7 Ways to Improve Your Automotive Service Department

7 Ways to Improve Your Automotive Service Department

Automotive service departments are typically some of the most profitable parts of car dealerships, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement.

You could be leaving money on the table by not following these seven simple ways to improve your automotive service department and keep your customers happy and loyal to your dealership.

1) Develop a maintenance schedule

Use an automotive maintenance schedule to develop a system for your automotive services and get more ideas and help from embedded one.

A maintenance schedule ensures that all aspects of your car are in good condition and helps you plan effectively, so you’re not spending money on unneeded repairs.

For example, certain parts of your car need more frequent replacement than others. Your oil filter, for instance, will need replacing every 15,000 miles; things like spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 miles or sooner if they begin misfiring. Other items—such as brake and transmission fluid—need periodic changes too.

2) Be honest about prices

When you buy a car, it’s easy to get excited about your new ride. And when it comes time for service, it’s tempting to think that maybe you don’t need all those services right now.

Don’t be fooled by high-pressure sales tactics and an attempt at guilt-tripping—the best way to take care of your car is by doing what your manufacturer recommends in its vehicle service manual, which is usually determined by what Toyota (or another manufacturer) has found most beneficial after years of testing various methods and procedures.

This usually means more maintenance rather than less, but be honest with yourself: At what point are you going to spend thousands of dollars on something that may not be necessary right now?

3) Commit to customer satisfaction

As automotive electronics development continues its trek toward making your ride smarter, service departments need to get on board.

With a commitment to customer satisfaction, you’ll be able to adjust your services and train employees to meet customer needs.

Ask yourself: What does it mean for my business? Am I using technology in a way that will benefit my customers?

How are we connecting with them digitally? For those of you who want more than just an answer—want an opportunity—see how SuperChefs is helping one company kick their marketing into high gear by harnessing some serious brand power (including yours!) through Savory Experience Network.

4) Track customer feedback

This feedback can be found on consumer-facing review sites like Yelp and Google. Once you’ve established how well clients rate your service, you can track and monitor those ratings over time.

If your rating starts dipping, try reading through client reviews or implementing a few of their suggestions for improvement.

This will assist set realistic expectations for your customers and hopefully lead to more positive reviews than negative ones.

Use third-party expertise: OEMs need not reinvent the wheel concerning automotive electronics development; much of it is already out there on third-party platforms.

By tapping into these sources, OEMs can tap into expert services and products created by other companies that have already been tested in controlled environments like ours here at Autosoft Development.

5) Maintain cleanliness in and around your office

Most people don’t want to step into a dirty office, especially when they are there for an auto repair service.

Most customers who walk into your shop won’t judge you by its appearance, but if it doesn’t meet their standards, you might have a hard time closing deals.

Make sure that your walls are free of paint splatters, your floors are immaculate and that there is no clutter on your desk or in your workshop.

By keeping everything clean and organized, clients will be more inclined to work with you and refer their friends/family members over to you.

6) Create trust with customers by being transparent

Online reviews can be a boon for automotive service departments but can also be a threat. When customers face major repair work, they’re more than willing to go online and read what other people have experienced when dealing with your dealership.

Make sure you don’t let someone else paint an unflattering picture of your shop: it’s in your best interest to be transparent with customers before they encounter issues.

The easiest way to do that is by being honest and up-front about everything from prices, wait times, and warranties.

In doing so, you put yourself in control of creating or destroying customer trust – precisely what you want if you own an automotive service department.

7) Create a better environment

One way to improve your automotive service department is to make your mechanics’ workspace more comfortable and well-equipped.

Using cutting-edge sensors and software can help develop an overall plan for regular maintenance and repairs, minimize labor costs, track cars in and out of your service center, and even help you predict mechanical failure before it happens.

Conclusion

Think about where you are in your career and what you want. Think about your strengths, as well as your weaknesses.

Think about whether or not a trade school or an online program would be right for you—and don’t just think because it’s cheaper.

If a course seems too easy and doesn’t provide what you need—or if it seems like far too much work—then that may be a sign that something else would be better suited for you.

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