot more.
The
2016 Honda Accord EX with manual transmission is the lowest trim on
which Honda is offering CarPlay and Android Auto support. At $25,480,
the EX is $1,315 pricier than the Sport trim, and includes things like a
moon roof, keyless remote and a better touch-screen display.
Volkswagen’s entry-level 2016 Jetta 1.4T at $17,680 offers CarPlay and
Android Auto as part of a $995 technology upgrade that includes a larger
touch screen and rear-view camera.
Some automakers say that such
features could motivate buyers to move up the trim level, rather than to
more expensive models. “It’s going to provide a good benefit to the
Accord shopper,” says Jay Guzowski, manager of product planning for
mid-size cars at American Honda.
General Motors stands alone in
offering CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment on cars as
inexpensive as the Spark — the 2015 version retails for upward of
$12,170 — and as high-volume as its Chevrolet Cruze and Malibu sedans
and Silverado trucks. Chevrolet marketing director Steve Majoros calls
the decision “revolutionary,” and one the automaker hopes will improve
its market share.
“CarPlay and Android Auto are about to really
hit the mainstream,” says Kelley Blue Book senior analyst Karl Brauer.
“We’re talking about some 40 to 50 models that’ll have it in probably
the next 12 months or less, which is maybe about 20% of the entire car
market.”
IHS analyst Colin Bird predicts that automakers in the
U.S. and Canada will sell a modest 497,000 cars with CarPlay, Android
Auto or both this year. The number should jump to 5 million in 2018 and
nearly 10 million in 2020.
As smart and helpful as the CarPlay and Android Auto are, they aren’t perfect.
On
a quick demo of a fully-loaded, coffee-colored 2016 Accord Touring, the
Android Auto voice assistant helped me play songs from artists like
Adele, Sting and Ellie Goulding but would not recognize “U2” as anything
other than “YouTube.” It also failed to open the iHeart Radio app
despite being told to (a later check showed the app hadn’t been set up
to recognize its location, which may have thrown a wrench into things).
CarPlay
users won’t be able to use the superior Google Maps through the
interface, even if the app is on their phone. In the demo, Apple’s
notoriously quirky maps app directed me to drive to Honda’s American
headquarters in Torrance through the research and development back way,
bypassing the front driveway and visitor parking lot even though it was a
more direct route.
There’s still work to be done on making the integration better.
One
problem is that when phones must be plugged in — rather than left in a
pocket or purse — usage of Internet-connected apps goes way down, says
Pandora’s vice president of automotive business development, Geoff
Snyder. “When it’s required for use of the system, utilization falls off
pretty dramatically.” So for now, certain automaker-made infotainment
systems with apps will be more convenient for people who just want to
get in their cars and go.
Apple software engineering executive
Craig Federighi said in June that the iOS 9 mobile operating system
update coming this fall will make CarPlay work without taking out your
iPhone. But according to Apple, that may require another hardware update
from automakers: support for Wi-Fi.
Resource:
Apple, Google bring smartphone functions to car dashboards
Dealers are being reminded of new regulations on the way guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance is sold to consumers is due to come into force on September 1.
Sue Robinson, National Franchised Dealers Association director said of the Financial Conduct Authority regulations: “It is important to note that any car sold with GAP that is delivered on or thereafter this date, and has been ordered prior to September 1, will be subject to the new rules.
“Dealers will be required to call customers in by Friday, August 28 and ensure they have the prescribed information about the GAP products they are being offered.”
If dealers have any questions or concerns ahead of these new rules, the NFDA hotline number is 01788 538 303.
NFDA guidance on prescribed information
Following recent FCA rule changes and the introduction of new remedies for the sale of GAP
there will be a need for dealers from September 1, 2015 to give customers specific
information about the GAP products they are offering.
This information is referred to as ‘prescribed information’ and must be given to the customer in advance of concluding the sale of any GAP insurance.
