Managing HR is now more important than ever
March 22, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has created disruption in the automotive retail industry, but within it also lies opportunity, according to Richie Binzangi, CADA 360 Program Specialist.
“When dealers think of what has happened during the pandemic over the past year, the word disruption inevitably comes to mind,” said Binzangi in an interview with CADA Newsline. “Disruption often has negative connotations. However, it can also be an opportunity for innovation. It welcomes the ability to improve and grow, a process where we have seen acceleration with digital automation transformation in all aspects of the business.”
Pandemic-induced disruption has impacted how dealers and their employees travel to and from work, how they operate within their stores and remotely, including day-to-day operations, and their priorities concerning policies and procedures.
Binzangi said one way for dealers to address these issues is by embracing an increase in digital automation, while also leveraging their data and using it to track such things as employee head-counts, demographic compliance, attendance, schedules, staff engagement, and more. That information can then be used to generate further analysis and make decisions that are based on data rather than a “best guess.”
In referencing Chrissy Cordingley, a senior manager at DealerPILOT, Binzangi said the overall idea is to shift towards “a new digital workspace and a socially responsible management style,” — one that includes an engaging and robust human resources program, including health and safety. “When enabling change and transformation in the workplace, it’s important to make decisions based on your dealership data and to leverage your workforce analytics and insights,” said Binzangi.
He said greater automation works well with the increase in digital tools, as many dealerships have shifted to offering a greater portion of the car-buying process online. Moving towards more automated (digital) systems can help boost productivity and offer greater visibility into what is taking place at the dealership. It can also improve communication within the dealership, and in turn improve employee retention.
“Automated systems assist in the ability to respond more quickly to ever-changing circumstances. They not only help improve dealership operations — they are also a powerful tool to communicate with staff and improve retention,” said Binzangi.
Online solutions such as CADA 360 HR Automation helps cut down on repetitive tasks; it allows the dealership’s HR department and managers to focus on driving performance across the dealership, while also managing teams as efficiently as possible.
More information on the CADA 360 HR Automation platform can be found here.