The days of making decisions off the hip, or because “that sounds like it might work, let’s give it a try!” are gone. Due to the current state of the Auto Industry, coupled with the amount of cash burn that most dealerships are experiencing makes those kinds of gut-based shots very risky financially. We MUST rely on data, not guesswork.
We have the information to make powerful data-driven decisions, target campaigns to segmented audiences, and create content based on what we know consumers love and demand! We have taught the consumer that it is entirely possible to purchase, finance, and take delivery of a vehicle without ever setting foot in a dealership. Customers have been asking for this for years, but most dealerships have been reluctant to relinquish that element of control, making excuses to the consumers on why it must be done the “way it always has been”.
In the scramble to sell cars in the shadow of COVID 19 dealers have inadvertently removed that argument …..the Emperor has no clothes! The real problem now in front of us, is how do we structure our customer facing processes to not only supply the experience they want, but maintain the profitability that we must have. The dealerships that are nimble enough to make these adjustments, and make them effectively, have a tremendous advantage over all other stores. Moreover, the ones that are loathe to change, and want to go back to business as usual are at great risk of losing their existing customer data base to their more agile competitors.
Superficial process changes will not achieve our goals, we must begin with fundamental modifications of the way we do business. We can start by assessing our management teams as individuals, will they hinder or embrace the “new normal”? Then we proceed with a chain of accountability that is strictly adhered to. Change is hard, but must be done!
Trained Ninjas LLC has the decades of experience to help appraise the current state of your store and help make incremental changes that will help your team make those Data-Driven decisions that are fatal to “business as usual”
Mike Ashley – Founder & General Manager
Change or die? I’ll choose life! How about you? – Alan Deutschman