While it might not seem too obvious at first, there’s a unique opportunity for independent repair shops to enter the digital age. With the right tools for the job, auto repair shops can meet customer expectations at every step of the way, from texting inspection findings right to customers down to cardless payment options.
With the right features, independent auto repair shops can work faster, smarter, and more efficiently, while delivering the amazing customer service we’ve all come to expect.
Owners may have never really thought of it this way before, but relying on some old-school system to run their shop, manage repairs, order parts, stock inventory, and keep track of all their finances is just making things so much harder.
Cloud-based shop management systems combines all the standard aspects of running an auto repair shop and tracking cars as they flow through the repair process in a modern software solution.
Cloud-based access means instant communication, no matter where you are. Think about it this way, you don't have to check your home computer to see what your friends and family are up to online. But, no matter where you access your profiles, all your data, conversations, likes, and feed are always the same.
With a cloud-based shop management system, service advisors and technicians can collaborate with ease. Service advisors can get a birds-eye view of every stage of the repair process without having to interrupt technicians.
As technicians progress and complete repairs, the software will reflect that. Armed with that information, service advisors can then contact guests to update them.
Records are important for any business, and shops are no exception. Having a record of who signed what, and when, can come to your rescue in the event of a customer dispute. And because these are digital records, you won’t misplace them as you might paper records.
Enhanced digital authorization creates an accurate record of customer authorization history and the details of different repair orders in a system. Customers can digitally sign off on repairs, and your repair shop software will capture their signatures.
Enhanced digital authorization modernizes your shop by ditching the old pen-and-paper approach for a digital signature. Customers don’t even have to stop by your shop, and service advisors don’t have hope to make a phone call and catch customers when they’re available: just instantly text or email the estimate for instant approval.
Additionally, digital authorization protects your shop from liability in the event of a customer dispute by maximizing your visibility of key authorization details (like the phone number of the service advisor who sent the repair order).
Your shop can get approval from customers in a matter of seconds, and customers can have the convenience of handling the process on their time.
Digital vehicle inspections solve the problems that come with paper inspections, like unclear handwriting, lost pages, lack of trust, and more.
Digital vehicle inspections are vehicle inspections adapted for the modern age. Customers can see photos and videos of exactly what’s wrong with their vehicles, see the urgency of each proposed repair, and approve or decline jobs directly from their smartphones.
With digital vehicle inspections, technicians can build inspections on their smartphones or tablets. From there, service advisors can build estimates and send them directly to customers’ smartphones.
Customers can then approve or decline jobs on the go. In short, digital vehicle inspections move the approval process along faster and minimize the chances of any miscommunications between your team and your customers. In turn, your team can build greater trust with customers, enabling them to sell more work.
No matter what major big box retailer you walk in, no matter where in the country, if they have multiple locations they'll have a history of every purchase you've made.
We don't even really think about it, but that creates a seamless experience. Customers can expect the same level of care and service no matter where they visit.
Tekmetric Multi-Shop Shared Customer History allows users to connect customers across shops and view the history of those customers across all locations within their organization in Tekmetric.
Shared Customer History in Tekmetric enables multi-shop organizations to create that same experience in their organizations.
With just a few clicks, shop owners and general managers can quickly add customers from one shop location to another without actually typing out all their information again.
This means shops can provide a seamless customer experience across all locations and easily maintain customer information without worrying about duplicating entries.
Vehicle inspections are perhaps the most critical part of the repair process. After the customer stops by and describes the problem, it’s on your shop to investigate the claims, determine the cause, and recommend the next steps to get the customer back on the road.
Modern shop management systems let Service Advisors build out multiple inspection templates to help save time, and some go even further like Tekmetric enabling default inspections.
With default inspections, Tekmetric Users can set a default inspection template to automatically apply to newly created repair orders. Simplify workflows, and gain back time, all while delivering the same great experience to customers every time.
Service advisors won’t have to spend time searching for your shop’s standard inspection every time they build a new repair order.
Plus, technicians will have a standardized inspection to work off of, ensuring that every vehicle is thoroughly inspected to the same standard with the same level of care.
Free up service advisor time so they can focus less on a computer screen, and more on the customer they're servicing.
We can't deny it, we're customer obsessed. That's why we went out of our way to visit shop owners who rely on Tekmetric every day! And part of why we're so customer-obsessed is because of how much our customers love Tekmetric, and its ability to empower shops.
That's why we’re celebrating another season as the leaders in the industry for shop management software!
Once again, for the third time in a row this year, G2 users have chosen Tekmetric as the leading solution for managing and revolutionizing their independent auto repair shop.
For their latest round of awards, Tekmetric was chosen as a clear industry leader for auto shop management software for the third time this year.
We've said it before, and we'll say it again, this is all because of shops like yours!
All the amazing independent shops that do great work every day with Tekmetric, the shops that keep people's vehicles safe and reliable. The heroes that get their customers back on the road every single day!
We were just chosen because you all love us so much!
Thank you! Thank you for partnering with us, and thank you for helping us create the best possible solution for running an independent auto repair shop!
We're excited to be awarded and regarded so highly, and we strive to keep that level of excellence and support at every step in your shop.
Tekmetric is always being updated, and we’ll never stop working with and supporting shops to help them run efficiently and with fewer headaches, so you can focus on doing what you love!
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When my husband Dana and I started Haglin Automotive, our loyal customers found us from The Yellow Pages.
Things have drastically changed since then thanks to all the technology advancements. Online reviews and Google play a big part in whether a customer will set foot in your shop or return for future repairs.
At Haglin Auto, we always adjust to meet customers, and whether they’re a return customer or a new customer, we prioritize how they feel.
It’s important to meet your customers where they are. We even offer customers free vehicle pick-up and delivery service, free shuttle services, and free loaner vehicles.
But, more importantly, we make sure they understand their repairs and can see everything that’s going on with their cars.
Haglin Auto has been around for 41 years in the Boulder area, and twice a year 30,000 people come in and out because of Boulder University of Colorado, so we’ve always had an influx of students.
And in order to cater to our college students, we started implementing DVIs.
The reason we made the change in the first place was because our service writers would call a local college student and say, “You car is doing this, this, and that,” and a lot of the times a student would respond with, “I don’t understand,” “I’m not the one paying,” or “Let me call my mom or dad.”
From there, the student would make a phone call home, they would ask questions, and then the student would call back with questions.
Drivers typically come in with an expectation of what's wrong with their car, which can make it tricky to sell maintenance work. They might think you're trying to squeeze more money out of them, or may simply have a set budget in their mind and don’t plan on spending extra.
In reality, you're simply trying to go above and beyond and provide them with the best service possible. So how do you show that, and which tools will help you transform the way you sell maintenance?
Here’s how to build customer trust while staying true to your auto repair shop’s mission of providing optimal maintenance recommendations.
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