Are Your Auto Repair Partnerships a Two-Way Street?

Tekmetric Repair Guide, DVI Quick Capture and Tekmetric Receptionist open for early access at SEMA 2026, doing more of the work alongside the shop.

Nov. 3, 2026 – Tekmetric, the all-in-one platform used by more than 16,000 auto repair shops nationwide, today opened early access at SEMA 2026 to two new products, Tekmetric Repair Guide and Tekmetric Receptionist, and a new capability, Tekmetric DVI Quick Capture. Tekmetric Repair Guide puts licensed OEM repair information inside the repair order so technicians don’t leave the job to find it. DVI Quick Capture turns a technician’s photos and audio into written inspection findings, cutting documentation time dramatically. Tekmetric Receptionist answers the calls a shop’s team can’t get to, so no opportunity gets missed. Eligible shops will see each tool in their Tekmetric account starting Nov. 3.

For nearly a decade, shops have run on Tekmetric, which holds the repair orders, customers and vehicles behind every job. These three tools put that foundation to work, doing more of the work alongside the shop inside the repair order, the inspection and the phone line. Tekmetric is demonstrating all three at SEMA, Nov. 3 to 6, at Booth 11847.

“Shops have always done more with less, with fewer people and more demand than they can handle,” said Jared Haleck, Tekmetric Chief Product Officer. “Tekmetric started by helping them run the operation. These three new capabilities take the next step and start doing part of the work alongside the team. This is the direction Tekmetric is heading, and SEMA is where we’re showing it for the first time.”

TEKMETRIC REPAIR GUIDE: LICENSED OEM REPAIR INFORMATION INSIDE TEKMETRIC

Stop searching. Start fixing.

In a 2024 Auto Care Association survey of independent repair shops, 51% said their shop sends up to five vehicles a month to the dealer because of vehicle data limits. The association estimates those limits cost independent shops $3.1 billion a year. Each of those vehicles is revenue the shop sends down the road.

Tekmetric Repair Guide puts OEM verified repair information inside the repair order, where the job is already open. The VIN decodes automatically, and the procedures, wiring diagrams, torque specs and technical service bulletins that match the job come up without a search. Technicians can use Ask Tek, the plain-language search inside Tekmetric Repair Guide, to type a question the way they would ask a coworker, such as what commonly causes a misfire on an Audi SQ5, and get a direct answer with the OEM procedure attached. Ask Tek can also recommend labor times based on hours logged at real Tekmetric shops, a real-world reference for the technician to weigh alongside their own judgment.

Who can start using Tekmetric Repair Guide on Nov. 3. Tekmetric Repair Guide launches with eight European makes: BMW, Mini, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar and Porsche. Shops with at least 25% of their repair orders on those makes will see it in their Tekmetric account and can start a free 30-day trial. Tekmetric Repair Guide supplements the repair information tools shops already use and does not replace them. Coverage is expanding throughout 2027 as Tekmetric adds more manufacturers. Interested shops can request access to Tekmetric Repair Guide here.

TEKMETRIC DVI QUICK CAPTURE: PHOTOS AND AUDIO IN, WRITTEN FINDINGS OUT

Walk the car. Tekmetric writes the inspection. 

A digital vehicle inspection typically takes a minimum of 30 minutes, and technicians often spend more time documenting it than performing it. Service advisors then often rewrite those findings for the customer. DVI Quick Capture is built to get the process under 10 minutes.

Tekmetric DVI Quick Capture is an enhancement to the DVI shops already run, with the same inspection templates and the same link to the repair order. In the Tekmetric mobile app, the technician captures photos, video and audio notes during the walk-around. Tekmetric assigns the media to the right inspection tasks and writes the findings in language a customer can follow. The technician reviews every finding and accepts or edits it before the inspection is complete.

Who can start using DVI Quick Capture on Nov. 3. Eligible shops on the Tekmetric Scale plan can turn on DVI Quick Capture from the Inspections tab in Tekmetric, and it is included at no cost for them through 2026. It is not available on other plans at this time. Interested shops can request access to DVI Quick Capture here.

“I appreciate the fluid inspection process. Keeping the camera window open so you can just flow through the inspection in one shot. Our inspections are very thorough, and it’s cool to be able to speed them up. Cutting edge. Easy.”

Kellyn Karr, Owner, KAAR Automotive

TEKMETRIC RECEPTIONIST: ANSWERS THE CALLS A SHOP'S TEAM CAN'T GET TO

Never miss another call. 

The average shop misses 160 calls a month, and 90% of those happen during business hours when advisors are already stretched thin. A caller who reaches voicemail may hang up and call the next shop.

Tekmetric Receptionist picks up when the team can't. It books appointments directly onto the shop's live Tekmetric schedule, answers routine questions about hours, location and services from information the shop sets up, and deflects spam. It recognizes returning customers, greets them by name and references their vehicle. Everything else, including a request for a person or a vehicle update, goes into a callback queue with a summary and suggested next steps, so the service advisor knows what the caller needs before dialing back. Setup requires a  call-forwarding configuration at the shop's phone provider, and the shop keeps its main number.

“Tekmetric Receptionist has helped us at Jossy’s tremendously,” said Chris Hiday, General Manager at Jossy’s Auto. “It’s a time saver and we know time is money. We are able to see the calls we missed and a summary of what the customer is needing, which allows us to do the legwork before the call so we are better prepared. Not only does it get the calls when we are busy with another customer, but it also catches the after-hours and weekend calls. Our service advisor loves it.”

