Smart Jobs is a revolutionary new way to build jobs in Tekmetric with just one click. Shop management software, at its core, is meant to help you build jobs, and we wanted to streamline that process as much as possible. So that’s what we did!
Your typical repair order may have one or more jobs packaged together. Usually that requires a lot of clicking around to find the right labor rates, and the right parts, sourcing the parts you don’t have, and applying the right markup matrices, over and over again.
That means an extra click for every single step. If you ask us, that’s too many clicks.
The reality is that all shop management systems require far too many actions for what really should be a one-click process.
When we set out to create Tekmetric, we set out to revolutionize the independent auto repair industry. We wanted to simplify, yet maximize the work your shop does.
We’re certain you’ll love how much Smart Jobs does just that.
"Smart jobs is a must have, it'll speed up your service writing by a huge amount.” - Chris Chagnon, COO at the Cardinal Plaza Shell
What's new with Smart Jobs?
Smart Jobs in Tekmetric will enable service advisors to add jobs to new repair orders in just one or two clicks per job.
That's right, no more digging around for the right fluids and filters, double-checking your inventory, and ordering out-of-stock parts. Smart Jobs does it all for you!
All with just one or two clicks, job builders can create a new job with an automatically generated name that also automatically:
Adds relevant labor line based on the vehicle selected for the job and labor matrix
Changes the required quantity of fluid based on the vehicle selected
Finds parts required for the job from your preferred parts vendors by tapping into the PartsTech catalog containing 15M+ parts, letting you order what you need right then and there (filters and fluids too!)
Applies a parts matrix to the parts of the job based on the cost
Last but not least, applies a total package price to the entire job
Spend less time clicking and more time connecting with customers. Smart Jobs makes everything that simple!
Why You'll Love Smart Jobs
Smart Jobs isn't your average feature release, this is an entirely new simplified, and efficient way for your service advisors to work.
We're certain that you'll love how easy it is for your team to get up and running, provide amazing service, and optimize your shop’s operations to get the most value out of the work your team already does.
Get More Out of the Work You Already Do
Shops don’t only need to focus on getting more cars in their bays. Instead, we want to help you focus on finding ways to work smarter, not harder. With Smart Jobs, it’s right in the name.
Customers truly care about the experience of doing business with your shop. They expect quick response times, individual attention, and friendly, professional service. With Smart Jobs shops have reported 20 minutes saved with just the cabin air filter smart job, now think about how much time would be saved with an oil change job.
Buy parts directly from Tekmetric
Stop spending time juggling back and forth between multiple tabs to search through your suppliers’ inventories. Smart Jobs helps you source your preferred parts for the specific repair job you’re working on directly within Tekmetric. Thanks to our partnership and seamless integration with PartsTech, you can access the parts you need from your preferred suppliers — all without leaving Tekmetric or dealing with pop-out windows. PartsTech brings 225+ parts and tire suppliers across 30k+ locations into one lookup in the Smart Jobs experience, ensuring you always have the needed parts.
Allow service advisors to focus directly on the customer experience by saving time. Easily apply consistent pricing for customers, no matter what vehicle
Stay Ahead of the Curve
In the modern and digital world, things move fast. There's always a "next best thing" around the corner, and customers' expectations can flip on a dime.
Right now is a massive opportunity for shops to meet these new customer expectations to drive their business in entirely new ways.
We saw in our latest Auto Repair Industry Index that the business growing, with Tekmetric shops across the country servicing about 6.35% more cars, on average, over the first half of 2023. Drivers are looking to hold onto their cars for longer than ever before – meaning your shop should take every advantage they can to get ahead!
Simplify training
Getting your team up and running is already easier thanks to Tekmetric’s efficient workflow.
Now, because Smart Jobs works like magic, your new team members can start taking advantage of lightning-quick efficiency right away! Smart Jobs will make it easier than ever for you to focus on training for customer experience and overall shop expectations over the shop management system.
See Smart Jobs In Action!
Curious to see how Smart Jobs will revolutionize your shop in real-time? We can’t wait to show you.
Your automotive shop is the beating heart of your business. A well-designed basic auto shop layout can streamline operations and refine your business.
When you plan to refresh your auto mechanic shop, consider how to make efficient use of your available space, enhance safety, refine the look and feel of the shop, and improve customer comfort. Most of all, upgrading the technology that forms the backbone of your business is a major component of a modern auto shop.
Manage space effectively
No matter how much square footage your shop has, you can maximize your layout to house everything you need. Consider the size and shape of your space before you commit to a specific layout. Evaluate the services you currently or intend to provide so you can plan your space safely and efficiently.
Some of those considerations include:
Equipment locations: Look at your permanent installations, such as lifts and compressors as well as movable items.
Storage: Organize storage areas so parts and equipment are easily accessible and tidy, both making them easy to find and improving your shop’s appearance and parts storage.
Working areas: Set up your workbenches and counter space so technicians can perform detail work away from the vehicle.
Loading bays: Verify your loading bay areas have adequate clearance.
Waiting rooms: Design an appealing spaceso your customers have a clean, well-lit, and comfortable place to wait.
Administrative offices: Make sure your employees have all the tools they need to keep the business running efficiently.
Effective space management also plays a big part in keeping an auto shop safe.
Tekmetric just revealed two new tools to help shops win more customers and run a more efficient front desk. Get the full story. Watch the on-demand webinar now.
