Will 2024 be a return to normal?
Is there even a new normal in the dealership world or is the business just in constant evolution? Often when I speak with folks from auto retail, I often get the question “when do you think things will be back …
Category: Columns
Consider the 4 rules of business — and prioritize
Focus on mastering basic rules of business to improve your bottom line. The following four rules of business can act as a template for charting and planning overall performance improvement for your variable and fixed operation. As a dealer principal …
The future is coming
New tools and techniques like omnichannel marketing, leveraging AI, data and CRM are gamechangers. Can dealers adapt? Technology is quickly changing the automotive industry. The way cars are marketed, sold, tracked and analyzed today is very different than they were …
Data insights on financing and leasing: what to expect?
Exploring some of the key findings from CADA’s first-ever Data Report. A few months ago, CADA published its first annual Data Report for the year of 2022. The goal of this report was to gather — in one place — some of …
Can our electric grid handle anticipated growth in EV adoption?
Some jurisdictions are preparing to power EVs and others are lagging. The adoption of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs), especially in BC, is seen as an increasingly important factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating a cleaner environment for future …
Gauging your customer’s true car-buying power
A credit-first approach takes the guesswork out of which vehicles your customers can really afford. In our current world of evolving dynamics one word is starting to define the path forward for the automotive industry: that word is “affordability.” For a …
The Chinese OEMs are coming
Observations on global changes that will impact Canada: Part 1 of 2 The IAA Mobility conference held in Germany recently was deemed a success with more than 500,000 visitors coming to see new vehicles, brands, innovations and trends. Having moved …
Optimizing the customer experience in the sales process
What’s it like being a customer at your dealership? Typically, the first experience a new customer has with your dealership is with the sales department. This experience sets the tone for the relationship throughout their ownership of the vehicle and …
Addressing auto theft is a team sport
A unified approach, that includes governments, is required to curb auto theft epidemic. Almost every day on the news, in social media or elsewhere you will hear stories of Canada’s “epidemic” auto theft problem. The question on the minds of …
The hidden costs of unapplied time in service bays
Keep your service teams busy. It’s good for them and good for your bottom line. The top three greatest mysteries of human history; the Lost City of Atlantis, Stonehenge and of course Unapplied Time. That nasty number on the financial …
2024 is right around the corner
Now is the time to make your plans for next year, especially with so much uncertainty. In many ways I find that the beginning of fall is the perfect time to start planning for next year. By the time …
DSMA partners with Vicinity on electric delivery trucks
Dealer Solutions Mergers and Acquisitions (DSMA) is buoyant about its partnership with Canadian-based Vicinity Motor Corporation (VMC) to retail its medium-size electric truck to dealers in North America. DSMA President/Founder Farid Ahmad told Canadian auto dealer the arrangement began in …