Who can start using Tekmetric Receptionist on Nov. 3. Shops connected to RingCentral through Tekmetric Phones and using Tekmetric Online Booking will start seeing Tekmetric Receptionist in their account over the coming days and weeks, as the rollout gradually expands. Once enabled, they can start a free 30-day trial. Remaining RingCentral-connected shops and shops on the waitlist will follow, and general availability is planned for Q1 2027. Shops on other phone systems are part of the plan too: Tekmetric Receptionist works through call forwarding, so shops whose phone system can forward calls will be able to use it over time. Other interested shops can request access to Tekmetric Receptionist here.

Tekmetric will share more about where the platform goes next at a customer webinar on Dec. 9. Register here.

ABOUT TEKMETRIC

Tekmetric, the most trusted auto repair platform used by more than 16,000 shops nationwide, improves auto repair shops through the relentless pursuit of innovation. Tekmetric's all-in-one cloud-based auto repair platform, including shop management, payments, marketing, technology integrations and real-time data, empowers auto repair shops nationwide. With Tekmetric, shop owners can create transparency, enhance productivity, increase profitability and deliver a superior customer experience for vehicle owners. For more information, visit www.tekmetric.com.

Here, we explore the importance of service writers for an auto center or dealership. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive understanding of the service writer role, the qualifications they need, and what to look for when you’re hiring.

What is an automotive service writer?

A service writer is the liaison between the customer and the repair garage. Sometimes called a service advisor or coordinator, they run the front desk and interact directly with your customers. The service writer is essentially the face of the business, and they fulfill several duties that keep the service center functional.

What does an automotive service writer do?

Service writers do a lot for a repair center. Here are some of their main duties:

• Delivering exceptional customer service
• Coordinating and managing service appointments
• Monitoring and overseeing vehicle maintenance and repairs
• Maintaining accurate records of customer and vehicle data
• Generating service cost estimates for customers
• Facilitating effective communication between customers and technicians
• Handling billing transactions and manage financial records

The duties of a service writer typically depend on their qualifications. Understanding the foundational credentials can help you choose the right candidate for your maintenance center.

Remember spring and summer of 2020? A lot of us are probably trying to forget and move forward, and we feel you. It was a scary time period for everyone, including the automotive repair industry.

Last April, auto shop owners were wondering, are my customers going to come into the shop? If people stay inside, are they going to drive less? If they drive less, are they still going to come into the shop as frequently? What if other industries are affected, and people have less money for repairs?

We were nervous like everyone else. But anyone who knows Tekmetric knows that we’re committed to driving the auto repair industry forward; we wanted to answer these questions and put Auto Repair Professionals’ minds at ease.

We also wanted to enable shops to not only endure the pandemic but also grow and come out stronger than ever before.

Strength in Numbers

If there’s one thing that makes us feel confident, empowered, and like we know what’s going on, it’s numbers. (Tracking shop performance and providing insights is kind of our thing).

We’ve seen the power of metrics in shops across America, and we know that customers, service advisors, technicians, and the entire auto repair industry benefit when auto shop owners can make informed decisions.

So we launched the TM-500 Index. The TM-500 tracks the Average Repair Order and Car Count of five hundred auto repair shops located across the United States. But data don’t mean squat if it ain’t easy to read. The TM-500 let’s users sort data by time and region so they can quickly explore trends.

Want to know the ARO and Car Count between the months of June and November of 2020? Simply set the time period “by month,” and the TM-500 will generate an easy-to-read graph.

Want to know if shops in midwest states had a higher or lower Car Count than southwest states last summer? Simply set the time period you want to observe, and hover over different regions on a map of the United States to learn how they performed.

Just as the Tekmetric system for auto repair shop management gives shop owners better insights into their shops, the TM-500 gives Auto Repair Professionals better insights into their industry.

But knowing is only half the battle.

A Catalyst for Digital Transformation

The auto repair industry has lagged behind almost every other service industry in how we utilize technology. Almost anyone with a smartphone can order a pizza, sushi, enchiladas, or any other food they want and track it while it’s being delivered to their door.

Meanwhile, someone paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a new transmission still has to go in-person and deal with a half-legible piece of paper that feels greasier than the pizza and enchiladas put together!

But we get it. People are sometimes reluctant to change. For many auto shop owners, however, the COVID-19 pandemic was the “now or never” moment to fully digitize their shops.

In 2020, Tekmetric prioritized the rollout of several features we had been working on to help shops provide their customers with the experience they’ve come to expect in almost every other part of their lives. In April of 2020, we rolled out Text-to-Pay, allowing shops to invoice and collect payment via text message.

In November of 2020, we rolled out True Two-Way Texting to make it easy for service advisors and customers to communicate throughout the entire repair process.

Combined, these two features enabled Tekmetric users to provide a completely touchless experience to their customers without sacrificing the quality of their work or customer service.

Much like in other industries, customers who bring their cars in for repairs appreciate the extra service and transparency of a more enhanced, digitally assisted customer experience.

As we watched many shops grow by using Tekmessage and Tekmerchant, we kept an eye on the overall performance of the TM-500. We were able to see when shops began to bounce back in summer after an early slump, and developed other understandings about where the industry was headed.

Over time, we have added new metrics to the TM-500 such as state-by-state Labor Margin, Parts Margin, Effective Labor Rate, and Car Count to gain a more complete picture of these high-performing shops.

What Have We Learned Since the Onset of the Pandemic?

When making conclusions about where the industry is going, we like to be informed by both quantitative and qualitative data.

The numbers give us a factual look at what’s gone up or down, and talking to people in the industry helps us make correlations between how certain behaviors, processes, and principles affect these trends.

Between the data we gathered from the TM-500 and the feedback we were able to gather from talking to auto shop owners, here’s what we have learned.