HACKENSACK, N.J. -

A new product being deployed to hundreds of dealerships could help them increase profits by a quarter million dollars or more each year, its maker says, by assessing employee engagement.

Strativity Group Inc. late last week announced the release of its Automotive IMCO Model for assessing automotive dealership employee engagement.

The product is being deployed to 30,000 employees at more than 450 auto dealerships, the company said, representing manufacturers such as Toyota, Hyundai, Audi, Ford and Mercedes-Benz.

The IMCO Model monitors what Strativity Group calls the four “core relationships” of Individual, Manager, Customer and Organization. Measuring performance in these areas can help dealers pinpoint ways to increase employee engagement and improve their bottom line.

According to Strativity Group’s analysis, a 10 percent increase in employee engagement could impact operating profits at a non-luxury dealership by more than $260,000 per year. That number jumps to more than $350,000 annually at luxury car dealerships.

The IMCO Model is designed to enable organizations to identify drivers for employee engagement, Strativity Group officials said, and recognize links between employees and customers.

The tool also can prioritize actions for dealers to take, customize questions to address an organization’s culture and business issues, and provide benchmarks against a national database.

“Customer experience is the new battleground for car manufacturers and dealers; car quality and store design are the table stakes," said Lior Arussy, chief executive officer of Strativity Group . “Employee engagement is a critical component in delivering a differentiated customer experience. Those who embrace it early will reap the benefits.”

The Automotive IMCO Model is available with customized consulting to develop dealership-specific action plans, the company said.