The Compliple just returned from the NADA Convention & Expo in San Francisco, and found ourselves feeling optimistic for 2011. After mounting years of economic downturn, industry consolidation, closures, and much F.U.D., it seems as if the auto industry is poised for growth, and actively engaged in creating more effective, efficient business processes. This is great news for Compli, as that is what we do, but more importantly it just felt good to see the smiles and openness of the many groups as they walked the show floor looking at the different vendors, and seeking solutions.
As one of the vendors at the show, we were in the optimal position of not only exposing these different organizations to the solutions Compli offers, but also to listen to their concerns and hopes for the coming year. There were many topics on the minds of the dealers roaming the halls of NADA, but one in particular struck me as being different in tone than what we have heard from the past few years of doom and gloom. There is growing optimism auto sales will increase dramatically over the coming year. Survivors see themselves in a good place financially, as cost's have been reduced because of a tightened workforce, an increased focus on business process, and responsible owners who have worked diligently to keep margins high, in trying times. With the optimism of significant growth in sales, comes the needs to answer a few pressing questions.
Should I add FTEs'?
Should I invest in technology?
Is there a way I can make sure that I am hiring the right people?
Is there a line for people who just want black coffee?
The answer to all of those questions is yes, except of course, for the last question.
Firstly, employees, given that they are excellent hires, add value to your organization. A real person has the ability to positively affect sales growth, increase your ability to adapt to new situations, and contribute ideas which further efficiencies and create innovative solutions to problems. The impact a positive hire can have on an organization should never be underestimated. Secondly, technology is your friend and can create opportunities for savings that far out-way the cost of service. Leveraging technology can create efficiency in process that extends your profits, by decreasing your risk profile and streamlining tasks that are difficult to administrate manually. Automated business process and workflow is, in no way a replacement for people, but it is a great way to make your people into an effective machine. Also, through technology you can gain access to a wide range of expertise, that could only otherwise be available through extensive cost. Last but not least, when the decision is made to hire again, how do you hire the right people? Just one mis-hire can cost an organization, not only time, but also a great loss of productivity. The process can create a loss of moral in the current staff as well, so minimizing any chance for error in the hiring process will become an ever important piece as businesses begin to expand.
In all of these areas, cost creep is the real enemy. Compli believes cost creep is avoidable, not only because we have a solution that prevents it, but because we have seen organizations who are process oriented, take control of the various areas where cost can creep in and eat away at profits, and plug those leaks, through the use of technology, human talent, and believe it or not, just acknowledging a problem exists and caring enough to create or adopt a solution.
