9:28 am, February 13, 2014
A NISSAN dealership has implemented Formula One-style standards and technology to make sure it’s in pole position.
Inspired by a VIP visit to Sebastian Vettel’s Infiniti Red Bull Racing pits at the recent Dubai Grand Prix, bosses at Exter-based JFE Nissan have transformed the dealership’s 12-bay service centre into an state-of-the-art environment more befitting motor racing’s elite.
The transformation, which has cost tens of thousands of pounds, has included a complete re-fit and high-tech surveillance cameras that allow customers to view every aspect of their car’s service on a TV screen in the showroom or remotely on a laptop, tablet or smartphone.
JFE has also added the Nissan’s innovative eVision system – through which each service customer receives a detailed video of any repairs their vehicle needs – new overalls and the appointment of a new full-time workshop maintenance technician with the task of maintaining surgical conditions of cleanliness.
JFE Nissan dealer principal, Matthew Holcombe (pictured), said: ‘I was on a Nissan incentive trip to the Dubai Grand Prix and I was blown away by the condition of the Red Bull pits and the professional manner in which the team members worked.
‘Afterwards, I thought we could replicate those kinds of conditions and working practices back at the dealership and, if anything, do it even better than they did.
‘Ultimately, of course, our aim is to improve the standards of care and service we offer our customers by making everything totally transparent and allowing them to monitor every aspect of their vehicle’s maintenance.
‘So far, the feedback we’ve had from our customers has been phenomenal.’
Group service controller, Pete Lascelles, was the man tasked with giving the workshop its motorsport makeover and he too is delighted with the results.
He said: ‘To our knowledge there are no companies out there who specialise in this sort of camera system for the vehicle aftersales industry so we tasked the experts from our alarm company to go away and design something completely bespoke.
‘You might have expected installing cameras would make some people uncomfortable but the reaction we’ve had from our team has been amazing. They absolutely love the new system and they now feel a real sense of pride in coming to work in such a top class environment. We’ve also seen a significant rise in productivity and efficiency.’
