We all know that feeling when you walk into an auto dealership that's on top of its game. The interior is gleaming. The exterior is impeccable. The service department is clean and humming. The sales staff is professional, organized, and hitting their goals. Even the coffeemaker is state of the art!

But I know a secret. In many dealerships, in the back rooms and behind the walls, lurks a red-headed stepchild. An afterthought. Often overlooked, it only gets attention when it causes a problem.

That red-headed stepchild is your information technology (IT) strategy. Let's face it. You're probably not devoting as much time to it as your Daily DOC, checking the numbers daily, weekly and monthly to ensure you're on track. You're probably not showing it off like those fancy software programs you invested in to help you achieve your sales and service goals.

I understand the red-headed stepchild can be complicated. You know how important it is, but you're just not sure what to do with it! Still, that doesn't mean it's okay to ignore it.

Signs that you are ignoring your IT strategy include:

• When employees complain about their slow computers, you send your IT guy to Best Buy to purchase ten new computers, and hope that solves the problem.
• When customers complain about the Wi-Fi connectivity in your lounge, you send your IT guy to Best Buy to purchase a new router (dealerships require enterprise-grade routers, not residential routers)
• Your phone system or network occasionally goes down, or your Internet provider has an occasional outage. Doesn't everyone's?
• You believe that your current firewall and security software will protect you from hackers, so there's no need to have a corporate security policy.

The good news is creating an IT strategy isn't terribly difficult. You just have to know the right questions to ask, such as:

• What is the lifecycle of our current IT equipment? For example, a network switch lasts eight years, PCs and servers typically last five years and routers last seven years. However, equipment may need to be replaced sooner if there are business reasons to do so.

• How much does it cost to maintain and replace the equipment? Every time you purchase new equipment, allocate a budget for its future maintenance and replacement. Budgeting in advance can help guard against big, unexpected expenses.

• What are the business reasons to replace IT equipment? As dealerships rely more on cloud-hosted software services, and as new technology in vehicles and mobile tablets require more bandwidth in the service department, your IT infrastructure needs to be upgraded to handle the huge increases in data. Every time you consider a new software or technology, ask the vendor what the bandwidth and other IT requirements are. Factor the cost of IT upgrades into the cost of the new technology.

• Which pieces of equipment are under warranty and when do those warranties expire? In case something happens to the equipment, is it more cost-effective to purchase an extended warranty or to replace the equipment?

• What are the current and future projected costs of licensing for all your software programs? Are there ways to reduce these costs, such as re-negotiating with vendors? Are you still paying licensing fees for users that have left your company?

• What new technologies coming down the pipeline should you be aware of? Advances in wireless devices, collaboration tools, teleconferencing and other technologies could soon make email and other existing technologies a thing of the past. Are you planning to experiment with any of these new tools in the near future? Most are designed to speed up decision-making and increase customer satisfaction, two important priorities for many dealers.

• What is the best way to secure my dealership's data, including sensitive customer information such as credit card and social security numbers? Believe it or not, the biggest threat to your customer data is probably your employees. Scammers try to trick your employees into downloading malware, viruses or to click on websites that can steal your information. Unfortunately these schemes have resulted in many instances of employees inadvertently granting hackers access to networks, bypassing the very firewalls and security software meant to keep them out. When this happens, consequences are expensive.

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you craft a strategy to ensure your IT infrastructure can always support your business goals and keep your data safe. Creating a spreadsheet that includes a list of IT inventory, lifecycle and replacement costs will help you budget and save money in the long run.

Pretending your IT strategy doesn't exist won't make it go away, so stop ignoring that red-headed stepchild! A proactive approach is far more cost-efficient than a reactive approach.

We all know that feeling when you walk into an auto dealership that's on top of its game. The interior is gleaming. The exterior is impeccable. The service department is clean and humming. The sales staff is professional, organized, and hitting their goals. Even the coffeemaker is state of the art!

