Competition was keen, with professional pride and reputations on the line as five teams from Al-Futtaim Motors strived to demonstrate that they could run the most profitable automotive dealership in the business! In a recent Toyota Dealership business simulation held at Al-Futtaim Training Centre, the teams were tasked with designing and executing a three year strategy in a cause and effect type case study simulation, carefully managing purchase inventory, gross margins, trade in values, asset investment, organisational expenditures and the impacts of their competitors strategies to ensure that their business was the most profitable.

With support from partners at the Toyota Global Knowledge Centre in the US, the management teams gained a greater awareness of industry strategies in application, the fine balance between opposing business needs, competitor impact, financial and commercial acumen and how the various elements of their businesses require alignment and integration.

The highly sophisticated business simulation took consultants BTS a year to develop, comprehensively covering all elements of a dealership including new car sales, used car sales, after sales service, parts, accessories, finance and other value added services.

These types of resources and principal partnerships are critical to the future success of Al-Futtaim's automotive businesses. They provide 'game day' experience for managers to practice a variety of tactics, allowing for accelerated management development, and enabling new managers to experience the real life responsibilities that come with running a complex business operation. By encouraging managers to think beyond the static and reactionary, they provide a competitive advantage against other regional competitors. Toyota Global Knowledge Centre will return in October to conduct a similar programme for Al-Futtaim Motors' senior after sales management teams.