Abstract:
Systems and methods for calculating service market share, benchmarking service market share, and generating improvement guidance. The systems and methods facilitate analyzing and improving dealer service market share.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to improving dealer service market share. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Dealer service includes repair and maintenance performed by dealers such as automotive dealerships. Dealer service market share metrics and benchmarks can be biased and provide unfair measures that are not accepted by a dealer network. For example, such metrics can make good performers look bad and poor performers appear good. In addition, very little actionable information is provided to dealers who want to improve. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present technology relates to improving dealer service market share. For example, the present technology prevents dealers from being fooled by randomness, which occurs when they only see their very limited and biased service data. 
         [0004]    According to an exemplary embodiment, a method for calculating service market share, benchmarking service market share, and generating improvement guidance is described. 
         [0005]    The method facilitates analyzing and improving dealer service market share. Improved dealer service market share increases the revenue and profit from parts, and increases the profitability of the dealer network. Indirectly, increased dealer service market share increases new vehicle sales because there is a positive relationship between dealer service and new sales. 
         [0006]    The method provides a more granular measure of service market share and a measure of network efficiency. The method also provides benchmarks to evaluate the measure of service market share and network efficiency. For example, a benchmark is used to compare a dealer to an aggregation of dealers, such as aggregation of dealers that have a similar measure of competition, and thereby identify opportunities for the dealer to improve. The measures also enables a granular corporate view of service demand and competition. 
         [0007]    Other aspects of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates schematically a system including a computing architecture, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a method, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates schematically a first dealer in a first area and a second dealer in a second area. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a bar graph illustrating values of a first measure of service market share, for different service types, and for each of an interest dealer and an aggregation of comparison dealers. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a bar graph illustrating values of a second measure of service market share, for different service types, and for each of an interest dealer and an aggregation of comparison dealers. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a bar graph illustrating values of a third measure of service market share, for different service types, and for each of an interest dealer and an aggregation of comparison dealers. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a bar graph illustrating a number of additional repair orders that would be gained if an interest dealer achieves a value of service market share of an aggregation of comparison dealers, for different sales-area categories. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a bar graph illustrating a number of additional repair orders that would be gained if an interest dealer achieves a value of service market share of an aggregation of comparison dealers, for different service types. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a bar graph illustrating values of network efficiency for each of an interest dealer and an aggregation of comparison dealers, for various service types. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized, such as to show details of particular components. In some instances, well-known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms, and combinations thereof. As used herein, for example, “exemplary,” and similar terms, refer expansively to embodiments that serve as an illustration, specimen, model or pattern. 
         [0019]    While the present technology is described primarily herein in connection with automobile dealers that service automobiles, the technology is not limited to automobile dealers. The concepts can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as in connection with aircraft, marine craft, farm equipment, construction equipment, major home appliances (e.g., central AC), and other. 
         [0020]    The present disclosure describes systems and methods that include an improved metric of service market share and a benchmark by which to evaluate service market share. 
         [0021]    As described herein, the term “service market share” refers to a measure (e.g., observed or estimated using a model) of how many of the services within a category are attributed to a dealer. Exemplary categories are based on whether a vehicle (represented, e.g., by a vehicle identification number (VIN)) is associated with an area that is associated with a dealer and whether the dealer sold the vehicle. A vehicle can be associated with an area in various ways including where the vehicle&#39;s owner resides in the area or is employed in the area. A dealer can be associated with an area in various ways including where the dealer is located in the area. 
         [0022]    According to one embodiment, a system  10  is configured to perform a method  100 .  FIG. 1  illustrates schematically features of the system  10 . The system  10  includes a computing unit  30 . The computing unit  30  includes a processor  40  for controlling and/or processing data, input/output data ports  42 , and a memory  50 . Connecting infrastructure within the system  10 , such as one or more data buses and wireless transceivers, are not shown in detail in order to simplify the figures. 
         [0023]    The processor could be multiple processors, which could include distributed processors or parallel processors in a single machine or multiple machines. The processor could include virtual processor(s). The processor could include a state machine, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), programmable gate array (PGA) including a Field PGA, or state machine. When a processor executes instructions to perform “operations,” this could include the processor performing the operations directly and/or facilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or component to perform the operations. 