But I know a secret. In many dealerships, in the back rooms and behind the walls, lurks a red-headed stepchild. An afterthought. Often overlooked, it only gets attention when it causes a problem.

That red-headed stepchild is your information technology (IT) strategy. Let's face it. You're probably not devoting as much time to it as your Daily DOC, checking the numbers daily, weekly and monthly to ensure you're on track. You're probably not showing it off like those fancy software programs you invested in to help you achieve your sales and service goals.

I understand the red-headed stepchild can be complicated. You know how important it is, but you're just not sure what to do with it! Still, that doesn't mean it's okay to ignore it.

Signs that you are ignoring your IT strategy include:

• When employees complain about their slow computers, you send your IT guy to Best Buy to purchase ten new computers, and hope that solves the problem.
• When customers complain about the Wi-Fi connectivity in your lounge, you send your IT guy to Best Buy to purchase a new router (dealerships require enterprise-grade routers, not residential routers)
• Your phone system or network occasionally goes down, or your Internet provider has an occasional outage. Doesn't everyone's?
• You believe that your current firewall and security software will protect you from hackers, so there's no need to have a corporate security policy.

The good news is creating an IT strategy isn't terribly difficult. You just have to know the right questions to ask, such as:

• What is the lifecycle of our current IT equipment? For example, a network switch lasts eight years, PCs and servers typically last five years and routers last seven years. However, equipment may need to be replaced sooner if there are business reasons to do so.

• How much does it cost to maintain and replace the equipment? Every time you purchase new equipment, allocate a budget for its future maintenance and replacement. Budgeting in advance can help guard against big, unexpected expenses.

• What are the business reasons to replace IT equipment? As dealerships rely more on cloud-hosted software services, and as new technology in vehicles and mobile tablets require more bandwidth in the service department, your IT infrastructure needs to be upgraded to handle the huge increases in data. Every time you consider a new software or technology, ask the vendor what the bandwidth and other IT requirements are. Factor the cost of IT upgrades into the cost of the new technology.

• Which pieces of equipment are under warranty and when do those warranties expire? In case something happens to the equipment, is it more cost-effective to purchase an extended warranty or to replace the equipment?

• What are the current and future projected costs of licensing for all your software programs? Are there ways to reduce these costs, such as re-negotiating with vendors? Are you still paying licensing fees for users that have left your company?

• What new technologies coming down the pipeline should you be aware of? Advances in wireless devices, collaboration tools, teleconferencing and other technologies could soon make email and other existing technologies a thing of the past. Are you planning to experiment with any of these new tools in the near future? Most are designed to speed up decision-making and increase customer satisfaction, two important priorities for many dealers.

• What is the best way to secure my dealership's data, including sensitive customer information such as credit card and social security numbers? Believe it or not, the biggest threat to your customer data is probably your employees. Scammers try to trick your employees into downloading malware, viruses or to click on websites that can steal your information. Unfortunately these schemes have resulted in many instances of employees inadvertently granting hackers access to networks, bypassing the very firewalls and security software meant to keep them out. When this happens, consequences are expensive.

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you craft a strategy to ensure your IT infrastructure can always support your business goals and keep your data safe. Creating a spreadsheet that includes a list of IT inventory, lifecycle and replacement costs will help you budget and save money in the long run.

Pretending your IT strategy doesn't exist won't make it go away, so stop ignoring that red-headed stepchild! A proactive approach is far more cost-efficient than a reactive approach.

Seven years ago I became involved with an organization called The Family Tree, a statewide organization based in Baltimore. The Family Tree is a non-profit with a mission to prevent child abuse, educate parents on how to raise children and provide a variety of other services for families in need. The Family Tree has a staff of approximately 40 employees and an operations budget of around $3 million. The charity helps over 15,000 children every year.

Helion currently provides information technology (IT) services and equipment to The Family Tree. In the past seven years we have helped them with strategic planning, donated new workstations and other equipment, and provided Help Desk and other IT services.

