Your service department is one of your biggest profit centers. But your service department is also the most expensive to operate. So, it needs to run like a well-oiled machine.

From less new equipment inventory to display in the showroom to charging stations and drone stations — the features of the farm equipment dealership could look different 10 years down the road.

Technology is a “Force Multiplier” for your dealership. The force multiplier concept comes from the military but to explain it simply, think of a hammer. A hammer amplifies your effort to produce more output.

Moving organizations to the next level challenges dealership executives as they face higher expectations — customer, supplier and employee — as well as the need to compete by anticipating and preparing for industry and demographic changes. These factors, plus the greater scope of mergers and acquisitions, often forces experienced dealership managers to move from their traditional, management heavy responsibilities to a more leadership focused role.

Last Friday, 13 of us from Lessiter Media (publisher of Farm Equipment) attended the Global Leadership Summit. Less than a week after running our two events in Peoria, Ill., including the Dealership Minds Summit (DMS) and the National Strip Tillage Conference, it was good to be on “the other side” as attendees.

Moving organizations to the next level challenges dealership executives as they face higher expectations — customer, supplier and employee — as well as the need to compete by anticipating and preparing for industry and demographic changes. These factors, plus the greater scope of mergers and acquisitions, often forces experienced dealership managers to move from their traditional, management heavy responsibilities to a more leadership focused role.

How much of what we “know” is really true? How much is based on facts? Or is it just what we have always thought? Take the simple task of crossing the street.