         [0024]    The memory  50  can include a variety of computer-readable media, including volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. The term “computer-readable media” and variants thereof, as used in the specification and claims, includes storage media. Storage media includes volatile and/or non-volatile, removable and/or non-removable media, such as, for example, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CDROM, DVD, or other optical disk storage, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices or any other medium that is configured to be used to store information that can be accessed by the processor  40 . 
         [0025]    While the memory  50  is illustrated as residing proximate the processor  40 , it should be understood that at least a portion of the memory can be a remotely accessed storage system, for example, a server on a communication network, a remote hard disk drive, a removable storage medium, combinations thereof, and the like. Thus, any of the data, applications, and/or software described below can be stored within the memory and/or accessed via network connections to other data processing systems (not shown) that may include a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), or a wide area network (WAN), for example. 
         [0026]    The memory  50  includes several categories of software and data used in the computing unit  30  including applications  60 , a database  70 , an operating system  80 , and input/output device drivers  90 . 
         [0027]    The operating system  80  may be any operating system for use with a data processing system. The input/output device drivers  90  may include various routines accessed through the operating system  80  by the applications to communicate with devices, and certain memory components. The applications  60  can be stored in the memory  50  and/or in a firmware (not shown) as executable instructions, and can be executed by the processor  40 . 
         [0028]    The applications  60  include various programs that, when executed by the processor  40 , implement the various features of the computing unit  30 . The applications  60  include applications described in further detail with respect to exemplary methods. The applications  60  are stored in the memory  50  and are configured to be executed by the processor  40 . 
         [0029]    The term “application,” or variants thereof, is used expansively herein to include routines, program modules, programs, components, data structures, algorithms, and the like. Applications can be implemented on various system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based, programmable consumer electronics, combinations thereof, and the like. 
         [0030]    The applications  60  may use data stored in the database  70 . The database  70  includes static and/or dynamic data used by the applications  60 , the operating system  80 , the input/output device drivers  90  and other software programs that may reside in the memory  50 . 
         [0031]    It should be understood that  FIG. 1  and the description above are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which the various aspects of some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. While the description refers to computer-readable instructions, embodiments of the present disclosure also can be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and software in addition to, or instead of, computer readable instructions. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary method  100  that facilitates analyzing and improving service market share, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the steps of the method  100  are not necessarily presented in any particular order and that performance of some or all the steps in an alternative order is possible and is contemplated. The steps have been presented in the demonstrated order for ease of description and illustration. Steps can be added, omitted and/or performed simultaneously without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 
         [0033]    It should also be understood that the illustrated method  100  can be ended at any time. In certain embodiments, some or all steps of this process, and/or substantially equivalent steps are performed by execution of computer-readable instructions stored or included on a computer readable medium, such as the memory  50  of the computing unit  30  described above, for example. 
         [0034]    The method  100  begins  102  and flow proceeds to blocks  104 ,  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 . Block  104  is associated with computer executable instructions for accessing and sorting dealer service data; blocks  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114  are associated with computer executable instructions for generating values of dealer service market share, group service market share, and network efficiency; and blocks  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are associated with computer executable instructions for generating an objects to provide feedback and guidance, for example, to an interest dealer. 
         [0035]    In block  104 , the processor  40  accesses dealer service data  200  stored in the memory  50 . The dealer service data  200  includes data that represents vehicles (e.g., same-brand vehicles, units in operation (UIO)), the dealer (or dealers) that have serviced the vehicle, the location of the customer who owns the vehicle, and the service type. The dealer service data  200  for a dealer is sorted or filtered into different categories or sets. 
         [0036]    The dealer service data  200  is sorted by service type (e.g., repair type). Service types include lube-oil-filter (LOF), brakes, tires, suspension, batteries, filters, wipers, belts and hoses, AC/Cooling, transmission, engine, ignition, emissions, electronic control modules (ECM), electrical/wiring, steering, fuel system, drive train, chassis, starter/alternator, heating, exhaust, body, lighting, accessories, wheels, and the like. 
         [0037]    The dealer service data  200  is then further sorted into categories based on sales and geography. For example, for each service type, one or more cells of Table 1 represent a category based on sales and geography, as described in further detail below. The variables a, b, c, d and A, B, C, D in Table 1 represent a number of services in a category for a first dealer and a first service type, as described in further detail below. In general, a set of vehicles is generated for each dealer, category, and service type. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Sold 
                 Not Sold 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 In Area 
                 a 
                 b 
               
