Choosing the best auto repair software for your shop is important to keep up with today’s technology. There are many options out there, so it can feel tricky to choose the best one. To make the right choice, you need to find software that fits well with your shop’s needs and how you want your business to grow.
Top 5 Things to Look for in an Auto Repair Software
The auto repair software you pick for your shop should have all the tools you need to make things run smoothly, make customers happy, and help your business make more money. These tools can come in different forms, so look for software that has these five important features:
- Security Features – To keep your shop’s information safe.
- Convenience Features – To make things easier for you and your customers.
- Trust Features – To build trust with your customers.
- Efficiency Features – To help you get work done faster and better.
- Expansion Features – To help your business grow.
Let’s explore these features:
1. Security Features
The auto repair shop management software should keep your shop’s information safe. Every day, you collect a lot of important data, like how your shop is doing and financial details. You also store personal information from vehicle owners, and it’s very important to keep all that safe. Here are some features to look for in your software:
- Cloud-based – Cloud-based systems are good at keeping data safe. They let you access your information anytime and anywhere. In addition, your data gets backed up regularly, which helps protect it from things like power outages or disasters.
- Third-party security certification – This means the software has been checked by outside experts who make sure it’s good at keeping your data safe. When software has this certification, it shows that the company is serious about protecting your shop’s and customers’ information from hackers or other threats.
2. Convenience Features
When customers have a smooth and easy experience at your shop, they’re more likely to come back next time they need repairs. The best car repair software can help make your customers’ experience better by making things easier and improving how you communicate with them. Here are some features to look for that focus on the customer:
- Digital payment solutions – With things like online payments, buy now, pay later, and text-to-pay, customers can pay however is easiest for them. They can pay after hours, from their office, or even help their college kid pay from far away!
- Two-way texting – This feature lets your team text directly with customers. You can even use your shop’s regular phone number, so customers know exactly how to reach you without confusion.
- Automation – Features like SmartJobs can make it faster for your service team to create jobs with just a couple of clicks. This way, they can spend less time on paperwork and more time helping and talking to customers.
3. Trust Features
In the auto repair business, getting customers to come back is super important. If they trust your team and the work you do, they’ll keep choosing your shop. When you’re looking for the best software for your shop, try to find one that helps you be open and build trust with your customers, both new and old.
Here are some helpful features to look for:
- Digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) – These allow your technicians to check the car carefully and send pictures or videos to the customer, showing what repairs might be needed. This helps customers understand what’s going on with their car, making them more likely to agree to the repairs. Click here to know more about “Importance of Digital vehicle inspection in the Automotive Industry.”
- Educational tools – Some software can help explain why certain repairs are needed or how the car should work. For example, customers can watch animated videos that show why a repair is important. This makes the process easier to understand and helps build trust with your customers.
4. Efficiency Features
Auto repair shop management software can do more than just keep your data safe and make customers happy—it can also help your shop run smoothly and get repairs done on time. The best software for your shop should help you organize your work and make things easier for your team. Here are some features that help make your shop more efficient:
- Inventory orders – A good software system can help your team order parts and keep track of inventory. For example, the software is integrated with Epicor, PartsTech, and NexPart which lets technicians order parts while they’re working on the car. This helps avoid mistakes and keeps everything running more smoothly.
- Automatic progress updates – The software can automatically update everyone working on a car about what’s been done or what’s next. Service advisors can then send these updates to customers, so they always know what’s going on, even if the service advisor is busy with something else. This makes the process faster and easier for everyone.
- Shop dashboard real-time reporting – With real-time reports, you can see if anything is holding up your work. For example, you can check how much money your shop is making early in the week and see if you need to take action, like calling customers for approvals or following up on work that wasn’t done, to make sure you meet your goals.
5. Expansion features
A common mistake shop owners make is picking auto repair software that only works for what they need right now. The best software can grow with your business and connect to other tools you might need later on.
- Integrations – Every auto repair shop is different and has its own needs. As your shop grows, you’ll need new features. Choose software that fits your current needs but can also work with other tools in the future. Talk to other shop owners to see which features they like and find helpful.
- Multi-location – If you plan to open more shops, make sure your software can handle that. Some software, like Tekmetric, lets you manage multiple locations and see all your reports in one place, making it easier to keep everything organized across different shops.
- New Services and Products – Do you think you might sell tires or other products in the future? Not all software can do that, so make sure your software is ready for whatever new services or products you want to offer down the road.
Wrapping Up!
When choosing the right shop management software for your business, focus on the features that fit your needs and workflow. A helpful tip is to check out unbiased review sites like G2, and Software Advice to get an honest look at different options. Also, don’t forget to reach out to other shop owners and ask for their recommendations based on their own experiences.
