I just created a quick list of tools that can help, if anyone here needs this:
We created a quick list of tools car dealers can use to make it easier to do remote work during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic spread.
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EMERGENCY COVID-19 Remote Work Guide: 11 Tools for Car Dealerships
COVID-19’s realities make working from home – or working remotely – a way for car dealerships but also everyone involved in the automotive industry a way for us to continue fulfilling our job responsibilities and to contribute to our organizations.
With that in mind, Autobahn Academy would like to share some of the best practices we think can help car dealerships make the best of this unfortunate situation.
Unfortunately, car dealerships could have a harder time adjusting than other industries since a lot of tasks have to be completed on-site, especially in the fixed ops department.
If you haven’t seen my video about how “
This virus will force dealers to get better at digital retail” I posted on LinkedIn, you should still know there’s a silver lining to all of this.
If you’re looking to get a
set of tools that can help make this situation a little less frustrating, we have you covered. The good news is, when this is all over, these new habits could actually help you even when the people are back in their seats. Meanwhile, there are many benefits to running a remote team, so long as you’re equipped with the right tools to succeed.
In this article, we’ll share with you the best tools for working remotely so you and your team members can maximize productivity and secure more sales than ever before,
no matter if you’re inside or outside your car dealership showroom.
TEAM CHAT
Slack
Slack is more than a tool for chatting—it’s almost a religion in the tech industry. You can use Slack to chat 1 on 1 but also create channels where you can interact as groups (Sales, Service, etc..). I’m still baffled on how few of you are actually using a chat tool.
HipChat
HipChat is another great chat tool that can help you daily communication. They have a great app everyone can install on their smartphone.
Workplace by Facebook
Facebook just launched this team collaboration platform that includes messaging, voice and video calling, and newsfeed features to help teams work together more efficiently.
MEETINGS & VIDEO CHAT
Google Hangouts
Google Hangouts is the default tool of choice for video meetings. Slack even lets you launch a hangout right from within a channel!
Zoom
An alternative to Hangouts, Zoom has a higher threshold for the number of people who can be in a meeting at once. You can get on the free plan too if you need to show anything to your customers the easy way. This can be used from any computer to any type of smartphone.
Youtube Live
Need to record a quick video? How about host a live broadcast or training to your team or even customers? YouTube Live is Google Hangout’s alternative to scaling a broadcast globally.
Join.me
Great app for screen sharing and team calls. It doesn’t freeze up as often as other tools do which makes it a great choice for quick meetings on the fly.
CLOUD STORAGE & TEAM COLLABORATION
Trello
Trello’s ease of use makes it easy to manage a flow of tasks through any of your teams inside the dealership. It’s also very flexible and free.
Google Drive
Google Drive needs no introduction. Store and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and more all with your Google Account. There’s so much you can do in here.
Dropbox
This is the cloud storage of choice for most design and dev teams I’ve worked with. Dropbox also recently announced Paper—a separate app similar to Google Docs that lets you collaborate in real-time.
TeamViewer
TeamViewer is a very easy to use program to help you see or take over control of a colleagues’ computer.
HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NOW
Most of you are experiencing a slow down in the showroom, canceled appointments. It’s OK, you can’t control everything, but in slow times is the perfect time to dig into your CRM, update contact info and reach out to customers.
Start by emailing clients that were already in your short term sights and try to see if they are looking to wait to make a purchase. This is your chance to show empathy. Now is not the time to force things, you’ll be losing credibility and the chance to close the deal anyway.
