How OPE Dealers Are Staying Efficient During the Mid-Season Rush – Insights from our Community

If you’re an OPE dealer in June, chances are your shop floor is buzzing, your service department is full, and your team is juggling orders, repairs, and customer expectations. You’re not alone. 

In a recent discussion with our dealers, several business owners and managers shared what’s working — all centered around adaptability, process improvement, and team empowerment. 

Here’s a look at the key takeaways every dealer can use to stay ahead during the busiest time of year. 

Inventory vs. Space 

Dealers are seeing strong product movement and steady shipments from suppliers — but the challenge is where to put everything. 

Dealers are tackling this by: 

• • Clearing out back storage areas to make room 
  • Prioritizing high-demand units for display 
  • Coordinating with suppliers to stagger deliveries 
  • Moving older or excess inventory quickly through promotions or bundling 

Takeaway: Make space part of your sales strategy — don’t just react to overflow. Proactively clear the way for what’s coming next. 

Only Accept Shipments When You’re Ready 

Not every delivery needs to be taken immediately. Dealers are learning to push back or delay when space simply isn’t available. 

Best practices include: 

• • Scheduling incoming shipments during off-peak hours or slower days 
  • Communicating storage limits to suppliers early 
  • Accepting partial shipments when needed 
  • Aligning sales and service to ensure outgoing units free up space 

Takeaway: Be strategic about when — and how — you say “yes” to deliveries. 

Using CRM Tools to your Advantage 

Instead of chasing down serial numbers or guessing at a customer’s last service, dealers are using TargetCRM systems are cutting through the chaos. 

Benefits they’re seeing: 

• • Faster follow-ups with customers 
  • Immediate access to service histories and schematics 
  • Clear records of text, call, and service interactions 
  • Less time wasted looking for info — more time closing sales 

Takeaway: A well-used CRM isn’t a luxury during busy season — it’s a must-have. 

Texting is Beating Calling 

Customers don’t always want a phone call — especially when they’re busy too. Dealers are finding texting is not only more efficient but often gets quicker responses. 

Why it works: 

• • Texts are easier to send during busy service days 
  • Customers can reply on their own time 
  • It creates a record of communication that’s easy to reference 
  • Team members can multitask without being tied to the phone 

Takeaway: Incorporate texting into your customer service process through TargetCRM— it saves time and makes follow-ups easier for everyone. 

Empowering Staff Cuts Down on Owner Bottlenecks 

One common pain point? Owners being the go-to person for everything. Successful dealers are putting systems in place that shift customer contact to the team. 

What’s working: 

• • Training parts and service staff to be customer-facing experts 
  • Giving team members ownership of follow-ups 
  • Encouraging customers to build relationships with departments, not just ownership 
  • Reassuring customers that “the boss” isn’t the only one who can help 

Takeaway: Your team is your strength. Let them lead, and you’ll free yourself up to run the business — not just react to it. 

Final Thoughts: Mid-Season Success Comes Down to Operational Discipline 

Whether it’s managing storage space, getting smarter about communications, or using your CRM more effectively, the common thread in all of these dealer strategies is clear: small operational shifts can make a big impact. 

Here’s a quick recap of what’s working: 

• • Clear inventory quickly to make room for new stock 
  • Delay or stagger shipments if space is tight 
  • Use CRM tools to keep sales and service moving efficiently 
  • Text, don’t call, when possible — it saves time 
  • Let your team take the lead with customers 
  • Reinforce key messages with shared meeting content 

It’s not about adding more — it’s about doing what you already do, just more intentionally.