Top 3 Benefits of Auto Repair Shop Management Software

At the end of the day, customers want to feel like they can trust your shop, know they'll be taken care of, and that you're only doing the repairs that are most necessary.

On the other hand, your shop wants to bring in as much business as possible and generate as much revenue as you can with the time and resources available to your team. That's made possible with the right tools for the job, streamlined and efficient processes, and transparent communication with your customers.

Better operations mean smooth repairs, smooth repairs mean happier customers, and happier customers mean more business.

When your shop is trying to run like a well-oiled machine, any breakdown in workflow can lead to delays, a frustrated team, and unsatisfied customers. For example, if a customer's repair takes longer because the part you thought you had in stock is actually on back order, they're going to be less likely to return.

That's where shop management software comes in. Like any other tool in your shop, there will be a return on your investment.

What if we told you that you can get even more value out of the work you already do with the right processes in place?

1. Keep Customers Coming Back With Transparency

One of the biggest hurdles keeping people out of repair shops is a lack of trust. But with shop management software, you can create a level of trust with the customer through transparency. Showing them exactly what needs to be fixed, and why, goes a long way in having repair orders approved.

And when things go well the first time, customers will feel like they can trust your shop, and you'll be top of mind next time something goes wrong with their vehicle.

Digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) make it really easy to build in that transparency right from the beginning. Because shops can add pictures and videos into their DVIs, customers can get a visual of exactly what’s wrong with their car. They don't have to just believe you—they can see it for themselves.

On top of transparency, DVIs also make your shop more efficient. Once the technician has finished their inspection and sends it back to the service advisor, the service advisor can put together a repair estimate to send along to the customer for approval.

2. Maximize Your Profit Margins on Every Part You Supply

Once a customer has approved the repair order, service advisors need to know exactly which parts to order (if they aren’t already in the shop’s stock or inventory).

Your shop’s service advisors should be able to quickly and easily shop around for parts, place orders, keep technicians in the loop about when the parts have arrived, and most importantly, bring in more money on every repair order your shop ends up supplying parts for.

Easily order parts by integrating with major vendors, enabling service advisors to place orders with just a few clicks, and take advantage of parts markup matrices to create a streamlined process for marking-up parts in seconds.

By taking the clicks and guesswork out of the process, shops can quickly get what they need to keep cars moving, and get the most value out of every repair.

3. Streamline Your Operations to Keep Repair Orders Moving

The service advisor has gathered all the customer information, the customer has approved the repair estimate, and the parts are at the shop.

Now, it’s time for the fun part—starting the actual repair! But it’s important that technicians are set up for success.

The service advisor needs to get a quick snapshot of what each technician is working on and what’s in their repair pipeline, and then quickly dispatch repair orders to an available tech. The service advisor should be able to do this from behind their desk, rather than having to go find individual technicians and ask them questions about their workload.

Shop management software can give service advisors a bird’s eye view of each technician’s workload from their workstation. Service advisors should be able to go into the software and see a list of outstanding repair orders.

From there, the service advisor can dispatch a repair order to the appropriate technician. If it’s more efficient, they can dispatch individual line items from a repair order to different technicians in order to distribute work more evenly.

Tekmetric: Better Than Your Average Solution

Using a comprehensive shop management software like Tekmetric can help streamline the process of creating DVIs and repair estimates, simplify parts ordering, and dispatch tickets to technicians.

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

FAQ

Alex recently sat down with Ratchet + Wrench Radio to discuss a whitepaper she authored on how shop owners can identify inefficiencies in their shops. During the conversation, she discussed how shop owners can recognize these inefficiencies and fix them with shop management software.

Here are some of the highlights from the podcast:

Today’s vehicle owners look for shops that prioritize their evolving needs, and many gravitate towards shops that take care of their entire vehicle in the most efficient manner, from the engine to the tires. As vehicle owners look for a one-stop auto repair shop, shop owners have the unique opportunity to expand their business by also selling tires. This is where Tekmetric’s Tire Suite comes in—a solution that simplifies tire management, letting you save time while leveraging the opportunity to expand your service offerings.