In addition this information must be given 4 days before concluding the sale (the provision of the prescribed information starts the clock running) unless the customer instigates the sale in which case the sale may be concluded the day after the prescribed information has been provided.
It is very
easy these days to buy a new car through various car loans available these days
through which the purchase of a new or used car has become relatively easy.
There are many car financing tips given buy auto dealers when buying a new car
that can help you understands where to invest and avoid various scams
environment opportunities.
The first
thing that is very important when buying a new or used car is set the budget
limit. It’s extremely vital to stick to your earlier decided budget. Note on a
piece of paper exactly what facilities and features that you need in your
desired car. If you have a child or if you need a powerful output and cozy
luxury cars can fit your budget. You rely on large family requirements or just
on your own. Also need to decide if you want diesel, petrol or gas cars.
Another tip for
car finance when buying car is research. Always check several cars dealer and their
prices with taxes so that you have an idea what you get in your budget. You can
easily obtain all the necessary information regarding the car on the Internet.
In fact, you can also find this information in magazines and newspapers.
You need to
keep an eye on manufacturers and be sure to keep vigilant when the timing belt
needs to change that part is an expensive repair must be done according to the
manufacturer's recommendations. Any problems with the timing belt capable of
inflicting massive damage to the engine, and also very expensive. You must
ensure that manufacturers follow the model of the car you need otherwise be
very difficult for you to find spare parts, and if this is the case, it will be
extraordinarily expensive.
Take some
references from friends and neighbors who have the same machine on which you
are buying. Listen and take note of its recommendations on fuel consumption,
miles averages are applied in a liter and reliability.
Compare the
prices of different cars. If you want to buy a used car, try not to have a car
that has traveled over 100,000 miles, and it requires more care and maintenance
in relation to the new modern car. Today many car dealers offer discounted prices.
This is the best time to invest in a car.
There are
many auto finance companies offering personal loans where you can compare the
best rates. These companies often offer 24x7 supports through financial advisor
or fill out the application faster and better look out for 2 or 3 different
places to get the best deal. Sure not to apply to a dozen places for loans that
can damage your credit rating and can become a victim of bad credit history.
Negotiate
car dealer face to face. Do not try to call it often happens that all trade is
conducted on appeal cannot be denied later. Therefore, try to negotiate face to
face. Be sure to ensure the guarantee, warranty, maintenance and price, so you
know which car is the best.
If you're looking for the reliable new & used car auto financing in KCthen you
should visit Northtowne Mazda. For more detail visit KcMazda.com.
Sometimes it’s hard
for people to find new or used cars at good prices. The cost of additional
options continues to increase and even the cheapest models can set an average
person back for many years. If you want to buy a car but you do not have enough
money, then you can visit KCMazda where you can find the best car deals and
save thousands of dollars. In addition, buyers can expect a whole range of
Mazda vehicles with all the right qualities. They can expect to find the car
you've always wanted at a price they can afford.
KCMazda has a large
inventory of Mazda new, pre-owned and used vehicles with a low starting price
and can be considered quality vehicles in many ways. Most pre-owned cars are in
excellent condition and look new again. In fact, you will be amazed at how
unbelievably good and well maintained these cars are sold at prices that most
people can easily afford.
Used cars for sale
business have become very popular. KCMazda sites offer a variety of options for
those who want the benefits of buying cheap used and pre-owned cars for sale.
The sites also give you the option to trade you car with us. Mazda Car dealers provide a range of
attractive offers to the potential buyers. Cars of many designs and colors,
hatchback or sedan, SUV, Vans, etc. can be availed. The cars are divided into
several parts, such as pre-owned vehicles and used cars for sale, cheap cars
for sale and cheap used cars for sale. Cheap used cars are preferred by many
people who want cars in low budget.
Best advantage of
buying these cars is that cars are available at attractive prices. Sometimes
cars are available at almost half the price. For those fascinated a luxury car,
but does not have enough cash you can take option of financing a car. The buyer
can get a very smart deal. He can get class cars at an affordable price.
