Workshops address crucial subjects

WORKSHOPS covering key issues and presented by experts is one of the most in-demand highlights of the 2024 AADA Convention and Expo that starts on July 24 for two days.

Convention director Patrick Tessier said this year’s event will highlight “an evolving marketplace where new technology and innovation plays a strategic part in the retail automotive customer journey.”

“No other event allows new car dealers to explore and review these solutions in one place whilst engaging with industry experts and informative business sessions,” he said.

Mr Tessier said this year’s AADA Workshop program provides dealers with 21 sessions that will “provide a wealth of information and insights that will improve a dealer’s operations through new technologies, best practice and innovative solutions to operational challenges.”

“The AADA Workshop program will cover every aspect of today’s automotive dealerships including sales, service and customer relations, staff training, CRM, dealership marketing including omnichannel solutions, AI in automotive and dealer-introduced consumer finance,” he said.

The comprehensive coverage includes workshop presentations by Cox Automotive Australia and New Zealand and Impel on AI Marketing. Cox Automotive Australia will present on ‘Seamless Customer Experience – Blending Online & In Person Experiences for Sales & Service Success’ by Cox’s Shakira Loveridge and Jamie Nicholson; and ‘Unleashing the Transformative Power of AI in Your Dealership’ will be delivered by Impel’s Michael Clarke.

Cox Automotive Australia, AutoGrab and Carsales will inform dealers with various workshops on Used Cars. Cox Automotive Australia’s workshop includes coverage of EVs and will be of importance to dealers entering the second-hand EV market, titled ‘Used car essentials and the emerging second-hand EV market’ and will be presented by Cox’s Wayne Oats and Mike Costello.

AutoGrab’s Adam Fraser will inform the delegates in a workshop entitled ‘Driving used car ROI through transparency’

The workshop ‘Electric Evolution: Insights into EVs and the Used Car Market’ will be a panel discussion lead by Carsales’ Mike Sinclair and Ross Booth; EVcentral journalist Toby Hagon; Polestar head of public relations, Laurissa Mirabelli, and Scott Nargar from Hyundai Motor Company Australia.

Another important subject is F&I and this year will feature three workshops presented by Angle Auto Finance, youX and Allianz.

Angle Auto Finance’s Susan Jobson and Evange Epa will present the workshop on EV Financing called ‘Accelerating EV Success: Unveiling Insights & Strategies for Financing’. 

The workshop topic ‘Automate & Conquer: Finance Tech for Dealership Success’ will be presented by youX’s Simon Penhaligon, Matt Perry and Andrew Moulds; and the ‘How technology can enhance service delivery in your Finance and Insurance Department’ workshop will be delivered by Sarah Kerslake from Allianz Australia.

CarExpert will discuss New Cars in the workshop ‘Here and Now: Addressing the big issues set to impact dealers in the next 12 months’ presented by Paul Maric.

In the Digital Marketing workshop Gavin Cox from AdTorque Edge will present ‘The Market Has Changed. Have You?’.

Mark Lancaster from Connected Vehicles will talk on the topic of Customer Relations with a workshop ‘The New Era of Vehicle Ownership Experience: Revolutionising Dealership Retention’.

SalesLogs and FCW Lawyers will discuss Data Management in the workshops ‘From Chaos to Clarity: Navigating Data Pain Points’ delivered by SalesLogs’ Dallas Tilley; and ‘Dealing with customer data – legal and commercial issues’ with FCW Lawyers’ Sotheary Bryant and Michele Harrick.

Sales Training will be covered by Total Selling Solutions & PSTS Group Australia. The presentation ‘Elevate Your Appointment Game: Mastering Sales & Service Calls’ with Total Selling Solutions’ will be delivered by Steve Curran; and the workshop ‘Navigating the Evolving Sales Landscape: Insights from a Trench Trainer’ by Adam Wavell Bird, from PSTS Group Australia.

Very much on everyone’s mind given recent global cybersecurity breaches will be Giuseppe (Joey) Cavallo from Pentana Solutions talking on the topic of Cyber Security with workshop ‘Automotive Cybersecurity Landscape – Tips and Tricks to lower your risk’.Other workshops will inform on CRM, Fixed Operations, Novated Leasing, Reputation Management, Skilled Migration and Service Solutions.

These presentations include ‘Data-Driven Communication: Key to Automotive Customer Retention’ by Gary Martin, of Marque Group Solutions; ‘The Importance of Accuracy in Modern Vehicle Geometry with ADS Integration’ by Phillip Scott and Elton Laws of Precision Automotive Equipment; and ‘Strategies to Stop Losing Business to Novated Providers’ by Matthew Honan from Remunerator.

There are also workshops ‘Delivering excellence in sales service & parts with two-way text’ with Edward Tapley, of Podium; ‘Shifting Gears: Migration and Employment Law Reforms in 2024’ with Kian Bone and Luke Gattuso of Macpherson Kelley; and ‘How rideshare can help improve your customer experience and operational efficiency’ by David Hardiman from Uber for Business.