Every sport has weekly Power Rankings so fans know who is currently the best in the league. They are also a great way for people to know who is improving and who isn’t. DrivingSales is bringing you Power Rankings in the form of quarterly updates. See what the most essential tools for your dealership are and stay ahead of the competition.

How It’s Calculated - 

Each product category is ranked in real-time. As new ratings come in they are ranked based upon the number of reviews, star ranking, percent recommended, as well as the sample size, to create a statistically accurate result. The rankings use an equation that takes into account the frequency, volume, timeliness, and star rating of every review. For example, if a product has great reviews, but hasn’t had a review in the last couple of weeks it will impact its ranking. This incentivizes vendors to get reviews from their customers. After all, people will willingly leave bad reviews but need to be pushed to leave good ones.

We have a team that verifies each review, so if a vendor is reviewing their own product it will be removed. We personally call every review, after doing research to ensure that they are indeed a real person at a real dealership. 

Without further adieu, here are the Power Rankings for the Vendor Ratings Categories for Q4 - 2019

2019 Q4 Power Rankings

Fixed Ops Tools

The tools utilized by the Fixed Ops department are essential to creating a positive experience for the customer as well as for the staff.

Revolution Parts sits in the number one spot currently. One parts manager said that Revolution Parts is "easy to use and build estimates for a customer. Reliable and profitable."

Online Scheduling

Online scheduling tools allow customers to conveniently schedule an appointment without having to talk to anyone in the store. That is exactly what today's customer wants. 

Elead Service Scheduler by Elead "saves time, money, and manpower" said one review by a salesperson.

Experian Automotive’s most recent market trends data for VIO, or Vehicles in Operation, tells the story of the total number of vehicles currently on the road by model year, segment, age, and market share.

The VIO “sweet spot,” comprised of vehicles typically 6-12 model years old that have aged out of general OEM manufacturer warranties, is growing, with 30.7% of vehicles falling in this category. 

Why is this sweet spot so important?  Over 4 million cars were added to the road in the last 12 months. Which gives the U.S. just over 270 million vehicles currently on the road. Typically models that are 5 years old and newer are still covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. So any vehicle that is a 2014 model or older will be more likely to have service paid for by the vehicle’s owner. A ‘sweet spot’ in those vehicle years is between 2008-2014. These vehicles, between 6 and 12 years old, are no longer eligible for manufacturer warranties but still have significant value.  Vehicles that are 6 years old or older make up the majority of vehicles on the road. 

Vehicles that are 12 years old or older have services that often outweigh the value of the vehicle, limiting their likelihood of getting services at all.

Your service department is in a great position to acquire new customers who fall under this sweet spot, a segment that independent service shops are already capitalizing on.

Bottom line? Your service and parts departments need to be ready for this growing opportunity.

Capitalizing on the sweet spot will improve your service department’s ROI. Being proactive and developing campaigns that address this sweet spot will benefit your service department because almost one-third of the vehicles on the road fall into that category. Understand your market so you can make more profitable decisions and acquire more long term customers.

Every Wednesday I’ll be posting a recap of our forum discussions! This week three forum posts with some good back and forth caught my eye.

First, Drew Bettiol Digital coordinator for Sterling Auto Group posed a question about Google Analytics. Recently certified Drew wanted use his new skills to make money for the dealership but wasn’t sure how.

The community chimed in, giving him ideas. One idea was to continue getting certifications, another was to download the Google My Business app. How do you take advantage of google analytics? Chime in by following this link.

Aaron Evans, Digital Marketing Coordinator at DrivingSales started a conversation about dealership marketing Keywords and their effectiveness (or lack thereof).

Many great insights were written including different short term and long term strategies to narrow down your dealerships most successful keywords.

Not quite sure how to find those keywords?? Follow this link and join the conversation.

Amanda Gordon started a deceivingly insightful discussion about what digital vendors are working and not working. The conversation started out with talks about cars.com and Facebook merging, and transformed into a conversation around how to best do email targeted ads with specific strategies.

How are your email campaigns going?? Get some tips and insight by clicking this link.

Discussions can be started by anyone for any reason.

The only three rules are that it has to be related to the automotive industry, vendors can’t call out other vendors with ill intent, and vendors… remember… no pitching!

This a guest blog written by Dave Druzynski, Chief People Officer, Auto/Mate.

He is a breakout speaker at the 2018 DrivingSales Executive Summit under our Fixed Ops category.

The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been for 10 years, which is great unless you’re trying to hire skilled and experienced employees—especially technicians. To overcome shortages, service directors often resort to poaching from the competition, which ultimately drives up local wages and shrinks your profit margins.

The reality is, technicians are like any other employees. One more buck per hour isn’t what motivates them in their job search. What they want is what every other person wants: autonomy, mastery, purpose and recognition. They want to work at a dealership where they know management cares about them and has their back. They want to learn how to be the best at what they do without being micromanaged. They want to feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves. They want more than a job; they want a fulfilling career and the knowledge that their career goals will be supported.   

At the upcoming DrivingSales Executive Summit, I’ll be teaming up with my cousin Tom Druzynski, Director of Service Operations at New York’s largest dealer group, West Herr, to present “How to Win the Fixed Ops Talent War.”

