A successful business development center (BDC) is essential for any dealership, providing a direct connection to customers’ needs and desires. The first engagement prospects have with your dealership can be a make or break moment. With increasing inventory and more leads coming in, it’s important that your BDC team is properly trained and staffed. Let’s take a look at how you can maximize the potential of your BDC team this spring.
Staffing Your BDC Team
The first step to getting the most out of your BDC team is making sure they are properly staffed. Hiring and training new staff takes time and money, so maintaining a well-trained staff is key. But what kind of staff should you hire? When it comes to staffing your BDC team, there are two distinct roles that need to be filled—sales and service. The sales side works mainly with current buyers or those looking to purchase in the near future while the service side is all about customer retention, equity positions, and appointment setting. Having both sides work together will create a powerhouse that is capable of engaging with customers on multiple levels.
According to industry experts It's important for dealerships to remember that staffing the right people for their BDC team goes beyond simply hiring warm bodies; they need qualified people who understand the job responsibilities as well as traits like customer relations and salesmanship.
Training Your BDC Team
Once you have your staff hired, it’s time to train them up for success! Taking the time to train your staff effectively will pay off in spades down the line as they become more efficient in their job duties. It will also help reduce turnover rates which saves you money in the long run by not having to constantly retrain new employees over and over again. Investing in proper training for your employees not only helps them become more proficient but also makes them feel appreciated which could result in higher morale across the board.
Partnering with relevant organizations such as National Association of Dealer Training Professionals (NADTP) provides resources for automotive dealerships looking for advice on best practices for training their teams efficiently says NADTP President Bob Blanford "we recognize that training is an investment but we make sure our members understand just how valuable these investments can be when done correctly"
Conclusion:
When it comes down to it, having an effective BDC can make all the difference when it comes to customer engagement and retention. Taking the time now to ensure that your staff is up-to-date on their skillset will make all of their efforts much easier as we head into springtime—and beyond. With well-staffed teams that understand their roles within the dealership, you’ll be able to develop long-lasting relationships with customers who come back again and again for quality service from start to finish.
And if this seems like an impossible task with your staffing situation or current funds, Better Car People’s Sales BDC can give you everything you need with a Sales/Service BDC with none of the staffing, training, or benefits issues.