PREFACE
Greetings!
Group 20 is an idea, which has been taken up from National Automobile Dealers Association, USA (NADA) after the visit of first delegation in the month of August-September, 2000. This is the most useful programme which gave lasting impressions and which inturn can be implemented here in India and to start with 17 members opted to join this exclusive project for exchanging views and implementing some of the best managed activities in each others dealerships.
Group 20 is designed for dealers, who mean business. Group 20 meetings take a hard, no-nonsense look at improving profitability, management skills, and problem solving.
Through the use of monthly composite profit-and-loss statements and the sharing of ideas, all meetings focus on improving dealer bottom line. The Group 20 meets a minimum of three times per year. Led by experienced dealership consultants, each group consists of non-competing dealers of similar business volumes and franchises.
All meetings have been focussed on profit-generation and were solution-oriented. Members discussed common problems, exchanged ideas and analyzed financial data to implement best practices to improve upon the management techniques in overall departmental operations. The discussion centered on various topics to arrive at appropriate recommentations for optimum level of management. They are,
1. |
New vehicle sales |
2. |
Man management |
3. |
Revenue from working-effective workshop management |
4. |
Parts inventory management and profitability |
5. |
Profits from insurance companies |
6. |
Water treatment for service station |
7. |
Knowing various laws applicable to a typical auto dealership |
8. |
Financing of vehicles |
9. |
Old car/vehicle business |
10. |
Management Information System |
These are the basic issues on which we have received very good reports from G20 members and bench marks have been established. A review of these reports will help dealers in managing the dealerships better and in a profitable manner.
We would also seek your advise/suggestions for specific problems, which can be taken up for discussions in the future G20 meetings.
After the initial meetings, members of the FADA were of the opinion that it is not possible to have a very big Group 20 meeting every second month. Therefore, it was decided that Group 10 may be created at Zonal level and following zones with their Conveners were formed:
1. |
South |
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Mr. Ajit Kumar Chordia, Vice President, FADA and assisted by Mr. Jatti |
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2. |
West |
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Mr. Bharat Sanghvi, assisted by Mr. Ajay Patni |
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3. |
East |
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Mr. Binod Agrawala, assisted by Mr. Mohan Himmatsinghka |
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4. |
North |
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Mr. Ashish Gupta, assisted by Mr. Baldev Kshetrapal |
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The idea behind this is that all the four zones can involve 10 dealers and each comprising representatives from various states as well different franchises and meet at a convenient place, which is not far off, at least once in three months and discuss these subjects initially and come to certain conclusions, which can then be compiled by the Group 20 Chairman and then circulate these papers to all the members of FADA.
In this study, only two subjects have been covered, "Workshop Management including Body Shop" and "Parts Management". Later on, other subjects can be taken up and papers prepared for discussions.
Members of the Group 20 while presenting their papers for discussions extensively drew from their own and other fellow dealers' first hand experiences at realistic level and also have taken inspiration and sourced from various other sources of contemporary topical interest.
I wish to gratefully acknowledge such sources and place on record my sincere appreciation of all the members for their lucid presentations on which keen, lively and purposeful discussions were held.
As said earlier your suggestions are very valuable and they are most welcome. Please do offer them. Regards.
(DESHNIDHI KASLIWAL)
CHAIRMAN- GROUP20
FADA
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