Retention Roadmap: Navigating Service Success for New Car Dealerships
There’s nothing worse than losing customers to independent garages and quick lubes after the OEM warranty expires – which happens 70% of the time! As a car dealership, your #1 goal is keeping customers — and to do that, you need quality employees, an optimized service department, and benefits that matter to your customers. Imagine transforming your service department into a powerhouse of customer retention and satisfaction. Picture a dealership where your team is motivated, your customers are loyal, and your service department consistently drives revenue and profit. That’s exactly what you’ll get from Retention Roadmap with Bill Springer. Bill is a seasoned expert in dealership customer retention, service marketing, and customer experience. In this podcast, you’ll get actionable insights, industry best practices, and real-life success stories from Bill, along with other industry experts. Each episode is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to enhance customer retention, improve employee productivity, and drive profitability. If you’re ready for that, subscribe now and start transforming your dealership.
Episodes
Most dealerships don’t lose customers years down the road, but at the very first oil change. That early defection is costing dealerships future service visits, tire sales, and even repeat vehicle purchases. The solution? Build retention into the customer’s journey from day one and invest in your culture and technology to keep both employees and customers engaged.
In this episode of Retention Roadmap, Bill Springer sits down with...
If you're still trying to control every slot on your scheduler, you're probably pushing customers away. Today’s customers don’t want to call. They don’t want to wait. And they don’t want to be told when they can’t come in. They want control, convenience, and clarity. Dealerships that give them that? They’re the ones earning long-term retention. So, how do you design a service experience that gives customers control without losing v...
What builds real loyalty in today’s service lane? It’s not flashy tech. It’s trust. And that starts the moment a customer steps out of their car. Want to make customers come back again and again? Teach your advisors to become “my mechanic.”
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill talks with Ron Maki, a fixed ops leader with nearly four decades in the industry, including corporate leadership roles at Volkswagen of America. Ron...
What if improving customer retention had nothing to do with discounts, campaigns, or clever emails, and everything to do with your team? Before you worry about bringing customers back, ask yourself: Would you come back if the service advisor changes every six months?
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Austin Conroy, Regional Fixed Ops Director at Rohrman Automotive Group and the creator behind t...
Most dealerships are intrigued by AI, but many are still stuck in the dark when it comes to using it effectively. Instead of solving real problems, they’re overwhelmed by dashboards, buried in reports, and stuck blasting the same messages to every customer. The result? Missed opportunities, service defection, and underwhelming ROI on the tools they already have.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill sits down with Todd Smit...
What if your biggest threat to retention isn’t the competition, but your own calendar? Most dealerships don’t lose customers all at once. They just stop showing up. But with AI and a few simple process shifts, you can catch defection before it happens and make retention feel automatic.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, we welcome Dave Foy, a veteran of automotive retail and founder of the Automotive AI Summit. With decades o...
What if your best retention strategy had nothing to do with pricing, loyalty programs, or even your shop’s hours, and everything to do with how your service advisors say "good morning"? Most customers don’t come back because they weren’t helped… they were handled.
The fix? Train your advisors to build relationships, not just close tickets.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Kieran Stack, founder o...
Offering mobile service sounds like a win-win, but for many dealerships, the logistics feel overwhelming. How do you staff it? Route it? Make money on it? And will customers even use it consistently?
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill sits down with Amit Chandarana, CEO of Curbee, a mobile service software platform that’s helping dealerships turn these questions into action. Drawing on Curbee’s roots in Tesla’s early mob...
Most customers expect a modern, seamless experience everywhere they go, so why does the dealership service lane still rely on clipboards and key drops? It’s time to ask whether your service experience reflects the kind of innovation and convenience today’s customers take for granted.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, we talk with Richard Lupo, Fixed Operations Director at Apple Tree Honda and Acura, about how he’s transforme...
The success of dealership service departments often hinges on effectively setting and securing first service appointments—a pivotal step many dealerships overlook. But it could significantly boost customer retention through strategic processes and engaging customer experiences.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Patti Tremonti, CEO of MTN Automotive Training Systems, outlines the importance of dealership-wide participation in...
Customer retention in the dealership service department is about more than just numbers—it's about treating every customer as if they're family and earning their repeat and referral business. In this episode, Tully Williams, Fixed Operations Director at the Niello Company, emphasizes the importance of measuring retention consistently and realistically, sharing his unique insights on why customer-focused recommendations and competit...
The service retention landscape is shifting, and dealerships must adapt to stay ahead. With fewer new cars being sold in recent years, the traditional flow of service customers is slowing, making it more important than ever to win back lost customers and capture more aftermarket business.
In this episode, we sit down with Ujj Nath, CEO and Founder of myKaarma, to explore the biggest challenges and opportunities in fixed ops today. ...
Dealerships today face a unique challenge: standing out in a crowded digital landscape while building long-term customer loyalty. In this episode, we explore how dealerships can strengthen their brand, improve retention, and create meaningful customer relationships.
We’re joined by up-and-coming industry leader, Savannah Simms, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Simms Auto Group, and Chief Operating Officer at Fred...
What if some of the biggest opportunities for service retention are hiding in plain sight? Recalls and mobile service often feel like operational challenges, but they could be the key to driving revenue and reactivating customers you thought were lost for good.
In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Ryan Maher, CEO and founder of BizzyCar, joins us to uncover how shifting your perspective on these services can transform your dea...
What’s the real key to turning first-time customers into lifelong dealership advocates? For many, the answer lies in an often-overlooked area: the parts department. In this episode, we uncover how inventory health, tire strategies, and better communication can transform your dealership’s retention game.
Kaylee Felio, Sales and Marketing Manager at PartsEdge and host of the Trailblaze Your Path podcast, joins us to share practical i...
Today’s customers demand greater transparency and trust from their service providers—and dealerships need to deliver. How can fixed ops professionals bridge the gap between customer expectations and service department performance?
In this episode of Retention Roadmap, sponsored by DriveSure, we sit down with Joe Shaker, CEO of Shaker Auto Group and founder of TruVideo, to explore how video technology is transforming dealership comm...
Why do some dealership service departments foster lifelong customer loyalty while others struggle with defection? What if the key lies in leveraging transparency and technology to build trust and enhance the customer experience?
In this week’s episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Zach Roberts, Service Director at Manly Automotive Group, shares how video multipoint inspections and streamlined service processes are reshaping customer rel...
Why are some dealerships leading the charge in customer loyalty while others struggle to stand out? Could the secret lie in evolving service processes and a reimagined approach to business development? In this episode, we unpack the strategies that turn service interactions into long-term customer loyalty.
Our guest, John Traver, CEO and founder of Traver Connect, shares how modern BDC practices are helping dealerships enhance cust...
Why should dealerships rethink service convenience to retain more customers? Todd Rabourn, Ford Motor Company’s Director of Global Customer Experience Implementation, shares how Ford’s mobile service initiative is transforming the way dealerships connect with customers and drive loyalty.
In this week’s episode, Todd explores the growing demand for mobile service and pickup and delivery options, highlighting how they remove friction...
Why do some dealerships thrive in service retention while others struggle to bring customers back? What if the secret lies in data-driven insights that reveal untapped opportunities and practical strategies? In this episode, we uncover tools and techniques dealerships can use to turn their service lanes into loyalty engines.
Our guest, Piermichele Robazza, Global Practice Director of Aftersales Performance at Urban Science, shares ...
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