COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Strategic Planning in Automotive Operations Management course. This program is designed to provide you with a structured framework for aligning business activities with long-term strategic goals. In an industry shaped by rapid technological change, evolving customer expectations, and competitive market pressures, strategic planning has become essential to sustainable growth, profitability, and operational resilience.

This course begins by defining what strategic planning means within the automotive business context. Participants will explore how to distinguish between strategic, operational, and tactical planning, and understand why aligning everyday operations with broader business goals is essential for driving success in sales, service, and parts operations. The importance of taking a proactive, rather than reactive, approach to decision-making is emphasised throughout.

Analysing the external business environment is a critical foundation for planning. This section explores how to assess economic, regulatory, and technological drivers influencing the automotive sector—such as electric vehicle adoption, online retail platforms, and mobility-as-a-service trends. Tools such as SWOT, PESTLE, and competitor analysis are introduced to guide strategic environmental scanning.

Vision, mission, and core values define an organisation’s strategic identity. This section focuses on how to articulate a clear long-term direction, align organisational values with service delivery and employee behaviour, and ensure the strategic message is communicated consistently across departments and to stakeholders.

Setting strategic objectives provides a measurable foundation for progress. Participants will learn how to define SMART goals across key business functions—such as revenue growth, service capacity, customer retention, and market expansion—and how to link them to departmental KPIs and broader financial performance targets.

Organisational structure must support strategy. This section addresses how to map leadership roles, review departmental alignment, and assess whether the current structure supports planned growth or requires centralisation, delegation, or role clarification. Succession planning and team capability are examined in relation to strategic needs.

Internal operations assessments provide insight into the business’s current strengths and gaps. Participants will explore how to evaluate service throughput, parts inventory control, workshop utilisation, and customer satisfaction data, enabling evidence-based planning and targeted improvement initiatives.

Strategic planning requires efficient allocation of resources. This section outlines how to plan budgets, allocate capital, and deploy human and technological assets in alignment with strategic objectives. Participants will consider how to prioritise investments based on return, risk, and operational need.

Customer relationship strategies must be embedded into the strategic plan. This section focuses on developing retention programs, implementing CRM tools, and managing the entire customer lifecycle—from initial sale to post-service follow-up and loyalty rewards—ensuring a consistent, value-driven experience.

Digital transformation is a key strategic enabler. Participants will evaluate their current systems, identify gaps in automation and integration, and develop a roadmap for implementing solutions such as digital job tracking, online bookings, and cross-departmental data sharing.

Optimising supply chain and inventory processes is essential to workshop and parts performance. This section covers forecasting demand, improving supplier performance, managing lead times, and refining inventory turnover—reducing excess stock while maintaining availability and customer satisfaction.

Human capital planning supports business longevity. Participants will assess workforce capability against future operational needs, create training and upskilling pathways, and implement strategies for attraction, scheduling, and retention to ensure continuity in service quality and knowledge.

Workshop efficiency is a cornerstone of profitability. This section focuses on optimising bay scheduling, reducing repair cycle times, and aligning job assignments with technician skills and equipment availability. Efficient workflow design is explored as a lever for capacity and customer satisfaction.

Financial forecasting supports informed strategy. Participants will learn to project revenue and model profitability across business units, using market data and internal performance trends. Cost structures, margins, and pricing strategies are evaluated to guide sustainable financial planning.

Strategic risk management protects the business from volatility. This section provides methods for identifying and mitigating risks related to compliance, market dynamics, workforce issues, and environmental factors. Regulatory compliance and risk planning are integrated into all strategic activities.

Change management is essential to implementation. This section explores how to lead transformation initiatives, communicate strategic direction across departments, and build engagement and buy-in. Participants will also explore methods for overcoming resistance and embedding change through ongoing reinforcement.

External partnerships are critical to long-term success. Participants will develop approaches to managing relationships with OEMs, financiers, suppliers, and industry regulators. Service level agreements, shared initiatives, and collaborative planning are highlighted as tools for strategic alignment.

Measurement ensures strategy remains relevant. This section covers the use of dashboards, scorecards, and operational reports to track strategic progress. Scheduled reviews, feedback loops, and adaptive planning processes ensure the strategic plan evolves in response to internal performance and external change.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to lead strategic planning processes that drive operational excellence, long-term profitability, and business sustainability in a rapidly evolving automotive industry environment.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Strategic Planning in Automotive Operations

• Defining strategic planning in the context of automotive businesses
• Importance of aligning operations with strategic goals
• Distinguishing between strategic, operational, and tactical planning

2. Analysing the Automotive Business Environment

• Understanding industry trends: EVs, digital retailing, mobility services
• Analysing economic, regulatory, and technological drivers
• Using SWOT, PESTLE, and competitor analysis tools

3. Setting Vision, Mission, and Core Values

• Defining purpose and long-term direction for the organisation
• Aligning values with service delivery and staff conduct
• Communicating strategic intent to internal and external stakeholders

4. Establishing Strategic Objectives and KPIs

• Setting measurable goals for sales, service, parts, customer retention, and expansion
• Linking KPIs to financial and operational performance
• Ensuring objectives are SMART and department-specific

5. Mapping Organisational Structure and Roles

• Reviewing leadership responsibilities across departments
• Aligning structure with strategic priorities
• Identifying gaps in leadership and succession planning

6. Conducting Internal Operations Assessments

• Auditing service capacity, parts inventory, workshop utilisation, and lead times
• Evaluating customer service standards and satisfaction scores
• Assessing workforce performance and productivity metrics

7. Strategic Resource Planning and Allocation

• Planning budgets to support growth and operational needs
• Allocating tools, technology, and human capital efficiently
• Evaluating ROI for new resources or system upgrades

8. Customer Relationship and Retention Strategies

• Developing a long-term customer lifecycle strategy
• Implementing CRM tools and service retention programs
• Leveraging post-sale engagement and loyalty incentives

9. Digital Transformation and Technology Integration

• Assessing current software and system limitations
• Implementing online booking, CRM, inventory, and workflow tools
• Integrating data across sales, service, and parts departments

10. Supply Chain and Inventory Optimisation

• Forecasting demand for parts and consumables
• Managing supplier performance, costs, and lead times
• Improving parts-to-labour ratios and stock turnover

11. Human Capital Planning and Team Development

• Aligning workforce skills with future operational demands
• Developing training and upskilling strategies for technicians and advisors
• Workforce planning, scheduling, and retention initiatives

12. Workshop Efficiency and Operational Workflow Planning

• Planning for bay scheduling, technician allocation, and repair cycle time
• Streamlining diagnostics, quotes, approvals, and service delivery
• Aligning job types with available skills and equipment

13. Financial Forecasting and Profitability Modelling

• Projecting revenue across departments using historical and market data
• Modelling profit scenarios based on cost structures and pricing strategies
• Reviewing break-even points and contribution margins

14. Risk Management and Regulatory Compliance

• Identifying strategic risks: legal, environmental, market-related
• Ensuring compliance with safety, data, and employment regulations
• Building a proactive risk mitigation strategy

15. Change Management and Strategic Communication

• Leading change initiatives with clear planning and communication
• Overcoming resistance and building buy-in from teams
• Cascading strategy through departments and performance systems

16. Partner and Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Engaging suppliers, financiers, OEMs, and external stakeholders strategically
• Creating shared value through long-term collaboration
• Managing service-level agreements and strategic partnerships

17. Measuring Strategic Progress and Reviewing Plans

• Using dashboards, scorecards, and operational reports
• Scheduling quarterly or annual strategic review sessions
• Adapting plans based on performance feedback and market changes

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.