IIAE Launches Online Learning Site for Auto Retailing Professionals
Auto dealerships dedicate substantial time and money to training and education, hoping to equip staff with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills in all aspects of automotive retailing. Their attention is shifting to online learning for their personnel in need of advanced knowledge and skills -- education that can make all the difference to the organization's success, in a more fiercely competitive environment than automotive retailing has ever known.
Web-based staff education is especially attractive to management, since online courses have no "classroom" overhead. This makes online courses far more cost-effective than traditional training programs, and dealers are taking notice of how much farther their training dollars can go online. Employees also appreciate being able to take courses at their computers, in the comfort of their homes, rather than leaving work or home to sit in a classroom.
In response to this demand for high quality certification programs in key areas of the industry, the International Institute of Automotive Education is preparing to welcome its first class of online students in November, 2006.
IIAE's program includes certifications in sales, marketing, finance and insurance, fixed operations, and aftermarket. Graduates can receive certifications at three different levels of expertise, signifying that they have completed advanced studies to enhance their skills in key dealership functions.
Courses are designed by prestigious faculty who are seasoned professionals in automotive retailing, with a broad range of successful experience in the industry. Students study at their own pace, with IIAE resources available online around the clock, to accommodate even the busiest home and work life demands.
The IIAE curriculum also includes courses on the history of the automotive industry, the influence of the global economy, and techniques for building customer satisfaction across all departments. Courses in legal and ethical concerns, regulatory requirements, and cutting-edge approaches to marketing, staffing, supply chain relationships, and financial management are also part of the student's coursework.
Shawn Burst, founder of IIAE, created the "university" after many years of watching dealerships struggle to meet their staff training needs. IIAE's goal in providing this training is to enable these dealers to efficiently train their staff, and, in turn, create a positive return on their investment. "Automotive retailing may be the most highly competitive industry sector in the country today. The need for staff development is critical. If its employees have the most modern tools and instruction available to hone their skills toward improving the bottom line, it can significantly benefit a dealership under pressure to meet performance goals."
Burst says that IIAE's online course delivery system removes obstacles to continuing education for both students and their employers. "Enabling dealers to pick precisely the type of studies and courses their staff needs, and to get that valuable education without having employees away from the dealership during the day, is a tremendous innovation. IIAE certificate programs will enable both employees and dealers to realize the benefits of training in the most cost-effective manner possible."
IIAE is now accepting registrations for its first certification classes. Information and registration forms are available at www.iioae.com.
The History of Early Self-Propelled Vehicles.
By Sandy GrossmanLearn how history predicts every important development in the modern automotive industry More