Cheap used cars for
sale are good alternative for those who are at the first stage of driving.
Cheap used or pre-owned cars for sale can avoid buyer for having a large loss
in the initial stage till he becomes confident in driving.
The depreciation of
used cars is less than the new car. This is another advantage of buying used
cars for sale. KC Mazda car dealer offer many value added services to the
potential buyer as a check -up car in good mechanical and post sale services.
If you're looking for the most reliable Used Mazda Car for Sale in Kansas City, you'll never go wrong with these
tried-and-tested models just visit KCMazda.com.
Are you are thinking of buying your dream car and stun the
residents of your neighborhood with its looks and functionalities? The first
step towards purchasing a classy and comfortable vehicle would be finding a
reputable new car dealer in your area. Among the hundreds of car dealers,
choosing the right one becomes hazardous. However, with help of your friends
and internet, you can find the perfect dealer easily.
The Dealership is
your Playground
Visiting an auto dealership in pursuit of purchasing a brand
new car is comparable to taking a child to a candy shop; (Except the
merchandise is much more expensive.) At an auto dealership, there is a wide
variety of inventory and you can choose from.You can choose the vehicle make, model, size, color and other features
all based upon your budget.
Brand New
Features
As technology advances, the features in new cars also
continue to advance; state of the art features such as lane change assist,
which is a warning system that alerts a driver when his or her car is
unintentionally drifting from a lane of travel. Another example is autonomous
parking, which allows a vehicle to essentially park itself by using cameras and
sensors. Drivers only need to operate the foot pedals and listen to directions.
High Demand
Vehicles and Strong Resale Values
You may be aware of the steep depreciation decline
after buying a new car, but vehicles that are in high demand will have still
have fairly high resale values. Because of a proven track record in quality and
dependability, it is possible for popular vehicles to have lower depreciation
and stronger resale values.
One tip for identifying a high demand vehicle is
noticing when a dealer is advertising availability, rather than the price of a
vehicle.
Warranty
New cars come with a manufacturer’s warranty which
will essentially cover any repair costs for the first 3 to 4 years of the
vehicle’s life. Essentially there are two types of manufacturer’s warranties, a
basic warranty and a powertrain warranty.
Basic Warranty
The basic warranty is your standard 3-4 year coverage or the first 50,000 miles of the vehicle’s life.
Basic warranty is also called a bumper to bumper warranty or a new-vehicle warranty.
It generally covers air conditioning, fuel systems and electrical component
Powertrain Warranty
The powertrain warranty is a warranty for up to 10 years which covers the vehicle’s engine, transmission and other vital components and systems of your vehicle.
Reduced
Maintenance Expense
Buying brand new means little to no maintenance
expense for the first several thousand miles. Only routine maintenance such as
oil changes and tune-ups are necessary, and even those won’t cost a dime.
Manufacturers cover the expense of any routine maintenance under warranty for
the first couple of years.
Are you looking for new cars for sale Kansas City then you should visit Northtowne Auto Group. For more detail visit NorthtowneAutoGroup.com.
There are many lenders out there that offer non-traditional auto loans
and other types of loans that can be used for the purchase of used cars.
Buy directly from the owner can save you thousands of dollars, but if
you do not have the funds, you will need financing and this is while car
loans can provide the help you need.
Car Loans for Used Cars
Obtain
financing for the purchase of a used car can be difficult, most lenders
do not like the idea due to the high risk involved in this type of
transaction. The value of the car depreciates rapidly if it is a new car
and therefore, if used as collateral, which do not serve the purpose.
This is the reason why some traditional lenders offer loans for buying
cars, but with shorter repayment programs to prevent the depreciation
value of the vehicle.
