Electric Volvo ES90 arrives in South Africa
Volvo Cars has introduced the new ES90 in South Africa, positioning it as the brand’s fully electric flagship sedan.
- New Energy Vehicles
- 13 March 2026
Inefficiency in a dealership is often not that obvious and that is why it is difficult to identify and address.
Here are a few pointers that I hope will resonate with you:
Where there are comprehensive and more efficient automated systems available, such as paper filing instead of electronic filing is one example. Hopefully your DMS offers this functionality and if it does, ensure that you utilise it efficiently.
Document retrieval, document management and document security are far more efficient, which should also reduce your audit costs. Additionally, it could save space that could be used for more productive purposes.
Having various standalone systems that are department or function specific is massively inefficient as they often require duplicate information capture and there is rarely inter departmental functionality. Many OEMs partner with standalone Sales, CRM, workshop and parts inventory systems, which then have to be integrated with an accounting system.
OEMs seem to work in sales and after-sales “silos” and often to do not consider the inefficiencies that result at the dealership. Your DMS should be a comprehensive system that manages all aspects of a modern dealership, and having all these standalone systems may satisfy a sales or after-sales requirement of the OEM at the expense of dealership efficiency.
HET is normally massively disruptive in any business as it takes time for employees to get to grips with the requirements of the job. A fair amount of HET comes down to employing the wrong person for the job caused by pressure to urgently fill the vacancy. Take more time to ensure that you employ the best people and then give them the training required to perform their tasks efficiently!
The days of merely having your accounts as the main source of business information are long gone. If you do not have information and activity, efficiency, trends and comparative performance, you cannot manage a dealership efficiently. Data analysis should be at the centre of every critical business decision.
Dealerfloor (dealerfloor.co.za) and I will be publishing regular articles on dealership efficiency. I am really looking forward to sharing ideas with you. Join the conversation by sending a WhatsApp to 082-776-1887 to be added to our group.
Volvo Cars has introduced the new ES90 in South Africa, positioning it as the brand’s fully electric flagship sedan.
DFSK introduced what it describes as the ‘Ultimate Staff and Equipment Transport’, to its current range in South Africa that so far consisted of a panel van and a bakkie.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) returns as sponsor of the Absa Cape Epic for the fourth consecutive year, standing alongside Absa, which celebrates 20 years as title sponsor of the world’s toughest mountain bike stage race.
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Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
At the NADA Connect 2026 conference, the Deputy CEO of WeBuyCars, Dr Wynand Beukes, took the stage to share what he called “our story, not the right story or the wrong story, just ours”.
Rola Toyota Somerset West picked up the top award as Dealer of the Year at the manufacture’s awards held last under the theme, Challenge and Innovate.
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) recently hosted its national Dealer Network for the annual Dealer of the Year (DOTY) awards where Hino Isando scooped up the silverware as top Hino dealer.