The Rola Volvo franchise in Helderberg has implemented its global parent company’s practice of assigning every Volvo owner his or her own Personal Service Technician (PST).
Share with friends
The PST programme combines the roles of service advisor and technician, giving all customers a single name and number to contact with regard to their vehicles’ services.
Volvo's PST team in Helderberg.
Says Rola Volvo brand manager, Ryan Chapman: “The cornerstone of this human-centric approach is customers’ very own Personal Service Technician, who’ll take care of everything to do with their car – from booking appointments to carrying out the service.
“And, as customers will deal with the same technician each time, they get to know the technician as well as they know their car. So, no misunderstandings.”
In Somerset West, the PST service has been combined with Volvo’s quick turnaround services. This means a customer can book his/her car, enjoy a coffee and free Wi-Fi and have it returned and ready in as little as an hour.
Rola Volvo Helderberg workshop.
Two of the secrets behind this service is the way that service personnel work in teams, with different members responsible for different parts of the vehicle service. Rola Volvo also staggers service bookings to allow for PSTs to carry out each client’s welcome and final vehicle delivery, while giving clients an opportunity to fit their service into their busy schedule.
Chapman says before COVID-19, clients were invited to walk around in the workshop as part of the commitment to transparency, open communication and building lasting relationships with your PST.
“The technicians needed a bit of training in the beginning and have to be accredited each year, so it takes a lot of effort from our side. Rola Volvo has been doing it for around five years and the system works really well.”
Rola Volvo was crowned Dealer of the Year in 2018 and has been in the top three recently for both sales and – more importantly – after-sales.
The Automotive Business Council (naamsa) recently submitted its quarterly review of business conditions for the South African motor vehicle manufacturing industry, during the second quarter of 2025, to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTCI).
Africa's automotive sector is experiencing a significant transformation, with Morocco emerging as a rising star while traditional leader, South Africa, faces mounting challenges.
Volvo Car South Africa expanded its electric line-up with the local introduction of the EX30 Cross Country, the Swedish brand’s first electric Cross Country variant.
The used car group, Cubbi, has officially opened the doors of its new flagship megastore in Germiston, a site with more than 300 vehicles ranging from entry-level hatchbacks to premium SUVs.
South Africa's premium automotive sector has experienced unprecedented consolidation over the last two years, with multiple luxury brands restructuring their dealership networks in response to declining sales, economic pressures, and shifting consumer preferences.