Any small shops using Auto Repair Cloud?
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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog4Typically, when productivity suffers, the shop owner or manager directs their attention to the technicians. Are they doing all they can do to maintain high billable hours? Are they as efficient as they can be? Is there time being wasted throughout the technician’s day?
All these reasons factor into production problems, but before we point fingers at the technicians, let’s consider a few other factors.
Are estimates being written properly? Are labor testing and inspections being billed out correctly? Are you charging enough for testing and inspecting, especially for highly specialized electrical, on-board computer issues, and other complex drivability work? Is there a clear workflow process everyone follows that details every step from the write-up to vehicle delivery? Do you track comebacks, and is that affecting production? Is the shop layout not conducive to high production? For example, is it unorganized, where shop tools, technical information, and equipment are not easily accessible to every technician? Are you charging the correct labor rate and allowing for variables such as rust, vehicle age, and the fact that most labor guides are wrong? Also, is there effective communication between the tech and the service advisor to ensure that extra labor time is accounted for and billed to the customer? These are a few of the top reasons for low productivity problems. There are others, but the main point is to look at the entire operation. Productivity is a team effort. Blaming the techs or other staff members does not get to the root cause in most cases.
Maintaining adequate production levels is the responsibility of management to create the processes that will lead to high production while holding everyone accountable.
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By carmcapriotto
With over 20 years in the hospitality industry, author and trainer Steve DiGioia shares some real world tips and tactics to improve your customer service, increase employee morale and provide the experience your customers desire. Steve has a detailed 57 individual steps for dinner service, what are your steps for customer service? Steve Digioia, Author and Trainer Show Notes
How do I make you feel while I am providing this service? What can you do during the service part of the transaction to hook this customer in, hopefully for life? It has to be something more than just a mechanical aspect of it. There has to be something else that separates you from your competition more so than just the physical service you were providing, it's how I make you feel. It's how I make you feel appreciated. It's how I welcome you when you walk into my place of business. Many mechanics, they're focused so much on fixing that they don't realize that the waiting area has to be not only comfortable, and obviously clean, but it should be bright and welcoming. Use customer’s name 3 times. In a perfect world, you shouldn't receive less service because you are paying less. Versus getting extra service taken care of because you happen to be paying more, meaning, a higher-valued car. If you want a consistent product, consistent service, a consistent experience, you have to have something like that because at a bare minimum, it reinforces the steps that the business believes is important to them to be able to service the client Standardized thank you note in every car
Connect with the Podcast: Aftermarket Radio Network Subscribe on YouTube Visit us on the Web Follow on Facebook Become an Insider Buy me a coffee Important Books Check out today's partner: Learn more about NAPA AutoCare and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting www.NAPAAutoCare.com
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By TTP
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By carmcapriotto
Join 3 shop owners as they share some great stories and wisdom about what works and what doesn't when talking about pay. Can you show how to earn the pay they want? How can you bring the team together when there are earning discrepancies?
Chris Lawson, TechnicianFind.Com. Chris' previous episodes HERE Mehrdad Avar, Haven Auto Repair, Rancho Cucamonga, CA Shawn Gilfillan, Automotive Magic, Kenvil and Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Shawn’s previous episodes HERE
Show Notes:
When in doubt about what to list as pay in an ad, look at your top compensated tech and use that as a benchmark. Commitment to training- investment, not a liability, not a cost. It’s always best to put your best foot forward with respect to salary in an ad. “What’s the highest pay level you feel comfortable having a conversation about?” In other words, “If you were sitting across your desk from a tech and they asked for that salary/compensation, do you feel comfortable having a conversation where you show them how they can earn that level of income?” (production and efficiency levels needed + salary, bonuses, profit sharing, etc.) Changing the perception of your technicians not wanting to hire another. Asked, “Did your income get better or worse?” Sharing profit and loss, where and how the shop will continue to grow. Make sure your salaries and job titles match up and are in alignment with market rates.(you can verify this on Indeed Hiring Insights) As the owner- look at yourself from the inside out. Make yourself worthy of the top employees. What is the perception of your business from the outside? Your business is a reflection of yourself. Interviewing technicians- you will spend more time at work than at home. Is 1-hour interview worthy of a ‘marriage?’ Listen closely to the interviewee’s questions. Get your team involved in the process, and consider a trial period. Comebacks- learning experiences with the whole team, quality control employee Zero sum decision making- knowing what you know now, would you make the investment in XYZ, if you wouldn't make that decision again, move on.
