Tekmetric 2024 Recap and Highlights

The Tekmetric 2024 Recap highlights the company's continued growth and success in the automotive repair industry, showcasing how Metro Motor increased their average repair order to $800 across 19 shops using Tekmetric's platform, while also promoting upcoming events like Tektonic 2027 and sharing new content such as the "Under the Lift" podcast series.

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Join 1,000+ industry leaders at Tektonic 2027. Early bird pricing is now open.

See how Metro Motor grew their average repair order to $800 across 19 shops with Tekmetric

Under the Lift: Stories from the Automotive Frontier (New Episode)

Tekmetric Community

2024 Tekmetric Recap

Sunil Patel

December 19, 2024

Read time: 4 min

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Key customer wins

Tekmetric exists to help shops be more efficient and more profitable. Here are some of the notable wins our shops achieved in 2024:

Number of cars worked on: 28 million +
Number of Tekmetric releases: 44
Hours saved by adding a Smart Job to an RO: 4,700 + Hours
Number of photos added to inspections: 50 million +
Transactions processed through Tekmetric shops: 1.6 million + ($900 million processed)
Average ARO: $913.35 (That’s 167% higher than the national average!)
Top features used by customers:

1.Digital Vehicle Inspections
2.Two-Way Messaging
3.Smart Jobs
4.Tekmetric Payments
5.Counter Sales

2024 Awards

G2

Tekmetric took home more hardware in 2024 including the G2 badges for most implementable, best usability and momentum leader. Ultimately, this led us to be ranked first for best auto shop management software by G2.

Silver Stevie Award

Tekmetric received the 2024 Silver Stevie Award for fastest growing tech company.

Houston Business Journal

Tekmetric earned a top 25 ranking in the best places to work for in 2024.

Top events

SEMA/APPEX

This year, Tekmetric had a significant presence at SEMA and APPEX. Our primary focus was on mobilizing and engaging with our customer base, driving demand for Tekmetric solutions, and increasing brand awareness.

At SEMA, the largest automotive trade show in the USA, which attracts about 140,000 attendees, we hosted the 5th Quarter and Yeti Giveaway Happy Hour event in our booth on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This event featured drinks, snacks, and a raffle for a Yeti Prize Package, creating a relaxed and engaging networking atmosphere during the last hour of the show.

Vision

VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo, a premier automotive service event for over 30 years, annually drew over 3,500 attendees. Focused on employee training, it offered hands-on lessons for technicians, service advisor training, and management sessions. The 2024 conference, held from February 19th to March 3rd at the Overland Park Convention Center, covered technical practices, standard operating procedures, KPIs, and service advisor sales approaches.

Tekmetric had a booth at this event, providing valuable networking and learning opportunities. The event also served as a marketing platform for top automotive companies to host sessions, sponsor, and exhibit, connecting with dedicated professionals and contributing to industry excellence. Additionally, we co-hosted a happy hour with Steer on March 1st, which allowed us to interact with more attendees in a relaxed and engaging setting.

Shop Hackers

The Tekmetric team attended Shop Hackers in early August as a Platinum Sponsor. Shop Hackers was one of Tekmetric’s key strategic events of the year, with a large portion of attendees being Tekmetric customers. Our focus as a revenue team was to ensure we leveraged the event and overall investment to:

Mobilize and engage our customer base.
Drive demand and adoption of Tekmetric solutions.
Generate brand awareness and visibility for Tekmetric.

At this event, we had the opportunity to speak directly with attendees and presented Tekmetric Unveiled: Latest Features and Upcoming Innovations, showcasing our newest developments and exciting future plans. We also launched the MVP Customer Advocacy Program, which allows us to recognize and engage our most valued customers. To further enhance the experience, we invited four of our customer shops to attend the event and share their experiences with Tekmetric.

Closing Thoughts

2024 was a big year for Tekmetric and the shops we support. As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited to join forces with Shopgenie and provide even more ways to streamline your shop operations. Lastly, thank you to all of the shops that allowed us to serve you in 2024 and we can’t wait to see what you + Tekmetric accomplish in 2025.

