Fixed Ops Roundtable – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Anthony Blubello is the Parts Director at BMW and Mini of West Chester, Pennsylvania. He has become an influential figure in the automotive parts industry, thanks to his innovative approach, dedication to e-commerce, and unwavering commitment to providing top-notch customer service. From humble beginnings, Anthony’s career trajectory is a testament to his adaptability, strategic mindset, and passion for excellence in fixed operations.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

We’re talking about a man who started his career selling women's clothing at Express and, thanks to a nudge from his then-girlfriend (now wife), took a chance on a parts position at BMW. Fast forward, and Anthony's not just riding the wave—he’s making waves. This episode dives deep into his rise from the ground up, how he took the reins of an e-commerce operation, and built a parts business that's pulling in over $250K a month. And that’s not even the half of it.

Anthony lays down some real talk about adapting to the challenges thrown his way, from navigating those pesky core charge hikes to scaling his operation during the pandemic. His insights on the importance of treating every customer like gold? That’s the kind of wisdom we’ve all come to love here on the Roundtable.

And for those of you out there hustling in fixed ops, you'll want to catch how Anthony’s philosophy of staying hungry, putting people first, and evolving with the times could be the game-changer you need. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a thriving online parts business or how to weather the storms in our industry, this episode is your answer.

Listen to the episode featuring Anthony Blubello for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Anthony Blubello

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Andrew Wright, with a career spanning over 25 years in the automotive industry, is the dynamic force behind Vinart Dealerships' growth and innovation. As a second-generation dealer, Wright has expanded his influence beyond the dealership floor to significant roles such as the Chairman of the Hyundai Dealer Council. His visionary leadership is marked by a commitment to excellence and a keen insight into the future of automotive retail.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

In our conversation, Andy shares his personal journey from the ground up in the automotive world—starting from washing cars to leading a major dealership group and influencing national dealership policy. It’s a classic tale of growth, learning, and passion for the industry that I know you’ll find as captivating as I did.

We also tackle some of the hottest topics in automotive retail today. Andy discusses the significant role of traditional franchise dealership models in today's rapidly evolving market and defends them against the rising tide of disruptors. Plus, he gives us an insider's look at the groundbreaking collaboration between Hyundai and Amazon—clarifying misconceptions and outlining what it really means for the future of car buying.

We delve into the challenges of vehicle affordability and how Vinart Dealerships are adapting to meet changing consumer needs, especially in the post-COVID market dynamics. Andy’s insights on leasing as a strategic response to these challenges are particularly enlightening.

Looking ahead, Andy shares his expectations for the industry as we approach 2025, touching on critical areas like cybersecurity, the shift towards hybrid and electric vehicles, and the need for a balanced approach to new technologies.

Listen to the episode featuring Andrew Wright for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Andrew Wright

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

How can accurate appraisals transform your dealership’s profitability? Are you leveraging fixed ops to maximize your margins? In this episode we dive deep into these critical questions with Micah Tindor, Senior Director of Strategic Planning at Cox Automotive, Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer. 

Micah Tindor is a seasoned expert in strategic planning at Cox Automotive, overseeing Kelley Blue Book’s Instant Cash Offer program. With years of experience in the automotive industry, Micah brings invaluable insights into how dealerships can optimize their appraisal processes and integrate fixed operations for maximum profitability.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

In this insightful episode, Micah Tindor shares how dealerships can unlock hidden revenue by optimizing their appraisal processes and leveraging the fixed ops department. By embracing technological advancements and fostering better coordination between fixed and variable ops, dealerships can significantly enhance their profitability and customer satisfaction.

We also talk about

• The importance of the appraisal process in dealership profitability
• Strategies to protect margin through accurate reconditioning appraisals
• How fixed operations can proactively support the variable ops department
• The role of technology in modernizing the appraisal process
• Best practices for integrating fixed and variable ops for seamless operations

Listen to the episode featuring Micah Tindor for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Micah Tindor

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

Jim Roche is the founder and the executive chairman of WarrCloud - a cloud computing technology platform that automates warranty processing for automotive dealers.

In this show episode, Jim and I talk about the future of warranty processing and how it's a big part of the dealer's business.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Warranty processing has been neglected despite the digital transformations occurring across the auto retail experience. It's likely that you are currently being marketed or have already incorporated a variety of solutions that are all intended to simplify your marketing and business processes so you can accomplish more and close more sales. Additionally, there is a good chance that none of these solutions address warranty processing, which is the most underutilized and antiquated aspect of a dealership's operations.

Jim starts the episode by talking about how to turbocharge your service growth with the objective being profitable growth. With the press recently talking about how some OEMs appear to be positioned to sell vehicles directly or through websites, the hypothesis is that going forward; dealers might become more service centers and delivery centers than the traditional dealer model of today. This brings the question of what the role will be going forward for selling vehicles, leading us to serve as the new profit driver. Excellent service will be the dealership's new profit driver from now on.

So what's driving your service department growth is the warranty, and what's driving that growth and warranty? We're just at the beginning of how much technology is being inserted into the vehicles, and it is that increasing amount of technology and this increasing complexity in vehicles that are the primary driver of this increasing warranty.

