Cloud-Based Repair Shop Software
When researching different repair shop software options, the baseline feature you should look for is that it is cloud-based.
What Does It Mean for a System to Be “Cloud-Based?”
Cloud-based repair shop software means that you can use the system from any device that has internet access. You no longer have to rely on workarounds or bulky, clunky hardware that might crash, become corrupted, or get damaged.
How a Cloud-Based System Modernizes Your Shop
With cloud-based software, your team can work more efficiently and autonomously. Technicians can type inspection notes from their smartphones without having to leave their bays, service advisors can check a repair detail if they’re out running an errand, and you can work remotely from anywhere with internet access—even at a trade show or as you’re spending time with your family.
Another benefit of cloud-based repair shop software is that you don’t have to pay for and manage expensive overhead costs, like buying new hardware and hiring third-party support staff. And because all of your data is on the cloud, you’ll have more peace of mind that your shop won’t suffer from data loss if the hardware breaks down.
Real-Time Reports
Real-time reports are one of the most useful tools for making savvy business decisions.
What Are Real-Time Reports?
Real-time reports provide deep insights into the health of your business, like your average repair order, car count, close ratio, and gross profit. With real-time reports, you can instantly get an accurate picture of how your business is doing; you don’t have to spend valuable time painstakingly running calculations.
How and Why Real-Time Reports Modernize Your Shop
By diving into metrics, you can get answers to important financial questions that will guide you as you grow your business. For example, you’ll be able to determine if you can afford to hire more technicians or install that new bay. Or, if you see that your shop isn’t doing well during a certain quarter, you can increase your marketing efforts to turn things around.
Workflow Tools
Workflow tools enable your team to seamlessly collaborate, removing barriers to productivity.
What Are Workflow Tools?
With workflow tools, service advisors gain a holistic overview of every repair order currently at the shop, and which technician is working on what, so they can appropriately assign repairs. Technicians will know exactly what they are responsible for. Your team can work together in harmony, without interrupting each other’s flow.
How and Why Workflow Tools Modernize Your Shop
A repair shop where service advisors and technicians are running back-and-forth to clarify details and update each other is a chaotic one. It also sends a negative message to your customers when they see that chaos. With workflow tools, your team members can get a bird’s eye view of what’s happening by logging onto the system, and will be able to collaborate in real time.
Integrations
Auto repair shops usually use a variety of different software solutions to keep things running.
What Are Integrations?
Integrations within repair shop software are built-in “connections” to other tools you need to keep your business running, including:
- Marketing tools
- Parts ordering platforms
- Management tools
How and Why Integrations Modernize Your Shop
Integrations help you easily access the tools you need to maintain a successful business. You can access all of your crucial business tools in one place; you don’t need to have a million tabs open. For example, you can check on a repair order and then leverage modern marketing tactics without shifting between multiple tools.
By using cloud-based software, real-time reports, workflow tools, and integrations, your team can work more efficiently, and you can make informed decisions about growing your business.
In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore customer service features that you should look for when selecting repair shop software.