Because The Family Tree is a charity, Helion helps out when it can with its events. The Family Tree is a major beneficiary of the Best of Baltimore, a yearly competition and event hosted by Baltimore Magazine. This year I led the event and was able to promote ticket sales through Helion’s social media. This year 2,000 people attended and we are pleased that we played a major role in the event promotion. Our employees volunteer to help out at The Family Tree’s community event and walk by creating walk teams and helping with execution of the day’s logistics. 

I bring this to your attention because it's a cause I care about and a great organization. Also because during the holidays, it's important to give back and remember those less fortunate. The Family Tree's Executive Director, Pat Cronin, shares this poignant advice about the holidays:

"This time of year it's important to manage expectations. For many this is a happy time of year, but for many others it's a very stressful time of year," says Cronin. "Some families cannot afford to buy gifts for their children. Some people are dealing with loss or remember childhoods that were not happy. Remember it's okay if your family is different. The definition of family can be expanded, to friends and people who care about you. The important thing is to nurture positive relationships."

This time of year can be very hectic. The Family Tree reminds families to slow down and savor the moments that matter. Read a book to your child, or watch a holiday show or movie with them. Visit your aging relatives. Time with loved ones is more precious than efforts spent to find that perfect gift. If you're interested in learning more about The Family Tree, visit http://www.familytreemd.org

How does your dealership give back during the holidays?

Seven years ago I became involved with an organization called The Family Tree, a statewide organization based in Baltimore. The Family Tree is a non-profit with a mission to prevent child abuse, educate parents on how to raise children and provide a variety of other services for families in need. The Family Tree has a staff of approximately 40 employees and an operations budget of around $3 million. The charity helps over 15,000 children every year.

Helion currently provides information technology (IT) services and equipment to The Family Tree. In the past seven years we have helped them with strategic planning, donated new workstations and other equipment, and provided Help Desk and other IT services.

Because The Family Tree is a charity, Helion helps out when it can with its events. The Family Tree is a major beneficiary of the Best of Baltimore, a yearly competition and event hosted by Baltimore Magazine. This year I led the event and was able to promote ticket sales through Helion’s social media. This year 2,000 people attended and we are pleased that we played a major role in the event promotion. Our employees volunteer to help out at The Family Tree’s community event and walk by creating walk teams and helping with execution of the day’s logistics. 

I bring this to your attention because it's a cause I care about and a great organization. Also because during the holidays, it's important to give back and remember those less fortunate. The Family Tree's Executive Director, Pat Cronin, shares this poignant advice about the holidays:

"This time of year it's important to manage expectations. For many this is a happy time of year, but for many others it's a very stressful time of year," says Cronin. "Some families cannot afford to buy gifts for their children. Some people are dealing with loss or remember childhoods that were not happy. Remember it's okay if your family is different. The definition of family can be expanded, to friends and people who care about you. The important thing is to nurture positive relationships."

This time of year can be very hectic. The Family Tree reminds families to slow down and savor the moments that matter. Read a book to your child, or watch a holiday show or movie with them. Visit your aging relatives. Time with loved ones is more precious than efforts spent to find that perfect gift. If you're interested in learning more about The Family Tree, visit http://www.familytreemd.org

How does your dealership give back during the holidays?

Mobile tablets are great for streamlining processes and increasing productivity; that is, until the battery dies just before the afternoon rush begins. Every brand is different, but mobile tablet batteries can last anywhere from five to twelve hours. Heavy usage and wi-fi connectivity can significantly reduce that time. Without proper maintenance, a battery with a twelve-hour life span will quickly be whittled down to eleven, then ten, then nine...

To keep your mobile tablets ready for action--and your employees productive--follow these tips for battery care: 

1) Buy extra batteries with a portable charger. Mobile tablets require a significant up-front investment, but don't be tempted to skimp when it comes to investing in an extra battery. When things get hectic, there may not be time to re-charge tablets or employees may forget to plug them in. Having a spare battery in its own portable charger makes it easy and fast to swap out batteries and stay productive.

