As peak recreational season rounds the corner, it’s time to prepare your service bay. In our previous article, we shared seven strategies to increase efficiency throughout your service department. How about five more?
To give employees clear direction, it’s important to establish a priority for each job. Categorize repairs by urgency and complexity to address high-priority tasks first. With defined expectations and responsibilities, your technicians will understand where to focus their efforts to meet deadlines, ultimately improving service turnaround time and customer satisfaction.
When it comes to efficiency, being proactive is your best friend. You can do so in the service bay by gathering unit details and customer concerns before their appointment. Allow customers to submit information online before arriving at your dealership. Not only does this ensure your technicians have ample time to prepare the necessary parts and tools in advance, but it also streamlines the drop-off process and minimizes check-in time. By facilitating adequate pre-arrival preparation, your team can provide faster responses, complete repairs more quickly, and improve your dealership’s repair event cycle time (RECT) score.
Effective parts management directly impacts your dealership’s RECT. To reduce bottlenecks and help service technicians finish jobs faster, conduct periodic inventory counts to verify accuracy and identify which parts need replenishing. A dealer management system (DMS) can help you analyze your parts usage, identify which common parts to keep in stock, and easily maintain accurate data. With up-to-date records, you can confirm the necessary parts are preordered and in stock before the customer’s appointment and avoid the cost of partial, expedited orders.
Building strong relationships with suppliers can benefit your business operations, especially during time-sensitive scenarios. For instance, if you need to accelerate certain part orders for specialized repairs, you can have peace of mind by working with vendors who value your partnership. To maximize your service operations and maintain visibility on incoming parts, choose responsive suppliers who communicate the status of your orders and have integrations with your DMS.
To increase service volume at your dealership, dedicate a specific lane for simple repairs such as oil changes and tire checks. Having a designated express option will help minimize turnaround time and keep progress moving on more labor-intensive jobs. By reserving certain technicians and resources for regular quick-service jobs, your service department can handle more appointments in less time, allowing technicians to continue working on repairs that will take longer to complete.
Optimizing efficiency in the service bay will help you improve your RECT and deliver the best service to your customers. Implement these strategies to prepare your dealership for the spring and summer surge.