Better computing, Internet of Things (IoT), next-generation cellular connectivity and cloud computing will increase the dependence on data in the automobile industry. Data will become as crucial to vehicles as oil is today.
Car dealers have always used “runners,” but perhaps the accelerated growth in digital retailing and “door to door” vehicle service requires a more scalable program and process.
Customers who check themselves in at a kiosk and leave their keys are issued a QR code that’s unique to them. After service is completed, the customer scans the QR code off their mobile phone, and the corresponding keys are dispensed.
In a Wards Q&A, Paul Williamsen talks about the inner workings of dealership service departments, a subject few people are fully familiar with.
The average length of vehicle ownership continues to climb, with many models on the road older than 11 years. If dealers and automakers can adapt services to this longer lifecycle, they’ll unlock new opportunities to create value-added experiences.
“I told him, ‘We want to help. We’re all in.’” LaFontaine Automotive Group’s Mike Zasadny says of a conversation with the superintendent of Ecorse Public Schools about its Certified Automotive Tech Program.
Value-based programs enable Fixed Ops to generate more profits and foster repeat customers.
“That Mach-E is a shiny new modern vehicle in all its glory, but for us it is a teaching instrument,” says Washtenaw Community College’s Brandon Tucker.
