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Automotive Dealership Training: How To Build A Top-Performing Team

Written by Joel Lim | Oct 15, 2024 1:00:00 PM

Is your dealership struggling to hit sales targets? Are you losing top talent to competitors? Do you struggle with a dysfunctional company culture?

These are the realities for many car dealerships today. Left unchecked, they lead to poor performance, dissatisfied customers, and lost revenue.

The good news is that effective staff training can turn this around. With proper training, you can:

  • Turn your staff into a tight-knit team
  • See a 10-50% increase in sales 
  • Boost staff loyalty
  • Improve customer satisfaction

So, how do you go about training your team? This article explains how to build a sales dream team that takes your dealership to new heights.

Why You Need Automotive Dealership Training

Sure, your dealership sales team may be working fine. But are they reaching their full potential? A well-trained team is necessary to remain competitive in the current auto market. 

Brian Benstock, VP of Paragon Honda & Acura (the largest Honda dealer in the country), says:

“Training is the lifeblood of any high-performing team. And right now, it's my obsession… The best sales teams understand that the customer experience comes first and never settle for complacency.”

Your sales team is the backbone of your business. They're the face of your dealership and the first point of contact for customers. Without proper training, your team may be contributing to these negative customer perceptions, as highlighted by recent studies.

Let's break down why exactly training is crucial.

Drive Up Sales Performance

A trained sales team will help you close more deals. For example, a Cox Automotive study found that a trained sales team sees 20% more sales in just six months. 

Improve Customer Satisfaction

Training staff improves their satisfaction levels. According to a J.D. Power report, trained staff score 15% higher on customer satisfaction surveys. 

Retain More Employees

A study by Cox Automotive found that the auto industry has a 46% turnover rate. Training can help to lower that rate, with a NADA study finding that dealerships that offer employee training have a lower turnover rate. 

Keep Your Team Up-to-date with Industry Trends

Auto industry trends changed. These include evolving customer preferences, new technologies, and market conditions. 

Employees must get ongoing training to update them on the latest industry trends that could impact sales. 

Foster a Positive Dealership Culture

Employee training helps to build communication skills and teamwork amongst staff. It can create a sense of shared purpose and improve professionalism. 

Essential Training Areas for Your Car Dealership

Successful car dealership teams excel in phone skills, sales techniques, and employee satisfaction. Each training area addresses vital aspects of dealership performance. Let's explore each.

ESi-Q Surveys: Employee Satisfaction Training

Happy employees make happy customers. How can you tell if your team is happy? After all, high turnover remains one of the top challenges facing dealerships today.

That's where services like Quantum5.ai's ESi-Q Surveys come in. Our ESI-Q survey measures your employees' satisfaction with their job. It gives you insight into your employees as it pertains to their roles in the workplace. 

The data you gather from a professionally constructed survey can help you improve your internal practices for better sales. It can also help to reduce employee turnover at your dealership. 

It's like taking your dealership's temperature. It helps you know how to create a more stable, productive environment.

Remember, all three training areas above work together. Phone skills bring customers in. Sales techniques turn them into buyers. Employee satisfaction ensures your team sticks around to serve those customers long-term.

Phone Skills Training

Most customer interactions start with a phone call. Proper training can boost the chances of closing a deal from the first interaction. 

Modern phone skills training—like Quantum5 CallQ program helps staff:

  • Learn how to answer questions
  • Build rapport
  • Rack up sales opportunities
  • Learn how to optimize every call for maximum appeal 

Frictionless Sales Training

Traditional sales processes can create friction for both the sales team and customers. Today's customers want a smooth, hassle-free car-buying experience.

As one automotive industry executive put it: 

"your consumer’s time is more valuable than before - you have to be a professional to excel."

Enter frictionless sales training (also offered by Quantum5.ai).

The days of pushy tactics and scripted conversations are over. Frictionless sales training teaches your team to create value while reducing stress.

The goal is to build relationships—not just close deals. It's about creating a customer journey that is so enjoyable that they'll want to return and recommend your dealership.

Effective training isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing process. With a partner like Quantum5, you can achieve new heights of success.

Invest in Your Dealership Team's Skills Today

In the end, comprehensive training is about more than just boosting sales. It's about creating a dealership that customers love, and employees are proud to work for.

With a training partner like Quantum5, you turn your dealership into a powerhouse of loyal employees and happy customers. Just ask our ever-growing pool of satisfied users.

Schedule a demo today and see the difference effective sales training makes for your dealership’s performance.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should dealership staff undergo training?

You do not need to train and retain your car dealership workforce everyday. But, having regular training sessions can benefit your team in a variety of ways. 

In general, monthly training for dealership staff can greatly improve sales performance. But, depending on your specific goals, you could do a higher or lower frequency of training.

What role does leadership play in building a top-performing dealership team?

An effective leader is not just about making strategic moves for the dealership and barking orders. It's about inspiring and motivating your team. This way, your staff has the confidence to sell cars. 

A good leader fosters a culture of continuous learning and personal improvement. A good leader understands that staff are the backbone of a dealership. Without them, getting customers to buy cars is nearly impossible. 

How can technology be leveraged in dealership training?

Technology can be used to assess the satisfaction index of your employees, such as through ESi-Q Surveys. 

Dealerships can use technology to distribute e-learning material and conduct assessments. Additionally, it can be used for virtual workshops, including inviting guest speakers through teleconferences. The bottom line is that technology helps augment employee training and get feedback on its effectiveness faster.