Digital Vehicle Inspection software enables auto repair shops to go beyond a traditional paper system for inspections and repair order estimates.
Customers have become accustomed to a digital experience every time they shop, and having their car fixed is no different. Auto repair shops need to update their processes to meet those expectations. When look specifically at auto repair shops, there are even more opportunities to go digital beyond receipts.
Printed estimates may seem like a professional way to present work to customers. But the problem is that paper estimates don’t really show drivers what’s wrong with their vehicles.
The result? Customers approve a small sliver of work, or worse, go to another auto repair shop for a second opinion.
Digital vehicle inspections not only save time and paper but also build trust and enhance the customer experience. Not to mention, they help sell larger repairs and increase customer loyalty.
What is a Digital Vehicle Inspection?
A digital vehicle inspection is an inspection method for auto shops built directly into a shop management system.
Like your usual inspections, DVIs are performed by technicians on every vehicle to identify repair work usually with a tablet or phone, to record the results.
How Does a Digital Vehicle Inspection Work?
Because digital vehicle inspections are just one feature of cloud-based shop management systems, they work as a single step in your shop's workflow.
When they're assigned a repair job, technicians carry out their digital vehicle inspection right in the app, and they can even take pictures or videos to quickly attach their findings to that repair order estimate.
That estimate can then be sent directly to customers for approval through text message or email, and all of this information will be tracked by your shop management system.
The 3 Biggest Benefits of Digital Vehicle Inspections
We'll cut to the chase: digital vehicle inspections can make your shop more money. With DVIs, customers will know what's going on, they'll be more likely to approve repair orders, and you'll see your shop's average repair order skyrocket.
1. Save Time
Once the technician completes an inspection, they can send it to the service advisor to share with the customer and build a repair order. Shops can setup a default inspection, attach canned jobs, and get repairs approved in minutes. This frees them up to focus more on the customer directly, and maybe even start looking into their history with the shop and provide a personalized experience.
2. Sell More Repair Work with Transparency
It's not easy to get repair orders approved simply because it’s challenging to show customers what’s going on with their vehicles. Typically your customers don't know how cars work, and they're far too familiar with horror stories of family members or friends feeling ripped off.
This industry relies on trust: when customers can trust that your shop is doing right by them, they're be more accepting of the necessary costs, which usually results in customers approving larger repair orders.
Because technicians can include pictures, videos and even other files like repair manuals, customers can see exactly what's wrong. And when they can see what's wrong, they know why something needs to be fixed or replaced. They can trust your shop is doing necessary work.
3. Track Declined Jobs
Shop management systems with built in DVIs also provide more visibility into what’s approved and what’s declined without the service advisor having to re-enter any information.
Any job that the customer declines from the estimate (which is built from the DVI) will be sent to the “declined jobs” list on the customer’s profile. Being able to track declined jobs enables your shop to keep in touch with customers, which builds customer loyalty and even gives you an opportunity to pick up more business when times are slow.
Common Digital Vehicle Inspection Features
Thanks to tablets and smartphones, technicians can take advantage of touch screens and cameras to build out comprehensive digital vehicle inspections faster than they ever could with a pen and clipboard, while minimizing mistakes and making your shop more money.
Include Images, Videos or other files Go beyond just a simple checklist and enable techs to include pictures, videos, pdfs with diagnostic results, or even links add links to web sites with relevant info.
Leverage Canned Jobs Add canned jobs to inspections to quickly build out repair orders for common work. Spend less time on each individual RO and quickly add in parts like BG products.
Share through email or text Send your digital inspections right to your customers email or even text them a link so they can quickly view what's wrong and approve any work that needs to be done.
How to use a Digital Vehicle Inspection
Tekmetric makes it extremely easy to create digital vehicle inspections that are well-organized and simple for technicians to follow. Your shop can create as many different inspections as you need.
If your shop offers body work, repair work, and transmission work, you may want to create three different inspections that focus on the type of repair work specific types of customers come in for. You can set a default inspection to automatically
Tekmetric also lets you organize inspections by “groups,” which helps guide technicians through checking different areas of the vehicles. Groups can also represent different types of maintenance.
For example, your shop can create an inspection group for “scheduled maintenance” to remind technicians to check the odometer and recommend maintenance at different mile marks (3,000 mile service; 5,000 mile service; 6,000 mile service; etc.)
When you create a digital vehicle inspection in Tekmetric, you can also tie different inspection tasks to canned jobs, which makes it easier than ever for the service advisors to build an estimate and recommend work tied to the technician's findings.
Starting a tire shop can be a profitable business venture, especially if you already own an auto repair shop and want to expand your services. Today's vehicle owners are increasingly looking for one-stop shops that cater to all their automotive needs, from engine repairs to tire services.
By adding tire services to your offerings, you can attract more customers and increase your revenue. Services typically include tire sales, installation, balancing, rotation, and repair. In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about how to start a tire shop, including the permits required, startup costs, profitability, and tools to help you streamline your operations.
10 Steps to Open Your Tire Shop Business
1. Market Research and Planning
Market Research: Assess the demand for tire services in your area, analyze the competition, and identify your target market.
Business Plan: Outline your business plan, target market, competition analysis, services offered, pricing strategy, and financial projections.
2. Legal Considerations and Permits
Business Structure: Decide whether to register as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation.
