Technician Retention: The Key to Growing Your Collision Repair Business
By |
Does your collision repair business have enough skilled technicians? If it doesn’t, you’re not alone. The labor shortage makes learning how to retain technicians a critical part of your shop’s success. With fewer people entering the industry and seasoned technicians retiring, positions are getting more challenging to fill.
As with all recruitment/hiring processes, when a tenured team member leaves, their replacement needs time to train and get up to speed. A technician retention strategy is the ideal solution to minimize the impact of the labor shortage — and it starts with smart
Retaining Technicians Begins with Smart Hiring
Not everyone is an expert on how to retain technicians, but we all know it’s less expensive than recruiting and training new ones. We also know repair technicians can leave us anytime for many reasons. While interviewing prospective technicians isn’t high on many shop owners’ list of favorite activities, adopting a consistent and effective hiring process is critical.
The process should identify your applicant’s essential skills and other attributes to ensure they are a qualified hire. However, it must go both ways by ensuring the candidate understands expectations, pay, benefits and shop culture. The more in-depth the hiring process, the more likely you and your new technician will be happy with the relationship.
Competitive Compensation and Benefits are Essential
Every shop owner knows that attractive wages can entice applicants and retain technicians. However, a technician’s salary is only the start. Conventional benefits like insurance, vacation time, and performance bonuses should also be a part of the package.
Once onboard, shop lunches, gift cards, tool allowances and other perks go a long way toward retaining technicians. Even seemingly minor things like shop uniform styles, employee-only restrooms, snacks, and bottled water can majorly impact the hiring and keeping of technicians.
The Best Technicians Work at the Best Shops
Your technicians deserve a safe and professional working environment and the best auto repair tools. Scanners, shop Wi-Fi, on-demand OEM repair information, and specialty tools are must-haves for modern auto repairs. Additionally, consistent shop management and workflow processes are the hallmark of a quality collision repair business. That focus on quality creates an environment that attracts and retains the best technicians.
Technician Retention Means Technician Development
As technician shortages impact repair shops, vehicle innovations continue to evolve. This double dilemma means shop owners must fill another gap — the one between advanced vehicles and the high-level skills required to repair them. Fortunately, you can help fill the labor and skill gaps with vehicle repair technology and other development tools.
Modern technology like SUN Collision software can attract tech-savvy aspiring auto body technicians with up-to-date industry views. Collision and mechanical repair software can also speed up new hire training and help tenured technicians develop the skills needed for modern auto repair. When your shop invests in technician development, it positively impacts technician job satisfaction, customers and the bottom line.
Recognize, Reward and Repeat
Understanding how to keep technicians motivated and feeling appreciated makes your shop a better place to work. We all want to be recognized for our achievements, and most wouldn’t mind a reward! Recognizing and rewarding a technician can be one of the most potent ways to bolster job satisfaction. The rewards and the contributions don’t need to be particularly spectacular, either.
Whether it’s for another job well done or learning something new, there are many opportunities to show appreciation. Public or private recognition, a work anniversary plaque, and a monetary bonus are all welcome rewards. No matter the scenario, always take note and reward technicians for their contributions.
Empower Technicians with Engagement
Experienced technicians know what it takes to increase your shop’s productivity. Welcome feedback from your team and ensure they understand how integral they are to your business success. Adopting open-book management is a proven way to engage technicians and help them understand their role in your business strategy.
Share your shop’s goals for KPIs like ARO, quote capture rates, customer acquisition, technician efficiency and profitability. Transparency and a sign of trust can increase loyalty, productivity and technician satisfaction. Most of all, it gives your technicians a clear picture of how they fit into the process.
Build Long-Term Relationships with Your Technicians
Most technicians want a safe and productive workplace, job security and a good paycheck. However, many want and need a sense of belonging and appreciation. Showing respect, actively listening to feedback and sincere interest in your auto body repair technicians’ well-being will set your collision shop apart. A quarterly one-on-one discussion with technicians can be a powerful relationship builder. The feedback you receive will improve your business and keep technicians happy.
When technician retention becomes integral to your culture, you lay a foundation for growing your business and increasing employee loyalty. Only you can build those relationships and show appreciation. SUN Collision can give your technicians the tools and knowledge to hone their skills and prepare your repair shop for the future.
Let SUN Collision show you how to stay a step ahead of the vehicle technology curve for better collision repair today and tomorrow. Get your free no-obligation demo or talk with a collision repair expert at 877-840-1973 to see how having on-demand OEM information can transform your body shop.
Kiran Wagh serves as Inside Sales Manager for SUN Collision and other Snap-on, Inc. brands, including Mitchell 1. He began his career at Snap-on in 2015 as an inside sales developer for Mitchell 1 and promoted to sales manager in 2019 for SUN Collision. Previously, he worked as a Demand Generation Specialist at Harte Hanks, where he led B2B lead generation campaigns with prominent networking and IT infrastructure companies. Kiran earned his degree in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Level 1 in 2007 from the Hindustan Aerospace and Engineering college in Maharashtra, India, and later went on to study Information Technology at the Cisco Networking Academy.
Recent Blogs
- Technician Retention: The Key to Growing Your Collision Repair Business
- SUN Collision Integrates with Manager SE / ShopKey Shop Management Systems
- SUN Collision Announces Return of its ‘Thank You Thursdays!’ Sweepstakes
- SUN Collision to Showcase Auto Body Repair Innovations at SEMA
- SUN Collision Congratulates Anthony McNee, Winner of the Inaugural Best Repair Planner/Estimator Award