In 2017, Tom successfully hired more than 100 technicians without poaching. He’ll share the strategies and programs he uses, including partnering with schools, internships and a five-level mentoring program that’s been key in helping to fill the technician void.

I’ll also give tips for recruiting in the digital age where help wanted ads no longer attract talent, and employment brand marketing is king.

In our presentation, we’ll discuss the importance of building a culture where employees love coming to work every day. Additionally, we’ll share best practices and tips for creating professional development programs designed to retain employees and grow their careers.

To win a war, you need to be armed with knowledge. We promise this session will be jam-packed with information and actionable strategies that have proven to work in the real world.

See you in Las Vegas!

Every Friday I will be doing a weekly recap of the best blogs … get ready for 90 seconds of information!

Subi Ghosh, Senior Director of Dealer Strategy at Stream Companies and Founding Board Member of Women In Automotive wrote a blog about culture. She described internal and external culture, and outlined the five pillars of culture:

1. Strategic Hiring and Placement

2. Internal Processes

3. Websites

4. Social Culture

5. Retention Marketing

Read the full Blog here!

Jason Volny, DrivingSales National Training Manager gave us a DrivingSales Success Tip about the correct timing a service walk. Hint: he says to do it before you ask the customer to buy the car.

“What I’m trying to tell you in this tip of the week is that a lot of dealerships out there (including the one I came from), used to do the service walk after the customer made a decision to buy the vehicle. I’m here to tell you, THAT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.”

Watch the entire DrivingSales Success Tip here!

MAX Digital hosted a great webinar describing the car buying experience your customers actually want.

In short they say the traditional 12-step road to success is out… and dealers should put their focus on the customers path to purchase.

"Using the Customers Path to Purchase is how you create the experience customers want. AND the sales and profit that you want in your dealership."

Watch the full story here!

Are you ready to start selling flying cars?? Germany has agreed to allow flying car testing on their roads!

Audi and Airbus signed a letter of intent with the german government. They will start “Air Taxi” testing in the town of Ingolstadt.

You know those tariffs President trump wants to impose on foreign made cars? Manufacturers are against them, and most new car dealerships are worried that the tariffs will increase the prices of their cars. That will decreasing the amount of cars sold. BUT, VP of Marketing for Automobile Technologies, ted gaines, believes the tariffs will be great for the Used car industry.

Read the full blog here!

What was your favorite blog this week? Let me know in the comments!

A new program is helping our Nation’s Veteran’s get jobs… AND it’s helping the automotive service labor shortage at the same time.

BMW of North America and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton are supporting a new initiative using the work ethic of U.S. Marines to “produce specialized automotive technicians who will help relieve the labor shortage.”

The automotive Industry is growing in every direction with no signs of stopping - but the country is being forced to slow its progress. Why? Though economic conditions are good, there’s a lack of skilled workers (e.g. machinists, welders, auto/diesel technicians).

One potential reason for the shortage is the societal emphasis on four-year college degrees as the only way to guarantee a steady career, and the devaluation of a technical education. Still, industries are scrambling to hire technical skilled laborers.

Also involved with this initiative is the Universal Technical Institute. UTI is aware of the labor shortage and is trying to counteract it by supplying the transportation and construction industries with highly trained technicians.

Combined with the BMW Military Service Technician Education Program (MSTEP), a 16-week program providing exclusive training to active-duty personnel at Camp Pendleton, these Marines are helping the auto industry.

The course includes how to diagnose and service premium vehicles, and provides personnel with hours of hands-on training working under a BMW’s hood. BMW’s require specialized technicians with in-depth knowledge, as they are some of the most advanced vehicles on the road.

MSTEP teaches students the latest in engine tech and mechanics, as well as manufacturer-approved processes for disassembly and reassembly of high-performance engines and other fundamentals to keep the vehicles running smoothly.

The engine is just one component taught; MSTEP also teaches its students how to access and interpret BMW computer codes, and how to diagnose and repair electrical problems.

During the program, BMW will actively help students get job interviews at its dealerships. Program graduates are recognized as Member Level BMW technicians and earn factory credentials. Jobs are not guaranteed, but the accolades make them suitable candidates to work at any BMW service center or dealership.

With “the transportation industry’s strong demand for highly skilled and trained talent, there has never been a better time to be an automotive technician,” UTI President and CEO Kim McWaters said at a celebration honoring the three-way partnership.

MSTEP provides military personnel with a chance to learn a marketable skill they can use to build their civilian careers after they’ve served their tours of duty, qualifying them to work for a premium car brand and making them invaluable resources for BMW service centers and dealerships.

Brigadier General Kevin J. Killea, commanding general for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, said he recognized the value in MSTEP helping “transitioning service members prepare for a successful career outside of the military ... and find employment as BMW technicians.”

BMW of North America, trying to find creative ways to solve the current labor shortage, is hoping MSTEP will help supply its dealerships and service centers with specialized technicians with military work ethic and strength.

“The skill set these men and women will bring to our dealerships is invaluable,” said Bernard Kuhnt, president and CEO of BMW of North America. “Aside from their unwavering team spirit and discipline, many are already highly specialized in some of the most sophisticated technologies, giving them all the right foundations for a successful automotive career.”

Do you think this will help the labor shortage? Would you hire soldiers from a program like this?