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.
At Tekmetric, we’ve been busy creating the most requested feature by users: true two-way texting. We’re excited to announce that this November, you and your guests will be able to communicate with each other in a seamless, hassle-free way.
Send and Receive Texts Directly in Tekmetric
Once your shop sets up two-way texting within Tekmetric, your team and customers will be able to have instant, harmonious digital conversations.
On your end, the Tekmessage interface will have a similar look and feel to social media messaging services (such as Facebook Messenger).
Your customers, however, will see the conversations as regular text messages on their phones.
To use Tekmessage, simply click the messaging icon in the top right corner of your shop’s header within Tekmetric. Doing so will open the Tekmessage sidebar, where you’ll be able to see a full list of conversations with guests, send and receive texts, and search conversations.
On busy days, it can feel like there are a million things happening at your shop. Technicians are hard at work getting repairs knocked out and service advisors are helping customers. Even on slow days, there’s work to be done. You might decide to tackle that new marketing plan or personally call customers to remind them of service work they’d previously put off.
No matter the circumstances, it’s important to have a way of juggling and managing it all. However, keeping track of everything with pen and paper, a whiteboard, or just by playing it by ear can quickly turn into a headache. After all, those methods are unreliable and complicated. Information can easily get lost in the mix, and all it takes is for one misunderstanding to knock things off track.
Repairs management software can keep you and your team on track and free up your time as a shop owner so you can focus on the high-level aspects of growing your business. Service advisors can use Tekmetric’s Job Board to see the status of repairs, appropriately delegate tasks to technicians, and give customers updates every step of the way.
Choosing the best auto repair software for your shop is essential for staying competitive in today’s digital landscape. While many shops are adopting digital solutions, the variety of options for the top auto shop software can make the choice overwhelming. To find success, it is important to identify a solution that aligns seamlessly with your business goals and strategy.
What is Auto Repair Shop Software?
Auto repair software is a digital tool shop owners can use to streamline workflows and help with daily tasks like invoices, reporting, and payments. These softwares are designed to make shops run smoother and reduce headaches. Each software has a unique set of features and functionality. This guide was created to help you find the best shop management software and compare and contrast features.
Benefits of Auto Repair Software
Auto repair software can offer a lot of benefits for your shop including:
Reduced back and forth with customers through two-way texting.
Quicker inspections leading to more vehicles per day.
More secure files through cloud-based software versus pen and paper.
Automated tasks take less time like parts ordering and repair order creation.
Increased visibility of how your business is doing through real-time dashboards.
Keep track of customer notes, names, and vehicle history in one place.
All of these benefits improve efficiency in your shop leading to more revenue. Plus, your staff will be able to do more in less time making their lives easier.
Top Shop Management Software Features to Look For
The solution you use in your shop should offer a comprehensive suite of features to streamline operations, enhance your customer experience and increase profitability. These features might take on several forms, so look for options that fall into one of the following five categories:
Security Features
Convenience Features
Trust Features
Efficiency Features
Expansion Features
Tek-Tip: While features are important, don't forget to calculate cost. Compare if the cost is monthly or yearly and what the ROI will be for your shop. Tekmetric users see a 25% average increase in repair orders within the first 120 days.
Security Features
The best automotive repair shop software is one that prioritizes security. Your shop collects tons of data both internally and externally each day. Not only do you store information on your shop’s productivity and financial performance, but vehicle owners also entrust you with their personal information. In all cases, that information should be stored safely and protected by your software solution. Some key features to look for include:
Cloud-based. Cloud-based systems are one of the most secure solutions available. Not only is the data stored in a cloud-based system available to you anytime, anywhere, but it is also regularly backed up to provide an additional layer of protection against unforeseen events like natural disasters or equipment failures.
Third-party security certification. Third-party certifications validate a shop management system’s commitment to data protection. Tekmetric recently achieved SOC II Type 2 Compliance, demonstrating its dedication to safeguarding customer data in five areas: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy.
Convenience Features
When customers have an excellent, convenient experience, they are more likely to return to your shop for future repairs. The best car repair software you can use in your shop helps you personalize the customer experience for your target audience and improve customer communication. Here are some customer-centric features to consider:
Digital payment solutions. With features like integrated payments, buy now pay later and text-to pay, customers can pay in a manner that works best for them, allowing them to pick up their car after hours, pay invoices from their office and even complete a payment for their college student from states away.
