The summer is, unfortunately, winding down. Shorter days and cooler nights signal the end of fun in the sun, at least up here in the Northeast, and usher in the back-to-school season.
As the kids prepare to hit the classrooms for another year of learning, it is a good time to take stock of your continuing education. Yes, for most of us, the days in the classroom are a distant, fading memory, but that doesn’t mean we should stop learning and evolving.
Continuing education is one of our major themes this month. Anthony Analetto kicks things off with his monthly “Wash Front’’ column where he draws parallels from the ever-popular “Groundhog Day” movie, encouraging operators to learn from their missteps and to stop making the same mistakes twice.
Every operator has dealt with downed equipment that has reduced the wash’s effectiveness, or worse, forced it to close while it is repaired. There is nothing worse than disappointing or turning away customers. Analetto encourages operators to build redundancy into their sites, so if a piece of equipment does need to be turned off and/or repaired, the wash can continue operating effectively while it is.
While Analetto encourages readers to learn from their mistakes, Prentice St. Clair takes a different approach to the education theme with a deep dive into the finer points of carpet cleaning. He provides readers with some simple carpet cleaning processes that, if implemented correctly, can save them time, help produce a superior product, and keep customers coming back for more.
In our annual look at car wash insurance, Kimberly Grizzle provides readers with an eye-opening education on the evolving state of artificial intelligence in the car wash space. AI has become a mainstay in business, helping operators streamline their operations and offload mundane tasks, allowing them to focus on growing their business.
While AI has plenty of benefits, operators must protect themselves from some of the potential risks involved with the modern AI-powered enterprise. Grizzle gives a course on the next-gen coverage options car care professionals should consider to ensure they are not held responsible for an unexpected AI gaffe.
These articles can help fill in operators’ educational gaps, but I certainly encourage everyone in the industry to dedicate themselves to continued learning. Devoting even an hour or two a month to reading industry forums, listening to business podcasts, attending seminars, etc. can be the difference between leading from the front and watching your competitors pass you by.
You are never too old to go back to school.