With the recent updates on the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to provide shop owners with some tips for limiting the risk of exposure and reducing concerns that stem from the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope your auto repair business can use some of these suggestions to help your guests and staff.
1. Monitor Qualified News Sources
The most accurate and up-to-date information about COVID-19 will come from the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization websites. They also produce content on social media platforms such as Twitter and YouTube. We have even seen businesses print out helpful content and post it in their businesses such as infographics on how to properly wash hands.
2. Clean and Disinfect Often
Wash and sanitize your hands after every guest and staff interaction and avoid touching your face. In addition, on the CDC website, you can find best practices for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces around your shop. These standards should extend to disinfecting tools, keyboards, touch screens, the interiors of vehicles handled by you or your team, and the interiors of any shuttle service that you use to shuttle guests to and from your shop.
3. Increase the Use of Mobile Communication
Limit face-to-face time and exchanges with guests and team members as much as possible. Some shop systems like Tekmetric allows shop owners to provide digital inspections and estimates as well as paperless billing, which can greatly limit the handling of paper receipts, paper estimates, cash, and credit cards. Leveraging integrations like Slack also allow your team members to communicate without having to get too close to one another. Instead of hi-fives and handshakes, give your guests and team a smile, a wave and a thumbs up, whether it’s in person or via direct message.
4. Consider Using a No-Contact Dropbox
Give guests the option to drop off their keys without having to come into the shop. Remember to disinfect the keys and vehicles before and after each job and to communicate or even disinfect the property in front of the customers.
5. Offer Mobile Services
If possible, offer to pick up and drop off customer vehicles. Once again, remember to sanitize and disinfect before and after each job. Or if customers become hesitant to come in for routine maintenance; take away their concerns by offering specials on mobile services that can be done easily outside of the shop.
6. Advise All Staff To Stay Home if They Feel Sick
According to the Center for Disease Control, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. People who are more at risk of being highly affected by COVID-19 include older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease.
7. Stay in Touch With Your Community
More than likely, other community leaders just like you are checking in with those around them and seeing what they can do to help their neighbors. Keep an eye out for information from local stakeholders such as government officials, non-profits, businesses, religious institutions, associations, or those who may oversee communicating with one another or providing supplies.
Share supplies if possible and offer to pick up groceries for older customers if you have the capabilities. Think: What can I do to help other people?
Another way you can stay in touch with your community is by using your social media platforms to let your customers know your shop hours and how your operations may change.
Conclusion
Stay vigilant and committed to your staff and guests’ well being. They will appreciate not only the hard work that you put into servicing vehicles but also the effort you put into making sure everyone is safe and accounted for.