Fixed-Ops

When a customer arrives for a service appointment, the check-in process is expected to be smooth, fast, and painless. Having already set an appointment, the vehicle owner feels like they’re prepared for the visit mentally – they’re aware of what’s needed. At least, to...

Call tracking and lead management provider, CallSource, analyzed 106 million inbound phone calls to dealerships over three years. Of those calls, more than three-quarters of those calls were for the service department. It’s an incredible number of phone calls every day by customers looking...

Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by Vince Zappa, President of Clutch Technologies, at the 2020 NADA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:  Jim Fitzpatrick: Vince Zappa, president of Clutch Technologies. Thanks so much for joining me on CBT News. Vince Zappa: Yeah, thank you. Thank you for having me. Jim...

 On today’s show, we’re pleased to welcome back Michael Roppo, President and Director of Dealer Fixed-Operations Consulting and Training at Automotive Management Resources. Jim and Michael discuss hiring new technicians and what it takes to find them, train them, and retain them. Michael says that...

In 1930, during the Great Depression, economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that a 15-hour workweek would become a reality “within 100 years.” At the time of his prediction, the industrial revolution was in full swing, spurred on by ever increasing automation, which made the...

Recently, the CBT Automotive Network was on-location at NADA 2020 in beautiful Las Vegas where host Jim Fitzpatrick spoke with David Foutz, Vice President of Sales at Xtime, Dealertrack DMS and Kelley Blue Book. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:  Jim Fitzpatrick: Let's talk a little bit about this end-to-end service...

One of the fastest ways to increase used vehicle sales and profits is to streamline the reconditioning process. Buying great inventory at a great price is only half the battle. Great inventory buys can lose their effect fast if that inventory sits for too...

Vice President for Cox Automotive, Jim Roche joined Jim Fitzpatrick on the CBT Stage at NADA 2020 in Las Vegas to discuss the new chapter of his book Fast Break, the new Kelley Blue Book Featured Auto Repair Center, and how to increase fixed-ops profitability. VIDEO...

Service contracts have been around for a long time. They provide additional profit opportunities at the time of sale, and theoretically provide more service opportunities after the sale. The problem is that most service contracts do not tie a customer to the dealership where...

At NADA 2020 in beautiful Las Vegas, host Jim Fitzpatrick was joined by Dennis McGinn, Founder and CEO of Rapid Recon. The pair discussed the importance of accountability in the dealership's reconditioning department. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Jim Fitzpatrick: I hope you're having a great show and thank...