Kia is currently trialling its new Kia Genius programme with six dealerships across the country taking part – each employing a ‘Kia Genius’.
Kia identified a shift in its customers’ habits with the increase in digital and mobile technologies that in some cases can remove the personal aspect from the buying process. This new scheme, which has been developed to address the changing nature of how customers buy cars, hopes to help Kia’s dealers achieve that goal.
Working to bridge the gap between the online experience and what is delivered in the showrooms, the Kia Genius will focus on matching what the customer wants from their next car – whether that is fuel efficiency, the latest technologies or having a boot big enough to fit their two dogs in – to the correct model. The Kia Genius will be able to provide a personal and informative service without pressurising customers into a sale further enhancing the customer experience within dealerships, and in turn, increasing customer satisfaction.
“At Kia, we are constantly striving to improve the service in our dealerships,” says Ian Goswell, Academy Manager at Kia Motors UK Ltd. “We hope that the current six Kia Geniuses will inspire our customers and build commitment to the brand and we are actively looking to expand the scheme wider across the dealer network.”
Kia is continuing to actively recruit Geniuses for another seven dealers who have volunteered to be part of the pilot programme. The bespoke training that will ensure all recruits are able to continue to develop their knowledge, so that they can assist the customer through product presentations and test-drives. The Kia Geniuses will become the ultimate Kia experts, responsible for matching the customer’s requirements to the correct model.
Kia Geniuses are now employed at the following dealers: Bolton Kia – Lee Clayton; Gravells (Narberth) – Ieuan Griffiths; Gravells (Swansea) – Adam Williams; Park’s (Bathgate) – Brian Thomson; Hendy (Cosham) – Harry Bell; Victor Wood (Grantham) – Mikhail Clarke
Kia is currently accepting applications for this programme. http://www.kia.co.uk/about-kia/careers.aspx for more information about this role.