               
                   
                   
                 A 
                 B 
               
               
                   
                 Out of Area 
                 c 
                 d 
               
               
                   
                   
                 C 
                 D 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0038]    In Table 1, variables a, b, c, d are numbers of a first service type. 
         [0039]    Variable a is the number of the first service type by the first dealer for vehicles that were sold by the first dealer to customers residing in the first dealer&#39;s area (e.g., a repair order (RO) includes the first service type); variable b is the number of the first service type by the first dealer for vehicles that were sold by another dealer (e.g., a second dealer) to customers residing in the first dealer&#39;s area; variable c is the number of the first service type by the first dealer for vehicles that were sold by the first dealer to customers residing out of the first dealer&#39;s area (e.g., in a second dealer&#39;s area); and variable d is the number of the first service type by the first dealer for vehicles that were sold by another dealer (e.g., a third dealer) to customers residing out of the first dealer&#39;s area. 
         [0040]    In certain embodiments, a service by a dealer is included in the number of services by the dealer only if the service is performed within a certain time window. For example, the time window is within one year since sale, two to six years since sale, or more than six years since sale. In certain embodiments, a service by a dealer is included in the number of services based on if the service is performed on a vehicle that was bought in new condition and still owned or based on if the service is performed on a vehicle that was bought in used condition. 
         [0041]    In Table 1, variables A, B, C, D are the numbers of vehicles that are eligible for a service type in a category. An eligible vehicle is a unit in operation for which a service is possible. Here, the number of eligible vehicles represents the estimated number of services that can be performed. Whether a vehicle is an eligible vehicle can be based on model and age or otherwise using failure rate data. 
         [0042]    Variable A is the number of eligible vehicles that were sold by the first dealer to customers residing in the first dealer&#39;s area; variable B the number of eligible vehicles that were sold by another dealer (e.g., a second dealer) to customers residing in the first dealer&#39;s area; variable C is the number of eligible vehicles that were sold by the first dealer to customers residing out of the first dealer&#39;s area; and variable D is the number of eligible vehicles that were sold by another dealer (e.g., a second dealer) to customers residing out of the first dealer&#39;s area. 
         [0043]    The cells of Table 1 represent two relationships between a dealer and a customer: a sales-based relationship and a geography-based relationship. By sorting the dealer service data  200  into categories, a finer, more granular measure of service market share (r) can be determined for each service type. 
         [0044]    Blocks  106 ,  108  are associated with computer executable instructions for generating values of dealer service market share and network efficiency. 
         [0045]    In block  106 , the processor  40  calculates values of dealer service market share r k  using the sorted dealer service data  200 . For example, values of dealer service market share r 1 , r 2 , r 3 , r 4  are calculated for a first service type s using values for the variables of Table 1 as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               r 
               1 
             
             = 
             
               a 
               A 
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               2 
             
             = 
             
               b 
               B 
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               3 
             
             = 
             
               c 
               C 
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               4 
             
             = 
             
               d 
               D 
             
           
         
       
     
         [0046]    In block  108 , in addition to dealer service market share r 1 , r 2 , r 3 , r 4 , a network efficiency NE is calculated based on dealer service market shares r 1 , r 2 , r 3 . Further described, the network efficiency NE is a metric that reflects dealer service market share among the sales-geography categories of sold-in-market (r 1 ), not-sold-in-market (r 2 ), and sold-not-in-market (r 3 ). 
         [0047]    Network efficiency NE for a dealer is calculated based on the sold-in-market dealer service market share r 1 , the not-sold-in-market dealer service market share r 2 , and the sold-out-of-market dealer service market share r 3 . For example, a network efficiency loss NE L  is calculated as: 
         [0000]        NE   L   =r   1   −r   2   −r   3 . 
         [0048]    Network efficiency NE is then calculated as: 
         [0000]        NE= 1− NE   L  
 
         [0049]    Blocks  110 ,  112 ,  114  are associated with computer executable instructions for generating values of group service market share and network efficiency. 
         [0050]    Dealer service market share r 1 , r 2 , r 3  and network efficiency NE are calculated for individual dealers and for aggregations of dealers. Dealers j are aggregated, for example, by district, zone, state, region, national boundary, or a non-geographic characteristic such as brand or business size. Dealers j are also aggregated by creating sets of dealers that face similar levels of competition, as described in further detail below. 
         [0051]    One measure of competition is service density, which can be based, for example, on a number of service providers of service type s and a number of eligible vehicles. A service provider is a facility that offers the same service type s as the interest dealer. These may be dealers of different brands, or independent service providers. These other service providers compete with the interest dealer to provide service type s to customers who reside in the interest dealer&#39;s geography. 
         [0052]    According to the block  110 , for each dealer, a service density is calculated for each service type s. The service density is calculated as the number of vehicles that are eligible for service and associated with the dealer&#39;s geography divided by a number of service type s providers competing for service type s in the dealer&#39;s geography. 
         [0053]    Each of a number of comparison sets then includes dealers who have the same or similar service density (e.g., within a certain range of values). Here, similar service density represents similar degrees of competition for a service type s. 
         [0054]    According to the block  112 , group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  for an aggregation of dealers are generated and displayed. The numbers for variables a, b, c, d, A, B, C, D of Table 1 are accessed for each dealer j in an aggregation of dealers and are then combined. For example, group service market share is calculated as: 
         [0000]    
       