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Check out today's partners:
Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management getshopware.com
Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. DelphiAftermarket.com
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By Joe Marconi
Believe it or not, technology may replace some of the jobs that humans traditionally performed.
Do you welcome robots to the workplace? Would this harm or help our industry?
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By carmcapriotto
What does the future look like for the automotive industry? Listen to the perspectives of Jennifer Maher, Executive Director of the TechForce Foundation, Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner at Schwartz Advisors, Matt Fanslow, Lead Diagnostician and Shop Manager at Riverside Automotive, and Dustin Brown, Shop Owner of Brown Auto Experts with 3 locations. We have an open discussion about future trends, aftermarket challenges, and electric vehicles.
Jennifer Maher, Executive Director, TechForce Foundation, Jennifer's previous episodes HERE Derek Kaufman, Managing Partner, Schwartz Advisors, President of C3 Network. Listen to Derek’s previous episodes HERE. Matt Fanslow, lead diagnostician and shop manager, Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN. Matt’s previous episodes HERE Dustin Brown, Brown Auto Experts, 3 Locations in New Mexico, Albuquerque, Village of Los Ranchos and Rio Rancho. Listen to Dustin’s other episodes HERE
Show Notes:
Today's BEV headlines may be "over the top" in terms of the pace of BEV adoption, but the VIO will definitively change over time – we are forecasting the VIO at 7.3% BEV in 2030, 26.5% in 2040 and 51.2% in 2050 We know that people are talking about 60 and even 70% reductions in BEV maintenance versus ICE cars, and that may be true – but the true lifetime service of BEVs has more to do with major part failures than it does maintenance. Motors, power modules and other BEV components will fail and the aftermarket will be ready to service them. BEVs will generate new under-car and cooling system service opportunities – they are heavier and have higher torque, so suspensions, half shafts, and steering gear will see more wear than ICE cars. Cooling systems will be much more sophisticated with multi-directional and intelligent valves, PTC and Heat Pump heaters, multiple radiators, and many more fluid connectors. Multi Shop Owner- consistency of service Technology not only makes things more complex, in many cases, but that complexity is usually in the background. Technology also makes things easier. Not just vehicle technology itself, but tools and equipment technology. The technology is here for a 100% automated tire changing system, but it is cost prohibitive for many/most. It won't remain so, and if it isn't 100% automated, you'll just need someone to take the wheel off and roll it to the machine, the machine will replace the tire, maybe test the TPMS sensor, and then mount the new tire and balance it. The human will be little more than an assistant. Technology may make vehicles, as it has already done, even more reliable, but also change how we service them. The following are already expected by most but will soon be expected by all due to the cost of repairs. Top Notch Facilities, clean and professional appearance inside and out. Top customer service experience. Professionalism from all areas of the business. Tools, equipment, digital inspections, customer education materials Diversity in the workforce- including more women and the younger generation, puzzle solving Variety of vehicles in the next 30 years New jobs- power stations, power grids, safety on repairs Investors- real estate game (pit stop), autonomous trucks in ‘service center.’ Be malleable and willing to adapt
Connect with the Podcast
Aftermarket Radio Network
Subscribe on YouTube
Visit us on the Web
Follow on Facebook
Become an Insider
Buy me a coffee
Important Books
Check out today's partners:
Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management getshopware.com
Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. DelphiAftermarket.com
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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