07 Jan. 2004
We just published research about lean dealerships -- a study of the problems that dealers and OEMs face and best practices for solving them together. Want to find out more about making dealer-OEM collaboration work? Come to the 2004 Forrester Automotive Workshop "Bridging the OEM-Dealer Gap" later this year. Email Mark Bunger at markbunger@forrester.com for more details.
A Bit Cramped, But The Mileage Is Great
They say fuel cell vehicles are a decade away, but if you can compromise a lot on space, Edmund Scientifics can sell you one today. OK, it's a kit for kids. But what a great start for your young automotive engineers at home. Beats GTA on PS2.
Privacy, Telematics, And The X Internet
If you saw the spacey Lexus in "The Minority Report," you're already familiar with one dystopic privacy future. But dealers like JM Lexus that use Networkcar are taking steps to provide great service using telematics data and protect privacy. Read my colleague Christine Overby's research, The X Internet And Consumer Privacy, or see Navi Radjou speak about telematics in his VideoView on The X Internet And Business Profitability
The Body Shop
One way to sense demand accurately is to simply ask each customer what he wants -- a tactic that's working well for Scion and MINI. Talk about making lemons (having to wait to get your new car) into lemonade (getting blue stereo lighting to match your hair). Could this new twist on build-to-order (BTO) work for mainstream vehicles? Email me if you think so.
Dare We Say, Fun In 2004?
Unless your name's "MINI" or "Scion" you're probably happy to see 2003 in the rearview mirror. After a year dominated by incentive wars, F&I scandals, TREAD Act compliance, and other gray killjoys, in 2004 we're predicting that the industry will be able to refocus on the fun stuff -- cars and customers. (Remember them?)
Dealers Identify Points Of Pain Across The Dealership
Happy New Year! |
|||
3. I resolve to stop abusing innocent dealers. (Dealers: I resolve to stop beating up on innocent OEMs). Dealer-OEM relationships need an overhaul, and both sides know it. We demonstrate in "Making Auto Retail Lean" that lean manufacturing principles can be -- and are already being -- successfully applied in auto retail. Moreover, lean manufacturing offers neutral ground where OEMs and dealers can win together. Funny side story: I was reading James P. Womack's book "Lean Thinking" beside a hotel pool last summer, and people thought it was a dieting book. "Dr. Womack? Oprah's on the line . . . "
EMAIL: Email this issue to a colleague.
|
Entire contents 1997-2004, Forrester Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Forrester, Forrester Oval Program, Forrester Wave, ForrTel, WholeView 2, Technographics, and TechRankings are trademarks of Forrester Research, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Forrester clients may make one attributed copy or slide of each figure contained herein. Additional reproduction is strictly prohibited. For additional reproduction rights and usage information, go to www.forrester.com. Information is based on best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change.
Forrester Research, Inc., 400 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139