Why Service Managers Fail and How Dealers Can Fix It Today
A thriving service department can be the backbone of profitability for any dealership, yet many service managers end up struggling. Too often, teams face slipping standards and rising frustration. Common stumbling blocks, such as unclear leadership and accountability that never quite sticks, can slowly drain performance and stall growth. Now this is where targeted service […]
3 Video Inspection Mistakes That Cost Your Dealership Sales
Video inspections have become a standard part of many dealership service departments. Manufacturers encourage them, customers expect more transparency, and technology providers promise they’ll increase repair approvals. Yet many dealerships invest in video inspection software only to discover their sales don’t improve. Why? Because customers aren’t buying technology. They’re buying trust. A video inspection is […]
Why Is Service Technician Recruitment So Challenging Today
Finding skilled service technicians is no longer as simple as posting a job opening and waiting for applications to roll in. Many dealerships are seeing unfilled bays, increased downtime, and overworked teams, all of which eat into profitability and customer satisfaction. Now, the competition for qualified talent is fierce, and old hiring methods just aren’t […]
Service Manager KPIs Every Dealership Should Monitor Monthly
Staying busy in the service department doesn’t always mean the numbers add up. Too often, service managers rely on gut feeling or daily activity, only to find out too late that profits and customer satisfaction are slipping. Such a hard pill to swallow. It’s easy for missed details and revenue leaks to hide behind the […]
How Can Owning a Dealership Change Your Fixed Ops Strategy
Running a service department often means getting caught up in daily numbers. It’s easy to focus on the immediate pressures and miss how fixed operations fit into the broader business. The thing is, having that narrow view can hold back growth, especially when fixed ops is seen only as a support function rather than as […]
How Service Advisors Improve Customer Retention Rates Now
Keeping customers from drifting to the competition is one of the toughest challenges dealerships face. A lot of dealers would agree for sure. Customer retention rates often slip when a visit feels like nothing more than a transaction or when a customer doesn’t get the follow-up they expect. When the experience feels impersonal and communication […]
Why Service Advisor Turnover Is High and How Dealers Fix It
Ask any dealership leader what keeps them up at night, and service advisor turnover is usually near the top of the list. The numbers paint a clear picture—43% turnover, according to the latest NADA Workforce Study, with the cost of constant hiring and training piling up. Beyond the numbers, every lost advisor creates workflow gaps, […]
What Does an Automotive Service Manager Do in Dealerships
When the service department isn’t running smoothly, profits can shrink while customer relationships start to fall apart. Without strong leadership, it’s tough to keep the team engaged, manage daily operations, or ensure customers feel valued. Not to mention maintaining the high standards needed in a competitive dealership. With this in mind, you need someone who […]
Think Like a Dealership Owner in Fixed Ops
Fixed Ops leadership is about more than running a successful service department. The best SERVICE ADVISORS and SERVICE MANAGERS understand how their decisions affect customer retention, profitability, and the success of the entire dealership. Exceptional leaders think beyond their own department. They recognize how service connects with sales, parts, finance, and the overall customer experience. […]
How to Improve Advisor Technician Teamwork in the Service Dept
When service advisors and technicians fall out of sync, misunderstandings pile up, repairs are delayed, and customers walk away frustrated. This lack of alignment doesn’t just slow things down. It chips away at trust and team morale, too. Fortunately, the solution is pretty simple. Cultivate strong advisor technician teamwork. With that, we mean clear communication. […]
Top Service Advisor Questions for Every Customer Visit
Keeping your service drive thriving isn’t just about routine maintenance or catchy promotions. The real challenge is cutting through routine conversations that drift into checklists and checkboxes. Service advisor questions get overlooked, and before anyone knows it, customers start drifting away. Lost opportunities stack up. Customer loyalty drops. Profitability takes a direct hit. See? Every […]
How Can a Service Manager Become a General Manager
A service manager’s career often feels locked into a single department, focused on daily challenges such as efficiency, fill rates, and customer satisfaction. That is why many fixed ops leaders see the leap to general manager as out of reach. It’s either blocked by tradition, lack of access, or just not knowing the next right […]
