August 31, 2009 (Burlington, VT) – Dealer.com, the global leader of online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, today announced the launch of comprehensive employee training and development programs. Already renowned for keeping auto dealership clients two to four years ahead of the competition, the new training initiatives further ensure that Dealer.com team members lead the industry in knowledge and skills at all levels of the organization. The customized, unrivaled training programs are also designed to preserve the company’s unique culture and provide growth opportunities for all employees. This extensive investment in development benefits Dealer.com auto dealership customers of all sizes and types, by ensuring thought and service leadership throughout the organization.
Central to the development initiative is uFuel, Dealer.com’s new online learning management system, selected and implemented over the last 14 months. The technologically innovative system was specifically designed to assess staff knowledge and skills at all levels of the organization, including executive. The analysis is then used to provide training to raise the overall knowledge level of the company and consistently provide the industry’s best service and technology. uFuel contains interactive simulations, measures success and knowledge gaps, and creates training programs for areas of improvement.
All new employees also participate in an extensive training program, designed around the new uFuel standards of excellence. Based on this training, new Dealer.com employees achieve Pro-level certification. This training and certification ensures that all employees have extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, leading online marketing strategies and techniques, and dealership best practices. Further, all current employees are scheduled to reach Pro-level certification by the end of 2009. Recertification will then be required on an ongoing basis to reflect technology and industry changes.
Dealer.com is also launching the innovative new Leadership Development Program in conjunction with a grant from the state of Vermont and a partnership with Champlain College business school. This exclusive, customized management training has been in development for the past 16 months. The inaugural program begins this fall and will include high-potential staff members who will engage in 52 weeks of MBA-level course work, tailored to maintain Dealer.com’s unique culture. The management program will develop the company’s future leaders internally and ensure the highest level of management quality throughout the organization.
“We have the best and brightest employees in the industry and take pride in our strategic technology and marketing leadership. We have a proactive approach to providing training to make sure that every Dealer.com employee offers our customers the best industry knowledge and service,” commented Mike Lane, Dealer.com COO. “Our training and development programs are yet another initiative to keep our dealers ahead of the competition.”