The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) announced the launch of its all-new Service Advisor Certification Program — a high-demand, position-specific certification designed to elevate a dealership’s service department by boosting technician efficiency, driving up revenue and profits, and transforming customer experience.
“Not only does the service advisor spend the most time with the customer over their ownership cycle compared to every other position,” said Valerie Ziebron, lead instructor and subject matter expert at VRZ Consulting, “but they are the gatekeeper to the dealership’s most complex department.”
When you register a team member for MRAA’s Service Advisor Certification Program, you can be confident that, by the end, they will be equipped with the skills, tools and strategies to enhance communication, streamline processes, make the shop more money and deliver exceptional customer service, the association said in a release.
To build MRAA’s Service Advisor Certification, the education team and Ziebron consulted with leading service department professionals who shared proven solutions to common service pain points and samples of practical and effective tools to be shared as part of this program.
The Service Advisor Certification program includes a seven-course, online training package, a 124-page printed workbook and study guide, and dozens of downloadable digital resources, customizable tools and templates.
This robust educational offering covers critical areas such as: Effective communication, customer retention strategies, time management and organization, conflict resolution, and sales strategies. Participants will have from Oct. 22, 2024 to Jan. 20, 2025 to complete the program on their schedule. They will have the opportunity to earn their official credential through a proctored online exam.
“Our Service Advisor Certification program focuses on developing the essential skills that turn a service professional into a Master Advisor, invaluable to the dealership’s success,” said Liz Walz, MRAA vice president of education. “Thanks to training that features marine industry expertise and real-world solutions, participants will walk away with the knowledge and tools to exceed customer expectations and improve service department performance.”
MRAA’s Service Advisor Certification program comes on the heels of the Service Management Certification program developed in partnership between MRAA and the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), launched in January 2024 and available now for an MRAA fall session. Nearly 50 service management professionals participated in MRAA’s first Service Management Certification class in the spring, and more continue to join the class this fall.
To learn more about or enroll in Service Advisor Certification, visit mraa.com/service-advisor-certification. For more on the ABYC / MRAA Service Management Certification program, visit mraa.com/servicecertification.