Licenses and Permits: Obtain the necessary licenses and permits to operate a tire shop, including a business license, sales tax permit, and any environmental permits for proper tire disposal.
Insurance: Get appropriate insurance coverage, such as general liability, property, and worker's compensation.
3. Startup Costs and Financing
Startup costs for a tire shop can vary depending on factors such as location, size, and the range of services offered. If needed, secure funding through personal savings, investors, or loans. Typical expenses include:
Lease or purchase of property: Costs will vary based on location and size.
Equipment and tools: Tire changers, balancers, alignment machines, and hand tools.
Inventory: Initial stock of tires and related products.
Marketing: Advertising and promotional materials to attract customers.
Staffing: Wages for skilled technicians and support staff.
4. Choose a Location
Select a location that is easily accessible and visible to potential customers. High-traffic areas near major roads or highways can increase your shop's visibility and attract more customers. In addition, consider how close your shop will be to competitors and other auto repair shops.
5. Marketing and Branding
Branding: Develop a strong brand identity, including a logo, signage, and marketing materials.
Marketing Plan: Implement marketing strategies, such as local advertising, online marketing, and promotions. Consider offering discounts, loyalty programs, and special deals.
Website: A website may be your first impression to a potential customer. Make sure your website showcases your services and shop appropriately.
SEO: Search engine optimization (SEO) can be a powerful tool to help shops be more visible to local customers searching for auto services.
Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok can be useful tools to help you reach new customers and promote special offers/events.
Local Advertising: Billboards, signage, Google ads, and direct mailers can be influential local marketing tactics to win over new customers.
Tek-Tip: If you need help coming up with a tire shop business name, we have developed a guide to the best automotive business names. In addition, we developed an AI-powered mechanic business name generator tool that can also help with logo creation.
6. Equipment and Tools
Invest in high-quality equipment and tools to provide efficient and reliable tire services. Essential equipment needed to open a tire shop includes:
Suppliers: Establish relationships with tire suppliers and distributors. Negotiate favorable terms and prices.
Inventory: Stock a range of tires for different vehicles and price points. Include related products like rims, tire accessories, and repair kits. Consider stocking a diverse inventory with summer, winter, performance and off-road tires.
8. Staffing and Training
Hire experienced and skilled technicians who are knowledgeable about tire services and automotive repairs. Providing ongoing training and development opportunities can help ensure your staff stays up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.
9. Tire Shop Software
To streamline your tire services and improve efficiency, consider implementing Tekmetric's Tire Suite. This powerful tool offers several features to enhance your tire shop management, including:
DOT# Registration: Automatically register Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers with tire manufacturers, ensuring smooth operations.
Easy Access Tire Specifications: Equip your Service Advisors with instant access to comprehensive tire data, facilitating accurate tire selection.
Add Tires from Inventory: Identify the correct sized tires directly from your inventory right on the RO, speeding up the creation of any tire job.
10. Grand Opening and Beyond
Grand Opening: Plan a grand opening event to attract customers and build awareness.
Customer Service: Focus on providing excellent customer service to build a loyal customer base.
Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess and improve your services, marketing efforts, and operations.
Benefits of Adding Tire Services
1. Increased Revenue Streams
Adding tire services to your auto repair shop can create new revenue streams and attract a broader customer base. Vehicle owners are more likely to choose a shop that offers comprehensive services, saving them time and effort.
2. Enhanced Customer Loyalty
Offering tire services can improve customer loyalty by providing a one-stop solution for all their automotive needs. Satisfied customers are more likely to return and recommend your store to others.
3. Competitive Advantage
By offering specialized tire services, you can differentiate your shop from competitors and position yourself as an expert in the field.
How Much Do Tire Shops Make Per Year?
The annual revenue of a tire shop can vary widely based on factors such as location, size, and the range of services offered. On average, a well-managed tire store can generate annual revenues ranging from $200,000 to $2 million. By offering high-quality services and building a loyal customer base, you can maximize your shop's profitability.
Final Thoughts
Starting a tire shop business can be a rewarding and profitable venture, especially when integrated with an existing auto repair shop. By following the steps outlined in this guide and leveraging the benefits of Tekmetric's Tire Suite, you can streamline your tire services, improve customer satisfaction, and increase your shop's profitability.
G2 is a peer-to-peer review site that scores different platforms and tools just like Tekmetric based on reviews from users, just like you.
Leveraging all the data, reviews and input they collect throughout the year, G2 analyses the results and announces the clear software leaders in a number of categories.
And Tekmetric was named a leader in not one, not two, but FIVE categories for Auto Repair Software, and has been awarded five new badges from G2 for their 2023 Summer Spotlight!
That means its.. TIME FOR SOME BURNOUTS! LETS GO!
Those five categories include:
Auto Repair Software Momentum Leader
Auto Repair Software Small Business Leader
Summer 2023 Auto Repair Software Leader
Best Relationship With Users
Easiest To Do Business With
Sorry for the humble brag, but honestly, this is all because of you, the users of Tekmetric!
Shop owner's, service manager's and technician's love for how easy Tekmetric makes it to run your shop is the star of the show here.
Before you begin researching different options on the market, you should ask yourself two key questions:
Am I at the stage where I need a new shop management system?
What do I want from a shop management system?
As you search for a suitable shop management system through automotive repair shop software reviews, it’s important that you diligently research any system you’re considering.
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