If you do have extra batteries, it's a good idea to swap out batteries every other week, even if your current battery lasts all day. Batteries should not be stored in their fully-charged state for weeks or months at a time. Inactivity reduces battery life, so be sure to give those extra batteries an occasional work out.

2) Reduce screen brightness. Bright screens drain batteries quickly. If you're working outside on a bright day, you'll need to keep the screen brightness high; but while inside, reduce the brightness to preserve battery power.

3) Turn off wi-fi connectivity. This may not be possible on busy days because tablets need to be connected to stay productive. But if you're taking a break or going offline for a while, disconnecting from wi-fi will help keep battery power strong.

4) Turn off location tracking apps. In general, it's probably best to discourage employees from downloading non-work related apps onto your mobile tablets. If left open, these apps run in the background and drain battery life. Many apps are installed with a default state of "always" tracking your location, which also eats up battery life. To prevent this from happening, close apps you're not using and change the settings of your location-based services from "always" to "while using" or "never."

5) Don't turn it off. Your tablet uses more juice while powering up than it does while it's napping. If you're not using your mobile tablet, put it in sleep mode.

6) Check settings. Other settings that can drain battery power include Bluetooth and email. Bluetooth is always looking for a device to connect with, so turn it off if you're not using it. If your tablet has an email client on it, change the "fetch data" settings to once every fifteen minutes or as long as you can reasonably go without checking for and retrieving new emails.

7) Don't fully discharge batteries. Older, nickel-based batteries had to be completely discharged from 100% to 0% in order to keep their capacity. Modern devices use Lithium Ion batteries, so this rule no longer applies. In fact, allowing Lithium Ion batteries to drain to 0% on a regular basis is bad for the battery. If possible, don't allow the battery to fall much lower than 20% of capacity before re-charging. If you have a habit of only allowing the battery to get down to 50% or 70% before re-charging, that's actually a good thing--Li-ion batteries last longer if you do more frequent, shallow charges.

8) Get a battery-saving app. If you'd rather not be bothered with having to worry about preserving battery-life; there's an app for that! These apps monitor your battery usage, alert you if something is draining your battery and give you tips on how to help extend your battery life. Here are a few apps to consider, but you may want to do your own research:

• Android: JuiceDefender, 2 Battery, GreenPower Premium. Android Booster
• iPhone/iOS: Battery Doctor, Battery Life Pro, Battery, Battery Manager

9) Consider wireless charging pads. A wireless charging pad is a nifty accessory that transmits a charge via a transmitter coil to a receiver coil in the mobile tablet. These would be handy to have out in the service drive, because all you have to do is set the device down on the pad and it automatically begins charging. However, ONLY consider this option if your wireless network has the capacity to handle large amounts of data, which typically requires enterprise-level Internet service, enterprise-grade routers, modern switches and an adequate amount of wireless access points.

10) Don't leave your mobile tablets in the heat--or cold. Electronic devices and especially their batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. If you leave your tablet out in the sun or in a hot car, the battery will wear down much faster. Likewise, leaving batteries in the freezing cold is also bad for battery life (and don't store batteries in the freezer!)  As much as possible, try to keep your tablets at or near room temperature.

With proper care, your mobile tablet batteries should last up to two years. Over time, it's normal for batteries to degrade 20% to 30% from their original state. But that degradation happens much faster with careless handling, so follow these tips to help protect your mobile tablet investment. What battery-saving tips do you have?

Mobile tablets are great for streamlining processes and increasing productivity; that is, until the battery dies just before the afternoon rush begins. Every brand is different, but mobile tablet batteries can last anywhere from five to twelve hours. Heavy usage and wi-fi connectivity can significantly reduce that time. Without proper maintenance, a battery with a twelve-hour life span will quickly be whittled down to eleven, then ten, then nine...