👉 Ready to grow your automotive business? [Book a personalized Tekmetric Demo Here]

FAQ

Tekmetric has remained committed to 2024 as a year filled with product innovation, providing updates that included feedback from our customers to demonstrate our commitment to a customer-centric approach as we continue to grow. From product updates and attending industry events to elevating our approach to data security, the second quarter has built on the first quarter’s momentum, leading to a vibrant first half of 2024.

Supporting Shops by Enhancing Efficiency

Tekmetric is systematically seeking opportunities to better understand the needs of shop owners and how our product can help shops run more efficiently. Building on our commitment to enhancing shop effectiveness, we focused Q2 on implementing updates that significantly bolster operational efficiency across the board.

Having the right technical team is essential, and with our latest update, shops can now assign multiple technicians to a single job, ensuring greater collaboration and efficiency. This update allows more experienced technicians to supervise staff technicians regarding more complex jobs, giving staff technicians an opportunity to experience hands-on learning. Overall, having multiple technicians on a single job improves efficiency by allowing you to align and prioritize your technician resources.

In addition to the multiple technician updates, we also released the Inventory Activity Feed. To ensure smooth operations and profitability, it's crucial to understand the flow of money. Inventory plays a necessary role in this process and with this update, shop owners now have an extra eye to spot inconsistencies in pricing and quantity. This new feature allows shops to monitor key changes made to parts inventory, identify and rectify errors and enhance operational efficiency and employee training initiatives.

As we move into Q3, we continue to strive for further updates that increase productivity within internal operations or streamline the customer experience from the first touchpoint until repair completion and beyond.

Commitment to Education and Learning Opportunities in the Industry

In an industry as complex as auto repair, there is no shortage of learning opportunities to improve your shop or learn how to incorporate customer feedback into our ongoing improvements.

At Tekmetric, we value a commitment to growing our knowledge base and sharing that with our peers at various events, whether it be in-person conferences or through webinars. Our dynamic duo John Phelps and P.J. Leslie attended WorldPac STX in Nashville, Tennessee in late April to share with repair shops key strategies to boost profits through enhanced customer experiences. Their presentation included leveraging digital tools and enhancing the digital buying experience, transforming buyer trends into revenue drivers and customer retention through excellent experiences.

From there, P.J. had two additional speaking opportunities at Thoroughbred Diesel in Winchester, Kentucky and AASPA Tools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the month of May where he presented on How Customer Experience Can Change An Industry. At both events, he shared his expertise regarding digital purchasing experiences, leveraging trends for revenue growth, mastering customer retention strategies, and surpassing expectations of the CX generation. Additionally, John Phelps, made an appearance on the Changing the Industry podcast where he discussed Career Shifts and Setting Industry Standards. At Tekmetric, we believe that the desire to give and improve the lives of our customers is ultimately what will drive your business to reach its full potential.

We participated in the ASI & ASTA Summer Social in Apex, North Carolina which provided an opportunity to network and connect with shop owners and tire dealers from the area. Our participation at these events helps us better understand your needs, fueling our commitment to product innovation and excellence in customer experience.

Tekmetric also aims to support our shop owners in sharing their own insights and lessons about measuring up in today’s industry through the webinars that we host. This quarter, we hosted a webinar entitled “Confessions of A Shop Owner,” which included Travis Troy, owner of Honest Wrenches, along with Ward Myers, VP of Training and eServices at Advance Auto Parts, Gregg Rainville, SVP at Steer, and Ian Miller, Partner Manager at Tekmetric. The key points were all about defining and developing shop culture and leveraging technology to be more efficient in the auto repair space.

Prioritizing Data Security

We recently increased our benchmark in data security by earning SOC 2 Type II compliance. Tekmetric meets the five principles that are required which include: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. With SOC 2 Type II compliance, we are able to keep any information that you put into Tekmetric secure, from your shop’s data to your customers’ information. This gives us more confidence that as we continue to improve the quality of Tekmetric, we are also ensuring the security of everything that is entrusted to us.

Keeping Our Foot on the Gas

As we close out the first half of the year, Tekmetric aims to use our customer-centric approach as the fuel that ignites our product innovation. Through our commitment to attending industry events and listening to customer feedback, Tekmetric meets its customers where they are, with constant plans to keep innovating and improving. We head into Q3 with our customer-obsessed mentality to continue improving and streamlining shop operations with Tekmetric.