However, there are non-traditional lenders
willing to make loans secured and unsecured loans for the purchase of
car, in exchange for an interest rate slightly higher provide the
necessary funds to purchase a used car from the previous owner and adapt
the loan to meet your needs. You will be able to get a higher loan
amount, longer repayment programs, lower monthly payments, etc.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said that Tesla Motors Inc. shouldn’t expect to open Lone Star state sales outlets any time soon.
Tesla has been trying for two years to crack the nation’s second-largest automobile market. It has been stymied by a powerful dealership lobby that opposes allowing the company to sell its electric cars directly to consumers.
“Texas has a very robust, very open, very effective automobile sector that seems like it’s working quite well the way that it is,” Abbott told Bloomberg Radio today. “If you’re going to have a breakdown in a car, you need to have a car dealership there to make sure that the vehicle is going to be taken care of. We haven’t seen that from Tesla.”
For years, Tesla has been working to roll back state laws across the U.S. to allow the company to sell its $100,000 vehicle without a traditional dealership. Tesla decries the system as an unfair monopoly. Auto dealers say the practice protects family-owned businesses and their customers.
Ricardo Reyes, a spokesman for Tesla, said the company has four maintenance centers in Texas that have earned high marks for service. He said doing business in the state is a matter of when, not if.
“We look forward to working as a business in Texas,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time.”
Tesla has had success in Georgia, Maryland and New Jersey, where lawmakers this year allowed direct sales.
Currently, Texans who wish to own a Tesla can visit one of three “galleries” in major cities to view the cars, but they can’t test drive them or discuss price. Prospective owners must go to another state or order online and have a car shipped to them.
Courting Texans
Tesla has tried hard to win over Texas. CEO Elon Musk visited Austin lawmakers this year days after the legislative session convened in January. He also hired 20 lobbyists and spent more than $150,000 on campaign contributions.
Musk’s efforts fell flat. Pro-Tesla bills gained little traction, failing to make it out of committees for a full vote by the House or Senate.
Tapping the Texas market is key for Tesla. Texans buy more than $81 billion worth of cars every year, second only to California, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.
Teslas compose only a fraction of cars on Texas roads. Of the 78,000 Model S vehicles on roads worldwide, only about 3,000 are in Texas, according to Tesla.
Tesla isn’t giving up. The company’s vice president of business development, Diarmuid O’Connell, said this year that the company will continue to work at swaying lawmakers before the next regular legislative session begins in 2017.
Buying a vehicle can be very interesting and processes of thought. Not only you determine what type of vehicle offers the best means of transport, you should also ensure that you choose a car that will be able to handle all of your personal and professional needs. It helps to improve your chances of getting the best means of transport, it is necessary to do some research and find out exactly what type of vehicle you can afford. You may be able to find exactly what you need for your car dealer occasion.
It is attractive to buy a new car but for lot of people buying new car is not an option. The fact that you cannot have the financial means to get a new car does not mean you'll never get a good car for your use. There are many used car dealers in the world offering different used cars deals. All you need is a little time, motivation and a little knowledge of what to look for.
Whatever type of vehicle you are in the market for; there is plenty for you to choose from, no matter where you go. If you do not really know where to start, you can visit various car used dealers and take a look at what they have in their inventory.
LAS VEGAS — Andy Koblenz, executive vice president of legal and regulatory affairs for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), will deliver a keynote address at Industry Summit 2015, which will be held Sept. 8–10 at Paris Las Vegas.
“Andy Koblenz is a familiar face at Industry Summit and a great friend to dealers everywhere,” said David Gesualdo, show chair and publisher of F&I and Showroom. “His experience speaks for itself, and we anticipate a gripping and informative address.”
Since 2006, Koblenz has spearheaded critical efforts to protect franchised new-car dealers from federal regulatory overreach. He represents dealers before all federal regulatory agencies and is at the forefront of the NADA’s advocacy efforts to protect consumer choice in indirect auto financing. Along with the nation’s top dealer groups, he helped launch NADA’s optional Fair Credit Compliance Policy and Program, which helps dealers and lenders comply with fair credit rules while preserving robust competition for car buyers in the auto finance marketplace.