To keep your mobile tablets ready for action--and your employees productive--follow these tips for battery care: 

1) Buy extra batteries with a portable charger. Mobile tablets require a significant up-front investment, but don't be tempted to skimp when it comes to investing in an extra battery. When things get hectic, there may not be time to re-charge tablets or employees may forget to plug them in. Having a spare battery in its own portable charger makes it easy and fast to swap out batteries and stay productive.

If you do have extra batteries, it's a good idea to swap out batteries every other week, even if your current battery lasts all day. Batteries should not be stored in their fully-charged state for weeks or months at a time. Inactivity reduces battery life, so be sure to give those extra batteries an occasional work out.

2) Reduce screen brightness. Bright screens drain batteries quickly. If you're working outside on a bright day, you'll need to keep the screen brightness high; but while inside, reduce the brightness to preserve battery power.

3) Turn off wi-fi connectivity. This may not be possible on busy days because tablets need to be connected to stay productive. But if you're taking a break or going offline for a while, disconnecting from wi-fi will help keep battery power strong.

4) Turn off location tracking apps. In general, it's probably best to discourage employees from downloading non-work related apps onto your mobile tablets. If left open, these apps run in the background and drain battery life. Many apps are installed with a default state of "always" tracking your location, which also eats up battery life. To prevent this from happening, close apps you're not using and change the settings of your location-based services from "always" to "while using" or "never."

5) Don't turn it off. Your tablet uses more juice while powering up than it does while it's napping. If you're not using your mobile tablet, put it in sleep mode.

6) Check settings. Other settings that can drain battery power include Bluetooth and email. Bluetooth is always looking for a device to connect with, so turn it off if you're not using it. If your tablet has an email client on it, change the "fetch data" settings to once every fifteen minutes or as long as you can reasonably go without checking for and retrieving new emails.

7) Don't fully discharge batteries. Older, nickel-based batteries had to be completely discharged from 100% to 0% in order to keep their capacity. Modern devices use Lithium Ion batteries, so this rule no longer applies. In fact, allowing Lithium Ion batteries to drain to 0% on a regular basis is bad for the battery. If possible, don't allow the battery to fall much lower than 20% of capacity before re-charging. If you have a habit of only allowing the battery to get down to 50% or 70% before re-charging, that's actually a good thing--Li-ion batteries last longer if you do more frequent, shallow charges.

8) Get a battery-saving app. If you'd rather not be bothered with having to worry about preserving battery-life; there's an app for that! These apps monitor your battery usage, alert you if something is draining your battery and give you tips on how to help extend your battery life. Here are a few apps to consider, but you may want to do your own research:

• Android: JuiceDefender, 2 Battery, GreenPower Premium. Android Booster
• iPhone/iOS: Battery Doctor, Battery Life Pro, Battery, Battery Manager

9) Consider wireless charging pads. A wireless charging pad is a nifty accessory that transmits a charge via a transmitter coil to a receiver coil in the mobile tablet. These would be handy to have out in the service drive, because all you have to do is set the device down on the pad and it automatically begins charging. However, ONLY consider this option if your wireless network has the capacity to handle large amounts of data, which typically requires enterprise-level Internet service, enterprise-grade routers, modern switches and an adequate amount of wireless access points.

10) Don't leave your mobile tablets in the heat--or cold. Electronic devices and especially their batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. If you leave your tablet out in the sun or in a hot car, the battery will wear down much faster. Likewise, leaving batteries in the freezing cold is also bad for battery life (and don't store batteries in the freezer!)  As much as possible, try to keep your tablets at or near room temperature.

With proper care, your mobile tablet batteries should last up to two years. Over time, it's normal for batteries to degrade 20% to 30% from their original state. But that degradation happens much faster with careless handling, so follow these tips to help protect your mobile tablet investment. What battery-saving tips do you have?