Tekmetric Community

In the Driver’s Seat: Steering Our Way to Q2 Success

August 16, 2024

Read time: 5 min

Whether you’ve worked in the industry for years as a technician or are considering moving into the automotive industry for the first time, owning an auto repair shop can be a very rewarding experience.

In collaboration with PartsTech, we reached out to our customer, Eric Reich, who purchased his auto shop in 2021, to learn about his experience and share it with you.

Before becoming an auto repair shop owner, Eric worked for about ten years in the aerospace MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) sector and about ten years in the electrical distribution sector. Looking for a change, Eric ultimately jumped into the auto repair industry by purchasing Bennet’s Automotive — a six-bay shop that services all domestic and Asian-manufactured vehicles.

The Dream: Owning his own business

For Eric, working at large corporations for 20 years became too predictably bureaucratic. He felt buried by meetings, paperwork, and slow decision-making. “After spending nearly two decades at corporate companies, I was looking for something I could call my own,” said Eric. “My goal was to be an independent business owner and not rely on large corporations whose only goal was to maximize profits at all costs. I found that independence when I purchased Bennett's Automotive, which has been in business since 1991.”

The Good: Success and positive outcomes

Taking the time to find the right shop

Eric didn’t want just to purchase the first shop for sale that came across his path, “You can’t rush or predetermine anything. If the shop you are evaluating is not a good candidate, then you have to walk away,” said Eric. During his patient search, Eric found that he very much enjoyed the process of evaluating prospective shops and identifying if they were a good potential candidate to achieve his business goals.

A dedicated, expert team

From our conversation with Eric, it is clear that he values his team, which stayed on through the change of ownership when he purchased the shop. “I have been consistently impressed and proud of my team's dedication and technical expertise. During the transition of ownership, they did not allow the uncertainty of the situation to impact the quality of their work,” said Eric. Having the right people in place is critical to a successful shop. “I was so lucky to purchase a shop with such a solid existing team.”

The Bad: Challenges and setbacks

A small team naturally results in staffing issues

Eric credits his team with minimizing the level of operational challenges he faced as a first-time shop owner: “Thankfully, I had a great core team when I took over the shop. Without them, the transition would have been much more difficult. You are only as good as your team.”

Though his team is awesome, he quickly discovered that his most significant operational challenge would be staffing: “As a smaller shop, the risk is in quality manpower. If we have a guy out or are operating a guy short, it adds additional strain to the rest of the team.”

The Unexpected: The things that caught Eric off guard

Time is incredibly precious, and everyone wants a piece of it

“As a shop owner, you have to be careful about your time,” says Eric, “and one of the biggest surprises I encountered was the number of unsolicited calls from random companies trying to sell or sign me up for something.”

There is a ton of paperwork.

“I did not realize how much paperwork would come with purchasing and owning a shop,” said Eric, “There is a lot!”

Tips from Eric for anyone interested in purchasing an existing auto shop

First things first

Before jumping into the deep end of purchasing a shop, Eric recommends you consider the following first:

Be very honest with yourself regarding your goals. Do you want to work in the shop? Be more hands-off? Etc.
Be willing to walk away from a bad deal. Don't get attached to any one shop/location. If the numbers don't make sense, don't move forward.
Ensure you have enough operating cash. You must have enough cash to handle normal ebbs and flows and an emergency. Not having enough cash is the fastest way to run into problems. (Eric likes to have at least three months of overhead.)
Be very thoughtful about overhead. You have to ensure that each overhead line item has a specific and defined purpose.
Take training in basic financial acumen. To be set up for success when starting the journey of purchasing a shop, Eric advises aspiring shop owners to have a strong understanding of business finances such as P&Ls, pricing strategies, and cash flows to evaluate the shop's health. This is important so you know whether or not you should walk away from a deal. If necessary, Eric encourages taking a financial training course first.

It’s not just about the physical tools and equipment.

When purchasing an existing shop that already had a lot of the necessary physical tools and equipment, Eric focused on the software he wanted to implement. He encourages shop owners to evaluate the current software and make necessary changes early in their ownership journey.

Choose software that drives efficiency and organization and is user-friendly for employees. Also, select software that enhances customer engagement and provides a positive experience.