“The upcoming Industry Summit will provide an ideal forum to discuss a resolution of the challenges to the indirect vehicle financing model presented by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau,” Koblenz said. “As a matter of principle, car buyers have the right to negotiate the rate on auto loans. And they have the right to seek a better deal. No government institution should deny that. That’s not what Washington is supposed to do.”
Koblenz directs a staff of six attorneys specializing in franchise and state law, corporate law and federal regulatory affairs. He helped navigate NADA through intensely challenging times, including the credit crisis, automaker bankruptcies and Great Recession. Previously, he served as NADA’s vice president of industry affairs.
More information about Industry Summit is available at the event's websites. Attendees who register by Aug. 7 will enjoy a $100 early-bird discount.
IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book (KBB) issued today its prediction for June 2015 sales. The vehicle information site expects to increase 5.8% from a year ago to 1.5 million units, resulting in an estimated 17.4 million seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR).
If the firm’s June sales prediction is realized, total sales for the first half of 2015 would come in at 8.53 million — a 4.7% increase from the same time last year and the highest first-half total since 2005. It would also mean second-quarter sales will have increase 3.9% from a year ago to 4.58 million — the highest second quarter total since 2005. For the year, KBB’s June sales prediction would mean the industry is on pace to close out 2015 with 17.1 million units sold, a 3.6 year-over-year jump and the highest overall total since 2001.
“With another month of new-car sales growth in June 2015, the sixteenth in a row, the auto industry continues its incredibly strong momentum. With a 17.3 million projected SAAR for June, it would mark the third month above 17 million out of the past four months,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior analyst for KBB. “However, heading into the summer months, sales should flatten out at a more sustainable pace.”
Including fleet sales, KBB expects June new light-vehicle sales to increase 5.8% from a year ago to 1.5 million units, which would be down 8% from May. The firm also estimates that the SAAR will be 17.4 million, up from 16.8 million in June 2014 but down from May’s 17.7 million SAAR.
The firm, which noted that the industry enjoyed 25 selling days vs. 24 in June 2014, also expects retail sales to account for 80.6% of volume in June 2015, up from 79.7 percent in June 2014.
“Kelley Blue Book anticipates positive numbers from nearly all manufacturers in June 2015, but Fiat Chrysler Automobiles could see the largest year-over-year gains,” said Gutierrez. “The surge in popularity of utility and truck models this year has been beneficial for Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep and RAM brands, helping push the manufacturer to its highest U.S. market share since 2007.”
The Volkswagen Group is another manufacturer poised to report solid growth, thanks to the full model lineup of its redesigned Golf. The Audi brand could also boost sales by double digits this year, while sales for the overall luxury market is trending 7.4% higher than last year.
As gas prices remain comparably low vs. last year, June should be another good month for utility and truck segment sales. Year to date, SUV sales are up 11.9%, and with new models on the market such as the Honda HR-V, Kelley Blue Book expects even higher totals in June.
Conversely, non-luxury cars will continue to lose share, with year-to-date sales down 5.2 percent. While the month should see slightly positive numbers for the compact and mid-size car segments, combined share is expected to drop by nearly a full percentage point.
This is just a short rant, but I see this all the time. If you go to a dealer's website, and look at the "Meet our Staff" page you might see something like this:
A single name and phone number, and possibly an email address, with a big black silhouette where a photo should be. Sometimes there will be just a single person as a contact,
sometimes you can see multiple black silhouettes filling the page. How have you not gotten around to adding a photos yet? My guess is that some dealers do not think that is important.
I think this sets the stage for how you view digital marketing. One of the ground rules to succeed in digital marketing, is to treat digital customers the same as "real world" customers.