Generating new business in auto repair is hard. The industry is projected to grow just 2% over inflation annually over the next five years. The average American has 15 auto repair shops within 10 miles of their home, according to Tekmetric's internal data, meaning competition for every new customer is fierce. And across multiple industry surveys, roughly two-thirds of drivers say they don't fully trust their local repair shop — making it that much harder to win them over. The result: only one in 10 shops both grows and hits profit margins of 20% or higher.
"We know the competition to win new customers is fierce,” said Lauren Langston, president and COO, Tekmetric. “That means we need the right strategies and the right tools in order to do it."
Tekmetric's data shows that winning shops consistently focus on four outcomes: car count, average repair order (ARO), driver experience, and cycle time. Two new Tekmetric products — Tekmetric Digital Ads and Tekmetric Phones — are built to move the needle on all four.
Tekmetric Digital Ads
Winning new customers starts with being found. Tekmetric Digital Ads is an AI-powered add on that helps your shop show up where high-intent drivers are already searching for auto repair on Google Maps and Apple Maps. Because it connects directly to Tekmetric, you can see exactly how your ad spend translates into real revenue, not just clicks.
"It's really hard to see what's working. One of the superpowers of this product is that it's connected directly with Tekmetric," said Jared Haleck, chief product officer, Tekmetric.
Tekmetric Digital Ads is in early access now and rolling out to selected customers.
Tekmetric Phones
Every missed moment at the front desk has a cost. Tekmetric Phones gives your service advisors the customer context they need — instantly, the moment the phone rings — so they can spend less time looking things up and more time taking care of customers.
"Service advisors especially are loving it,” Haleck said. “It just saves them so much time. It creates so much convenience for them.”
Tekmetric Phones is in beta, available for customers on RingCentral.
Watch the On-Demand Webinar
Langston and Haleck walked through all of it — the industry data, live product demos, and what's coming next — in their webinar, "Building for the Results-Driven Repair Shop."
Within an auto repair shop, data serves many functions: streamlining day-to-day operations, helping service advisors and tracking a shop’s cash flow. But you can also harness the power of data to plan for the future. In fact, strategically leveraging data can help you determine when it is time to open a new location. Think of it as your roadmap to multi-shop success. Data helps you every step of the way, from optimizing your existing business, to creating a plan for a new shop, to maximizing workflow across all locations.
Looking at the Big Picture: The New Location Roadmap
When you start planning for a new location, your strategy should prioritize the big picture of your business, allowing you to strategically determine the process for opening the next shop. Key metrics and analytics can help you monitor your business performance and plan for both the long- and short-term future. Whether you are expanding for the first time or the tenth, leveraging data can help make the process smooth, strategic and simple. It’s as straightforward as 1… 2…3:
1. Getting Started: Make Your First Location the Best It Can Be
Before opening a new location, ensure your existing shop is optimized. Your goal is to maximize efficiency and productivity, so you can replicate the process at a new location. Take a good, hard look at your numbers, and be honest with yourself about your business performance. Some key questions to ask include:
What are your ARO and car count, and can you increase them?
How many repeat customers do you have versus new customers?
How effective are your mechanics at completing their work?
Will adding another mechanic or bay be enough to support my current levels of business growth?
How frequently are customers approving your full estimate or returning for follow-up work on previously declined jobs?
Once you have determined that your existing business is performing at the highest level possible, you are ready for the next step.
2. Creating a Plan: Determine Criteria for Your New Location
As you look to add a location, it is important to identify your business needs and the assets you have available. Data from your existing location(s) is key to this step. Not only can you analyze business performance to determine your financial ability to open a new shop, but you can also identify opportunities with new customers to target or niche services to offer.
For example, if your existing location is overwhelmed with customers seeking same day or next day service, another shop might be the solution. Or, if you are targeting customers in a different area of town, building or buying another location closer to the population you are targeting might draw them in. Here are some questions to ask when determining the criteria for a new location:
Have I maximized the efficiency of my existing location(s)?
Can I afford to build a brand-new shop, or should I buy an existing business?
What is my close rate at my existing location(s)?
What demographic am I targeting, and how can I meet their needs with this new location?
3. Setting Up for Success: Use Tekmetric Multi-Shop to Maximize Workflow
Once you have multiple locations, it is critical that you maximize workflow between all locations. You can compare locations using Tekmetric Multi-Shop to monitor performance, track key metrics and determine each location’s strengths and weaknesses. A good question to ask yourself is: how can I leverage each location’s strengths to support continued business growth?
First, ensure that you have replicated the optimized processes from your original location(s) at the new shop. You have worked hard to ensure your business was performing at the highest level possible before opening a new location – make sure to keep that momentum moving!
Second, play to the strengths of each location so they support each other. For example, determine which locations are high versus low volume to maximize your technicians’ time at all locations. If one shop is a high-volume location overwhelmed with work, you can leverage a lower volume location by moving some cars there for same-day repairs. Just don’t forget to move the cars back to the original location for the customer’s convenience!
The idea of multiple auto repair shop locations can seem daunting, but by maximizing your data, you can simplify the process to ensure you are prepared for the next step. First, put all your efforts into running a top-tier business with your existing location(s). Once you are satisfied with your performance, utilize data to establish a clear plan for opening your next location. Finally, use tools like Tekmetric Multi-Shop to maximize workflow and leverage each location’s strengths to support the overall business. This approach will maximize your productivity and efficiency across all your locations, increasing your overall bottom line and keeping customers satisfied.
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