Tire Suite is a feature that your shop can add onto your existing Tekmetric plan. With this add-on, you have access to tire-specific features that allow you to view data specific to your tires and in turn make informed decisions to support that area of your business. By maximizing the information in Tire Suite appropriately, you can open the door to this new business stream—without losing efficiency in your shop. Here are three ways you maximize tire management in your shop:

1. Time is money – streamline processes to maintain efficiency

Effective shop management saves you time and money—and there are several simple ways you can apply this strategy to the tire portion of your business. For instance, with Tire Suite, you can reduce the amount of time it takes to register Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers when you sell a tire. DOT registration with Tire Suite registers DOT identification numbers electronically with the appropriate tire manufacturer via the Tiremetrix integration. In addition, you get real-time feedback when entering a DOT number in the system to ensure the validity and recall status of the tire.

Instead of having to worry about compliance or losing hours of time to DOT# entry, your service advisors can gain time back with Tire Suite’s automated registration process. Typically, DOT number registration is a manual task, and the time it takes to enter each number can add up to hours of labor time depending on your shop’s sales. Tekmetric’s Tire Suite allows your service advisors to spend less time entering information and more time with the customer. By streamlining manual processes like DOT registration, your shop can handle more work in less time and maximize profitability—all while offering a more convenient and comfortable process for vehicle owners.

2. Leverage accurate data to maximize tire shelf life

In addition to tire compliance, it is also important to set up a system where the tires are used in a timely fashion. Tire Suite allows your team to track inventory and maximize the use of available tires while also making sure tires do not sit too long on the shelf. This requires a bit of finesse, and that’s where Tire Suite comes in. Now, service writers can quickly look up all tires for preferred brands that will fit a vehicle and source them directly from inventory or add as a needed job part.

In addition, tire fitment data allows you to access detailed tire specifications in the RO sidebar for a specific vehicle. For example, if you have a vehicle that needs staggered tires, the data will ensure you get two tires of each type rather than four of the same size. That attention to detail is made possible by leveraging tire-related data—and it can make a significant impact on growing that portion of your business.

3. Build and retain customer loyalty

Once a dealership warranty ends, 70% of customers will seek a repair shop they know they can trust and remain loyal to. Customers value convenience and comfort. When those needs are met, they are more likely to trust your shop and return to do business with you time and time again.

Shops with the highest retention rates often make tires a part of their business because customers are looking to kill two birds with one stone. Conversely, by not selling tires, you can even hurt your retention rate. When you choose to offer tire management services and provide them in an efficient manner, you are more likely to maintain your customer retention rate because vehicle owners will have everything they need in the hands of their favorite shop.

Adding tire services to your auto repair offerings may seem daunting—but the opportunities far outweigh the challenges. When you leverage the appropriate tools for tire management, such as Tekmetric’s Tire Suite, you can maintain your shop’s efficiency and meet vehicle owners’ needs without missing a beat. The result? Happy, returning customers—and growth in your bottom line over time.

When thinking about how to run an auto repair shop, we might start by thinking about a well-managed football team. The different players know what they’re responsible for, show up to accomplish their jobs, put their best effort into everything they do, and perform their best as a team. Players have each others’ backs both on the field and off the field. They can think on the fly, and move as a unit toward the end zone.

How do your players work together? When mechanic shops assemble the right team, devise the right strategy, and run the right plays, they can win, too. Service advisors can stay informed about what’s going on with every repair order at any given moment in time, switch easily between tasks even when the shop is busy, and provide excellent customer service. Technicians are able to focus on their work and spend more time turning wrenches. And customers? They’ll get their cars back fast and drive away with a good impression of your shop.

Shop owners who think more deeply about how to manage a mechanic shop are rewarded for their efforts. Well-managed shops see exponential returns. Stellar team performance leads to customer satisfaction and repeat business. The more successful your shop, the more you can invest back into your team, continuing the cycle of success for all involved.