Technology is changing the way motor retailers work and communicate with staff and customers.

Delegates at next month’s AM Financial Challenges in Motor Retail conference will hear from Gary Turner, product marketing director at Microsoft, on how business solutions already assist in building all the relationships that the industry thrives on, and are set to develop them further in the next five years.

Turner told AM that technology is enabling dealers and vehicle manufacturers to adopt much more customer-centric practices, as well as gain a deeper understanding and insight into the performance of the business and its key operations.

Turner added: “Email, intranets and customer relationship management tools combine to form a fast and efficient framework upon which everyone can better connect and share information together.”

He said the smartest businesses use software solutions to strengthen their team’s performance, not emulate it. “People want to deal with people and it is sometimes easy to frustrate this basic need by replacing key personal engagements with automated processes. The best deployed technology tools and processes should amplify customer service, not thwart it.”

The AM Financial Challenges in Motor Retail conference is on November 13 at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena. Visit www.am-finance.co.uk for full details and booking information.