Heading into the new year, many people brainstorm resolutions to improve their lifestyles, so why not do the same for your dealer operations? Use this fresh start to reinforce your priorities and establish goals to drive success. Here are five business resolutions to ring in the new year — plus, read some resolutions from members of the Motility team!
To start the year on the right note, commit to learning everything you can about your current customer demographics and the behaviors of future buyers. Keep in mind there are significant generational differences in consumer preferences, and the goal is to meet your customers where they are. By learning as much as possible about the people browsing your online platforms and stopping into your dealership, you can provide better, personalized customer service and increase your shot at a successful sale.
Dedicate this year to boosting employee confidence and strengthening morale. Adopt methods to improve retention at your dealership and create an environment that fosters dedicated, skilled, trained, and enthusiastic team members. Support your staff with ample training to help them complete their responsibilities effectively.
Make this the year you enhance your digital presence. Online buying has become extremely prominent, with 76% of U.S. adults making purchases via mobile devices. This number will continue growing as younger generations become a larger segment of the consumer market. To attract online buyers and improve their shopping experience, create a strong social media presence with these tips:
As the frequency of cyberattacks increases, your employees must remain vigilant in detecting early signs of a threat. Ensure you and your staff know about common cyberattack methods, such as phishing and ransomware attacks, and ways to protect your customers and dealership.
Overcomplicated processes are inefficient and frustrating for employees. You can simplify your operations by leveraging dealer management technology that connects every department and minimizes the amount of tedious and manual tasks required to operate successfully. By streamlining more of your practices, you’ll improve employee productivity and customer satisfaction at your dealership.
“In sales, you can be tempted to talk about your product before you have completed a thorough discovery with the customer. I sometimes fall into that trap, so I am actively working to be a better listener, take more notes, and ask more questions to further understand customer pain points.”
“Anyone who has been around me for more than 37 seconds has probably picked up on how excited I can get, especially about our software. This can lead to me speaking too quickly during discovery calls and demos. I want to work on pacing my presentations and taking more pauses for customers to ask questions and get clarification on anything I’ve said.”
“This year, I want to focus on taking a step back to let others take the lead in bringing ideas to life. I tend to stay involved at every step, but trusting others to own projects helps them grow and ensures fresh perspectives and stronger outcomes. I hope to sharpen my focus while keeping our shared vision on track.”
“I have a habit of holding onto things longer than I need to — whether for sentimental reasons or the classic ’What if I’ll need it later?’ (Looking at you, giant pile of boxes in the garage.) This year, I’m committed to building a decluttering routine to keep my physical and digital spaces clean and organized, saving myself time and avoiding unnecessary hassle.”
“I strongly believe reading is the most effective way to learn and keep your mind sharp. Although we ‘read’ emails and other correspondence throughout the workday, I want to find additional time and dedicate intentional focus to reading, digesting, and learning from longer, more informative pieces of work. In addition, I’d like to carry this into my personal life and read at least one book of my choosing per month. Happy reading!”
Establishing new goals and creating New Year’s resolutions for your business is a great way to narrow your focus on realistic growth opportunities that can deliver transformational results for your operational efficiency and bottom line.