For the last few years, good technicians have been hard to find. Multiple factors are lending to this shortage—many of which predate the pandemic. For one, more technicians are calling for higher rates and the end of flat-rate compensation. That’s due in part to the fact that many techs are burnt out. What’s more, it’s an unfortunate truth that the working conditions in many shops are not satisfactory, spurring technicians to look for better work conditions elsewhere. According to a DIS survey of Ag dealers across North America, 26% of respondents anticipate tech labor shortages to be one of the biggest challenges they will face in 2022 . To help attract new technicians and retain the talent they’ve already got, dealers should look for opportunities to fix inefficiencies in their service department and empower their team through professional development and tools that will help them excel at their jobs.
ADVANCED SKILL REQUIREMENTS
Farm equipment isn’t just nuts and bolts anymore. Now, we’re seeing manufacturers roll out more and more equipment with computers, electric power sources, and hands-off control - all of which require technical know-how to service. Technicians with specialized skill sets are hard to find and more expensive. By adopting new technology, business owners can make their dealerships more appealing to this tech-savvy breed of talent.
TRACK YOUR LABOR INVENTORY Because many service teams are stretched thin, you need to know that your team is operating at maximum efficiency. A dealer management system can help you track certifications, technician performance histories, and opportunities to increase productivity and customer satisfaction. One way to leverage your DMS is to track your “labor inventory.” Every dealer should know how much labor inventory they’re “stocking.” Labor inventory refers to the actual hours your
technicians spend fixing equipment versus the number of hours they’re clocked in. To get a more accurate picture of your labor inventory, you need to nurture good documentationhabitsonyourserviceteam. Tools like DIS Service Logistics enable technicians and Service Managers to keep detailed notes while working on a job, automatically logging the details in your DMS.
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