Don't give them less service, don't wait to respond to them, or treat them as any less important than customers who stop into your dealership. Having photos on your website is part of
this as well. It is hard enough to establish a personal connection with someone by email or text, but please, at least put a face to go with the name. How much nicer is it for a
customer to walk into a dealership, and see that same friendly face they have been talking to online? This is an easy fix too. You don't need to hire a professional photographer,
your iPhone will do if that is all you have. Find a light wall in the dealership, where you have good lighting (no shadows on faces) and shoot the photos. At the very least you
should have photos of Sales and Service Managers, sales people, and other customer facing employees. I think it would be challenging to market your dealership as "friendly" or
"personal" if the only images of your team are faceless black shapes.
I’ve worked with automotive manufacturers and dealers for more than 20 years, and the same challenges surface over and over again. Corporate teams struggle to successfully roll out new programs and initiatives across their network of highly dispersed dealerships. Dealers feel inundated with information from the corporate office, and lack the support and tools needed to succeed. And the field gets to play mediator, stuck in the middle of that strained OEM/dealer relationship.
Last October, we stepped in to help one national auto brand solve these challenges when they rolled out a new customer-loyalty program. By leveraging technology to roll out and monitor program performance, the client saw positive changes across the organization in three key areas.
1. Improving Transparency and Alignment Across the Organization
One department within this automotive company was focused on driving customer satisfaction and retention. It wanted the entire organization to rally around that goal, and set out to launch a loyalty program that would reward dealers with strong performance and encourage weaker dealers to improve performance. But to make it work, the deapartment needed a way to align communications in order to ensure that all parties—from the individual dealerships all the way up to the corporate office—were actively doing their part to deliver on that brand promise.
By tracking key performance indicators in one consistent tool, the department was able to get all levels of management on the same page in terms of program priorities and metrics. What used to be 10 disparate data feeds were consolidated into one tool, providing more transparency across the business. Instead of having to manually collect information, run simulations, and disseminate findings through the field to the dealers, the program manager was able to implement a large number of tasks, reducing her weekly workload by upward of 40%.
2. Empowering the Field to Serve as Consultants
Now that the entire organization was aligned around these goals and priorities, the field was able to better serve both the dealers and the corporate office.
Traditionally, field managers would spend full days preparing for store visits each week. By consolidating all of the relevant resources and information needed in one place, field managers were able to start spending less time compiling and researching information and more time with dealers, digging into performance updates and ways to drive improvements.
With one concise dashboard, field managers were able to quickly review and understand performance, with the ability to view and drill down on metrics at the company, district, and store levels. Time that used to be spent relaying information down from corporate was now spent serving as strategic consultants to the dealers. With the detailed metrics breakdown, they were able to talk to dealers about how their performance compared to others in their district, uncover areas of opportunity and key challenges, and discuss tools and best practices to help them improve.
3. Engaging Dealers to Drive Performance
As with other programs, dealerships were rewarded for hitting goals, but a primary motivator for success was the fear of corporate action should performance slip. At the launch of the program rollout, the company did an analysis of how much compensation was left on the table by dealers not hitting their numbers. With the new tool, field managers were able to better frame discussions around positive motivators, and give dealers a detailed view of how they were tracking against compensation targets.
With previous program rollouts, the field and dealers also lacked insight into how their performance was tracking against other dealers. The new tool provided higher levels of visibility and encouraged dealers to ask and answer questions among their peers, helping the organization uncover best practices of high-performing dealerships. These insights were then used as a valuable toolset for driving improvements among weaker performers.
So, what’s the real impact of aligning, empowering, and engaging your organization with the help of data-driven technology? For the auto brand in this scenario, dealerships that took advantage of the tool were regularly twice as likely to hit their quarterly targets. That’s good for customer loyalty and the bottom line.
Chris Taylor is founder and CEO of Square Root, an Austin, Texas–based SaaS company whose store performance management platform, CoEFFICIENT, helps leading auto and retail enterprises align their organizations, increase transparency, encourage collaboration, and improve store performance.