         
           
             
               r 
               1 
               g 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   a 
                   j 
                 
               
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   A 
                   j 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               2 
               g 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   b 
                   j 
                 
               
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   B 
                   j 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               3 
               g 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   c 
                   j 
                 
               
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   C 
                   j 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               r 
               4 
               g 
             
             = 
             
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   d 
                   j 
                 
               
               
                 
                   Σ 
                   j 
                 
                  
                 
                   D 
                   j 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
         [0055]    According to the block  114 , once the group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  for an aggregation of dealers is determined, the network efficiency NE g  is calculated for the aggregation of dealers. Network efficiency NE g  for an aggregation of dealers is calculated based on the sold-in-market group service market share r g   1 , the not-sold-in-market group service market share r g   2 , and the sold-out-of-market group service market share r g   3 . For example, a network efficiency loss NE g   L  is calculated as: 
         [0000]    
       
      
       NE 
       g 
       L 
       =r 
       g 
       1 
       −r 
       g 
       2 
       −r 
       g 
       3  
      
     
         [0056]    Network efficiency NE g  is then calculated as: 
         [0000]        NE   g =1− NE   g   L  
 
         [0057]    Blocks  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  are associated with computer executable instructions for generating objects to provide feedback and guidance to dealers or others based on the dealer service market share, dealer network efficiency, the group service market share, and the group network efficiency. Exemplary objects, including tables and bar charts, are now described in further detail. 
         [0058]    At the block  116 , the processor generates a table comparing an interest dealer to different aggregations of comparison dealers. The different aggregations of comparison dealers may or may not include the interest dealer. The interest dealer can alternatively or additionally be compared to a comparison dealer. 
         [0059]    Similarly, instead or in addition to the interest dealer, the processor generates a table comparing an aggregation of interest dealers to different aggregations of comparison dealers. The different aggregations of comparison dealers may or may not include the aggregations of interest dealers. 
         [0060]    Referring to Table 2, for a service type s, exemplary values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  and values for network efficiency NE g  are shown for different aggregations of dealers. Here, the aggregations of dealers are a district, a zone, a state, a region, a nation, and a competitive set. 
         [0061]    The values are indexed to benchmarked values of service market share and values of network efficiency NE, respectively. For example, where the value meets the benchmarked value, the percentage is 100%; where the value is below the benchmarked value, the percentage is below 100%; and where the value is above the benchmarked value, the percentage is above 100%. The table allows one to analyze aggregations of dealers to evaluate whether the aggregations of dealers have good or poor network optimization. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 r g   1   
                 r g   2   
                 r g   3   
                 NE g   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 District 
                 95% 
                  94% 
                 102% 
                 88% 
               
               
                   
                 Zone 
                 94% 
                  95% 
                 103% 
                 91% 
               
               
                   
                 State 
                 96% 
                 101% 
                 104% 
                 90% 
               
               
                   
                 Region 
                 97% 
                 100% 
                 101% 
                 91% 
               
               
                   
                 National 
                 94% 
                  89% 
                 102% 
                 98% 
               
               
                   