Two-way texting.Two-way texting features can streamline communications, allowing your team to easily text with customers. With two-way texting, you can even designate your shop’s existing landline number as the contact to avoid confusion.
Automation. With automation-based features like SmartJobs, your service advisors can create jobs in only one or two clicks, allowing them to focus less on manual tasks and more on interacting with customers.
Trust Features
In the auto repair industry, creating customer loyalty is critical for differentiating your shop and driving business. Your customers will keep coming back if they trust your team and the services you provide. As you search for the best shop management software for your shop, look for a solution that helps you increase transparency and build trust with new and existing customers alike. Some features might include:
Digital vehicle inspections. DVIs allow technicians to complete a comprehensive inspection of the vehicle and send customers pictures and videos of any repairs it might need. This strategy helps customers better understand what is happening with their vehicle, making them more likely to agree to necessary repairs.
Educational integrations. Some integrations can help educate your customers on the necessity of a repair or how their vehicle should work. With Tekmetric’s integration with MotoVisuals, for example, customers can view animated videos of proposed repairs that explain why these repairs are vital for their vehicle. This creates a seamless experience for your customers while building trust and strengthening the relationship.
Efficiency Features
In addition to providing secure data storage and enhancing your customer experience, investing in auto repair software can also help your mechanic shop run more efficiently. The best auto repair software for you should offer customizable functionality that streamlines your internal processes and workflow to help you finish repairs on time. Here are some features that promote efficiency:
Inventory orders. In addition to building the estimates, a comprehensive shop management system can support your team in ordering parts and managing inventory. Tekmetric has created an inventory management solution that enables your technician to order parts as they are completing the repair diagnosis. This streamlines the work order process and removes any potential miscommunications between technicians and managers or service advisors ordering parts, leading to a more accurate and efficient process.
Automatic progress updates. Tekmetric automatically updates new notes within a repair order for all team members to view the updates as soon as they are entered. Service advisors can then automatically send these updates to the customer, so the customer remains informed even if the service advisor is occupied with another task. With automatic updates, the customer has a play-by-play of the repair – and they can complete the next task, such as approval or payment, without any back-and-forth over the phone or having to come in person.
Mobile App for 24/7 access. A mobile app can help your technicians perform inspections faster and be able to take pictures/videos right from their device. Mobile apps can also help shop owners check on reporting and dashboards while away from their desks.
Shop dashboard real-time reporting. Reviewing dashboards in real-time allows you to respond to potential bottlenecks or problems that arise throughout the day. For example, you can review your profitability early in the week and determine if you’re on the right path or if you need to take steps such as calling customers for approvals or following up on declined work to generate more repairs.
Tek-Tip: Unbiased review sites like G2 can be helpful when comparing which software is best for you.
Expansion features
One common mistake shop owners make is buying an auto repair shop management software that only meets their current needs. The best auto repair softwares grow with your business and can integrate with other products.
Integrations. Each auto repair shop is unique and has different needs. In addition, each shop will grow and have new emerging needs down the road. Purchase an auto repair shop software that meets your current needs and can integrate with other features you will need later on. Ask fellow shop owners which integrations they find helpful and learn from their success.
Multi-Location. If you are a shop owner with a vision to expand into multiple locations, make sure your auto repair software can handle the task. Tekmetric offers multi-shop management where you can view all of your reports in one place and streamline your workflow across locations.
New Services and Products. Do you envision your shop offering tires or other products in the future? Not all auto repair softwares are built equal, so make sure your software is up the task.
What is the best auto repair shop software?
The best automotive repair shop software for you is one that allows you to run your business smoothly while also supporting security, convenience and transparency between you and your customers. When your software supports these areas, you will be better poised to streamline your shop’s processes and create a better customer experience – ultimately driving your bottom line.
Choosing a software is a personal decision based on your specific business strategy, budget, customers and team. Fortunately, many softwares have advanced features that can be customized to your goals and needs. These advanced features come at a price and each software has differing pricing plans. Make sure your research includes pricing and what the ROI will be for your shop.
Final Thoughts
When researching the right shop management solution for your shop, look for the right features to meet your needs and workflow. Another expert tip is to utilize unbiased review platforms like G2 to discern which software is best for you. Lastly, network and connect with fellow shop owners and see what they recommend.
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