Ultimate Auto Repair Sees Growth With Tekmetric
Karl Roekle, founder of Ultimate Auto Repair in Jackson, Michigan, overcame growth limitations and operational inefficiencies by switching from a manual, clipboard-based system to Tekmetric’s digital shop management platform, which enabled real-time communication, standardized pricing, and empowered his team to operate independently, resulting in more than doubling his business and ongoing monthly growth.
Originally from Detroit, Karl Roekle always dreamed of moving to the countryside. After ten years of working as a prototype engineer for the Ford Motor Company, he moved with his wife and two daughters to Jackson, Michigan. Karl started Ultimate Auto Repair in 2005 to provide for his family, fixing vehicles for the people of Jackson out of a barn on his property. He was the sole owner, technician, and service writer.
Business picked up over the years, and Karl was able to assemble a small team and build his own on-premise shop management system. In 2010, he moved Ultimate Auto Repair to a larger space two miles from his house, employing more people but eventually hitting a growth cap.
After switching to Tekmetric, Karl was able to accelerate growth and more than double his business. Today, they’re still growing every month.
Ripping the Band-Aid Off
With the old system, each technician would have five or six clipboards, shuffling to figure out what was authorized. Everything was manual, including counting cars and work orders at the end of the month. Karl realized they couldn't progress without significant changes.
He was initially hesitant to switch to Tekmetric, but a laptop crash forced the decision. The transition was immediate, and by day three, the team was already seeing the benefits. Everyone could instantly see what others were working on, with technicians and service writers able to share and view notes live.
Ticket to Freedom
Before Tekmetric, Karl felt tied to the shop. If he wasn't present, nobody knew what to do. With Tekmetric, he could see real-time markups, set pricing guidelines for service writers, and establish labor matrices. The system provided guardrails for the team, allowing them to make informed sales decisions.
Tekmetric enabled Karl to leave the shop for days at a time, confident that operations would continue smoothly. The system allowed him to duplicate his processes and empower his team to follow them independently. Vacations became possible, and the team had everything they needed within the platform.
Realizing the Potential
Tekmetric helps Karl make quick business decisions and operate with consistency. The platform stores background information, making it possible to run a business over $500,000 efficiently. As the business expands into commercial diesel, Karl can set up separate shops within Tekmetric and track efficiency across locations.
Growing the business has allowed Karl to provide good jobs in the community, with limitless possibilities for the future.
Making the Dean's List
Karl's daughters help around the shop. His 21-year-old manages cleaning and has started her own cleaning business. His youngest handles quality control and is training to be a service writer, managing end-of-day reporting and closing out cars. Karl is proud to teach his daughters valuable trades, and both have made the dean’s list.
For more information about Ultimate Auto Repair, visit ultimateautorepairmi.com.