Jim explains that warranty processing is one of the few remaining areas of the dealer That have not been streamlined by technology. Automation typically reduces costs by over 50%, but maybe more importantly, technology brings a scalable solution now and into the future. This solves your turnover and employee retention problem. It also future proofs your warranty processing as we go into the future, which is critical because we're going to see warranties continue to go up and become a bigger and bigger part of your business which, when appropriately priced, converts fixed expenses into variable costs, which is more advantageous when your costs adjust to how well your business is doing.

The key to long-term profit is automation. Ideally, how this automation will work is repair orders would be extracted from your DMS system, would take into account all of the needs of the various elements of warranty processing, what the OEM needs to see, what the dealer needs to have to happen, and what the capabilities of your DMS. It would provide that automation, which would only get human beings involved when necessary. That's where you can leverage technology to bring efficiencies, drive down costs, and protect yourself in the future, which concludes that Vehicle sales going forward will be unreliable. There will be fewer sales, and they'll have a declining margin. Service will be the driver of dealer profitability, and warranty is the new growth engine of service.

Listen to the episode featuring Jim Roche for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

David Spisak is the founder and CEO of Disruptive Growth Solutions and the podcast host of The David Spisak Show. In this show episode, David delves into auto sector trends. What will the future of the automotive industry be? How has COVID-19 changed the auto industry and many more.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

David talks about the positive and negative effects of Covid 19 in relation to automotive industry, it’s natural to wonder what the “next normal” for the auto sector will look like. Over the past few months, we’ve seen the first indicators of this automotive future becoming visible, with the biggest industry changes yet to come.

 At the operational level, the pandemic has accelerated developments in the automotive industry that began several years ago. Many of these changes are largely positive, such as the growth of online traffic and the 100% restoration of brand value. Some, on the other hand, can have bad effects, like the fact that the number of units in use has gone down because we haven't had enough inventory for over two years and that the number of warranty tickets has gone down.

As dealers try to get out of this crisis, people in charge of the auto industry might be able to gain an advantage by rethinking their organizations and how they work. Don't worry about what we can't control. Let's focus 100% of our energy on doing what we do best, and that's figuring out, again, how to reinvent and, as always, remain forever resilient. "

Listen to the episode featuring David Spisak for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Guest Name

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Chris Saraceno is the Vice President and Partner at Kelly Automotive Group and the best-selling author of the Theory of 5. In this episode of The Fixed Ops Roundtable podcast, Chris provides an look inside at what is driving Kelly Automotive Group's success.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Chris explains that people are the most precious commodity because it's impossible to create a culture without them. It all starts with the recruiting process for Kelly Automotive Group. "The way we recruit, hire, and train people really helps how they are invited into our culture and help grow one another. We make sure that they have everything they need before they even start the job so that they are well equipped to perform."

Listen to the episode featuring Chris Saraceno for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Chris Saraceno

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement

Art Shaw is the CEO of RepairPal, the leading online marketplace for consumers to find a trusted place to get their cars fixed. In this show episode, you'll hear Art's keynote presentation from the Fixed Ops Roundtable Roaring Twenties event.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

During his keynote presentation, Art shares his thoughts about providing the best after-sales experience for car buyers so that they aren't forgotten about and that dealers can continue to provide more value to the customer while increasing their ability to obtain recurring profits.

Dealers run complicated businesses with many moving parts. Art offers his best advice about how car dealers can navigate the miscellany of daily work while remaining focused on the consumer.

Listen to the episode featuring Art Shaw for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Art Shaw

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Marco Zwanenburg is a service technician from Naples Luxury Imports and is also one of the founding members of the Fixed Ops Roundtable.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

1. Marco understands the importance of service technicians and departments in the community. It's not just about fixing vehicles, it's about making sure that ambulances run, and that firetrucks are available and ready — something that we tend not to think about from day to day.
2. On the retail side of the business, there was a lot of conversation about how supply shortages really affected ones ability to sell vehicles, overlooking the fact that it also meant technicians in many areas were completely overworked. 

Listen to the episode featuring Marco Zwanenburg for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Marco!

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Owen Moon is the Chief Executive Officer of Fixed Ops Digital, an agency devoted to helping dealership fixed ops departments grow their online presence. In this episode of the Fixed Ops Roundtable podcast, Owen shares some valuable insights about Google Analytics 4 (GA4) for car dealers.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Car dealers need to control their analytics accounts and have a baseline understanding of what's available inside of Google Analytics to understand how they perform online. Google is revamping their entire analytics offering to make it more streamlined and intelligent so that companies can understand even more about their online performance.

Listen to the episode featuring Owen Moon for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Owen Moon

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement

Sarah Vantine is the vice president of business development strategy at Quantum 5, and is still fresh from retail, having worked for a large dealer group in North Carolina, USA. She's a great friend of the fixed operations community and is a previous best practice award winner.

👉 Register for the upcoming Fixed Ops Roundtable Event

What we discuss in this episode:

Modern dealerships are a people business. People are the main differentiator from one dealership to another, and it's with the belief that people matter that Sarah Vantine shapes the narrative of this podcast episode.

"We really believe that it's the people in your organization and the people in your business development center that are the difference between what a customer experiences and having a memorable one that is impactful, that then drives retention and loyalty to your store."

Listen to the episode featuring Sarah Vantine for even more insights!

Enjoying The Fixed Ops Roundtable Podcast? Please leave a rating and review 👇

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Sarah Vantine

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

1. Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
2. Ted Ings on LinkedIn
3. Center for Performance Improvement