“Generally, you must streamline your operations and communicate effectively with customers. We use Tekmetric as our shop management software for efficient workflow and customer communication. It also integrates with software such as PartsTech, which allows us to quickly source, price, and order parts from multiple vendors. This efficiency helps our small shop operate as lean as possible, speeding up vehicle repairs.”

Put a big focus on building trust with customers

One of the big reasons Eric wanted to upgrade the shop's software when he purchased it was to have better tools to help build customer trust. “We transitioned to Tekmetric from an older legacy program that made communicating via text/electronically almost impossible. We get consistent customer feedback that they like our new system and communication method with our ability to send inspections, images, videos, estimates, and invoices digitally.”

Closing

Purchasing an auto repair shop is a significant step that requires careful planning, honesty about your goals, and a strong understanding of the business's financial and operational aspects.

As Eric's journey demonstrates, having the right team, investing in efficient software, and being prepared for unexpected challenges are crucial for success. If you're considering this path, take the time to evaluate your options thoroughly, seek out the necessary training, and build a solid foundation for your new venture. With dedication and the right approach, owning an auto repair shop can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

Thought Leadership

The good, the bad, and the unexpected of purchasing an auto repair shop

August 29, 2024

Read time: 6 min

Tekmetric, the leading Houston-based automotive repair technology company, has been recognized as a 2022 MOTOR Top 20 Award winner for its recent integration with RepairLink by OEConnection (OEC), a renowned technology provider for the aftersales industry.

The integration, selected by industry experts as well as public popular vote, allows shop owners to seamlessly order original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts directly from the Tekmetric Shop Management System.

For over three decades, the annual MOTOR Top 20 Awards have recognized outstanding new industry solutions across the automotive industry, from the most innovative tool or equipment to creating the best customer experience.

Winners are selected by automotive professionals and experts who voted over a thirty-day open voting process from a selection of this year’s most valuable contributions to the industry.

“As a leading shop management system, our team at Tekmetric shares a mutual belief with our partners at OEC that we best support shop owners in all their business needs by providing modern and relevant solutions,” said Sunil Patel, Co-Founder and CEO of Tekmetric.

“We are honored and humbled to have the Tekmetric-RepairLink integration recognized by both our customers – shop owners – and our industry peers as one of this year’s most innovative solutions.”

With its combination of Tekmetric’s cloud-based capabilities and RepairLink’s parts ordering platform, the integration builds upon Tekmetric’s existing parts ordering offerings to streamline the process of ordering OEM parts for auto repair shops. Through the integration, shop owners can track orders or returns with real-time online updates, as well as address orders in one screen, transferring any quoted parts and VIN numbers automatically into Tekmetric.

“Vehicle sophistication is growing rapidly, and all signs point to even more advancements, meaning it’s absolutely necessary for repairers to have enhanced access to critical parts and information,” said Bonnie Coleman, OEC Director, Mechanical Retail.

“This is why OEC is thrilled to partner with Tekmetric, and that this integration has been recognized for the valuable contribution it offers to the industry.”

To learn more about the MOTOR Awards and view the 2022 Top 20 Awards, visit https://www.motor.com/top20awards-winners. ‍

About Tekmetric

Tekmetric, a Houston-based auto repair technology company, offers a cloud-based platform that enables auto repair shop owners to enhance productivity and increase profitability through its streamlined workflow management processes.

Designed by a former shop owner, Tekmetric’s platform drives shop efficiency through real-time data, a customizable user interface and customer-centric communication tools.

Since its launch in 2016, Tekmetric has disrupted the industry with its robust fully-integrated system, developed with an emphasis on customer transparency and user collaboration.

For more information, visit www.tekmetric.com

About OEConnection Holdings LLC

OEConnection Holdings’ portfolio includes OEC, the leading parts ecommerce technology provider for OEM distribution networks, serving over 20 OEMs and 100,000 dealership and repair customers.

Providence Equity Partners is the majority stakeholder of OEConnection Holdings; Ford Motor Company and General Motors are minority stakeholders.

The company is headquartered in the greater Cleveland area at 4205 Highlander Parkway, Richfield, Ohio, 44286

Additional information is available at www.OEConnection.com.