                 Competition Set 
                 109%  
                 102% 
                 121% 
                 107%  
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0062]    Similarly, for a service type s, exemplary values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  and values for network efficiency NE g  can be generated for a different aggregation of dealers. For example, the different aggregation of dealers is an aggregation of interest dealers associated with a district in a zone, a state, a region, a nation, and a competitive set. Here, the values associated with the aggregation of comparison dealers are indexed to the values associated with the aggregation of interest dealers. For example, the values associated with the aggregation of comparison dealers are indexed to values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  and the value of network efficiency NE g  of the aggregation of interest dealers. 
         [0063]    At the block  116 , the processor generates bar graphs comparing an interest dealer (or an aggregation of interest dealers) to an aggregation of comparison dealers (or a single comparison dealer). 
         [0064]    Particularly, at the block  116 , referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , for various service types s, values of service market share are displayed for an interest dealer (r 1 , r 2 , r 3 ) and for an aggregation of comparison dealers (r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 ). The values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  provide a benchmark by which the dealer service market share r 1 , r 2 , r 3  can be evaluated for each service type s. 
         [0065]    The aggregation of comparison dealers may or may not include the interest dealer, for example, for purposes of calculation. 
         [0066]    In certain embodiments, alternatively or additionally, service market share for a comparison dealer is displayed. 
         [0067]    At the block  118 , referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , for each service type s, values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  of an aggregation of comparison dealers are used to calculate the number of additional repair orders (RO) that would be gained if the interest dealer achieves the group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  of the aggregation of comparison dealers. The interest dealer may or may not be one of the aggregation of comparison dealers. 
         [0068]    For a service type s, the number of additional repair orders (RO) that would be gained in each sales-geography category if the interest dealer achieves the service market share of the aggregation of comparison dealers is calculated by: 
         [0000]      RO 1 =( r   g   1   *A−a ) 
         [0000]      RO 2 =( r   g   2   *B−b ) 
         [0000]      RO 3 =( r   g   3   *C−c ) 
         [0000]      RO 4 =( r   g   4   *D−d ) 
         [0069]    In certain embodiments, additionally or alternatively, values of service market share of a comparison dealer is used to calculate the number of additional repair orders (RO) that would be gained if the interest dealer achieves the service market share of the comparison dealer. 
         [0070]    At the blocks  120 ,  122 , referring to  FIG. 7 , the additional repair orders RO are generated and displayed for each sales-geography category. At the block  120 , for each sales-geography category, the additional repair orders RO 1 , RO 2 , RO 3 , RO 4  are aggregated for all service types s. At the block  122 , for each sales-area category, the bar graph displays the number of additional repair orders RO that would be gained if the dealer achieves the group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  in that sales-area category. 
         [0071]    At the blocks  124 ,  126 , the additional repair orders RO are generated and displayed for each service type s. At the block  124 , the sales-area categories are aggregated for each service type s. For example, for each service type s, the number of additional repair orders RO that would be gained in all categories if the interest dealer achieves the service market share of the aggregation of comparison dealers is calculated by: 
         [0000]      RO s =RO 1 +RO 2 +RO 3 +RO 4    
         [0072]    At the block  126 , referring to  FIG. 8 , the number of additional repair orders RO s  are displayed by service type s. The additional repair orders RO s  are arranged in descending order, beginning with the service type s where the most additional repair orders RO s  would be gained if the interest dealer achieves the group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  of the aggregation of comparison dealers. The bar graph of  FIG. 8  provides feedback, for example, by highlighting which of the service types s provide the most opportunity for improvement. 
         [0073]    Alternatively, instead of prioritizing based on an increase in numbers of repair orders RO, the increase in numbers of repair orders RO can be converted to increase in profit (or revenue), and the profits are arranged in descending order, beginning with the service type s where the most profit would be gained if the dealer achieves the group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 , r g   4  of the aggregation of dealers. For example, for a service type s, additional profit is equal to the number of repair orders RO multiplied by the average profit (or revenue) per the service type. 
         [0074]    At a block  128 , referring to  FIG. 9 , values of network efficiency loss NE L , NE g   L  are generated and displayed for an interest dealer and an aggregation of comparison dealers (here, a district and a nation). The values of network efficiency loss NE g   L  of an aggregation of comparison dealers provide a benchmark by which the interest dealer can be evaluated and variances in performance can be used to identify best practices. 
         [0075]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , for various service types s, values of network efficiency are shown for an interest dealer (r 1 , r 2 , r 3 ) and for an aggregation of comparison dealers (r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3 ) (here, the aggregation of comparison dealers is a competition set). The values of group service market share r g   1 , r g   2 , r g   3  provide a benchmark by which the dealer service market share r 1 , r 2 , r 3  can be evaluated for each service s. 
         [0076]    In certain embodiments, the network efficiency loss of different mutually exclusive aggregations of dealers (e.g., an aggregation of interest dealers and an aggregation of comparison dealers), such as all the districts in a larger region, are compared. This provides a performance appraisal of different districts and enables identifying best practices. 
         [0077]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. The above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Variations, modifications, and combinations may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such variations, modifications, and combinations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.