NATDA Magazine Jul/Aug 2020 | Page 11

3 FAST Ways to Generate More Service Revenue With many dealerships now forced to shut their doors due to state-mandated business closures, businesses are focusing on other sources of revenue to keep their customer base happy. For many, that means re-energizing their service departments. Known for his own high-powered service center, NATDA reached out to Mark Podeyn to provide three actionable tips to help your service center at this time. Offer a discount on one or two menu items to get customers motivated. Whether you’re looking at maintenance services, bearing services or DOT safety inspections, you can create a service menu, bundle services or offer package pricing. Right now, everyone is being trained to go to restaurant websites to view the menu before placing an order. Take advantage of that trend! Update your website to focus on service and add the menu items from Tip #1 to it. Additionally, market your service department through social media and email campaigns. Teach service advisers how to sell and up-sell. Be sure to act on good write up procedures, which include a unit walk-around as the customer’s unit is having work done. Bring your technicians into the fold by showing them how to look for up-sell labor opportunities while they’re working on units. All in all, the current COVID-19 pandemic is forcing dealerships to think differently about their products. Instituting these three tips from Mark Podeyn will help your customer base realize that your service department is yet another vital offering of your business. For other useful and helpful tips from Mark Podeyn, please visit www.markpodeyn.com. ADDITIONAL TIP - Consider adding a note on your business’ temporary changes to your website or pin it to the top of your Facebook page. Let customers know right away how you’re altering procedures to keep them, and your own staff, safe. For inspiration, you can see what Action RV, Mark Podeyn’s dealership, did by visiting www.actionrv.com/covid19andyou. www.natda.org NATDA Magazine 11