Prasanth Chilukuri understands the challenges that shop owners face each day with gaps in their efficiency and margins, which is why he co-founded Tekmetric with Sunil Patel in 2016.
Vehicle Service Pros published some of Prasanth’s tips for strategically growing an auto repair business with a shop management system like Tekmetric.
You can access his full piece here, or check out some of the highlights below.
Balance Is Key to Making Better-Informed Business Decisions
Shop owners make countless daily decisions that affect their customers, their team, and their business.
Making good business decisions is essential to keeping everyone happy and keeping the lights on in the shop, but how do you know what the right decision is?
According to Prasanth, the key to any successful business is finding the right balance between soft skills like intuition or relationship-building and hard skills like data analysis.
Both types of skills are important, but knowing when to employ each one is the trick to making better-informed decisions and growing your business.
Intuition is useful when shop owners have to make split-second decisions and often goes hand in hand with interpersonal skills. The auto repair industry isn’t just about cars, after all; it’s about people, too.
By learning how to pick up on cues and anticipate the needs of customers, employees, and vendors, shop owners can foster long-lasting relationships that grow alongside their business.
Of course, there’s only one way to know whether your shop is truly turning a profit: look at the numbers and analyze the results. Data can support any hunches you have about the health of your business, for better or for worse, so you can plan accordingly.
But if your shop is still tied to manual methods, gathering key information about parts usage and labor costs is probably not easy or convenient.
Why Manual Methods Just Can’t Keep Up
A shop management system might not be able to make business decisions for you, but it can help shop owners make sense of their key metrics and data. According to Prasanth, looking at the cold, hard facts is essential to boost the efficiency and profitability of the shop.
The science of data might seem contrary to the art of intuition at first, but they’re more related than you might think. As Prasanth describes, data can add support to a shop owner’s intuition or observations and reveal key information that can’t necessarily be gathered from conversations with customers and employees.
Unfortunately, trying to sort through the shop’s data by hand can be exhausting and often means missing family dinners to crunch the numbers after hours. And manually calculating daily, weekly, or monthly metrics can quickly become a headache with much larger room for human error.
Without real-time reporting tools, inventory counts and gross profit can’t necessarily be trusted and will always provide an out-of-date view of your business at best.
Being tied to manual processes for data collection also means being tied to the shop and losing out on valuable face-to-face time with the customers supporting the business.
As a result, shop owners are often left making the difficult decision between nurturing their intuition and building relationships, or focusing on the data and shop profitability when both are essential to the long-term success of the business. With Tekmetric, you can do both.
Get the Full Picture With Tekmetric
Tekmetric is a shop management system that comes fully equipped with business reporting tools within a repair orders software suite.
Tekmetric tracks key performance indicators like employee efficiency, parts usage, and profitability ‘round the clock so shop owners can focus on the more high-level aspects of their business.
Real-time reports are always available with numbers that are already calculated and organized.
A bird’s eye view of the shop gives shop owners the power to tailor their business plan and strategy by:
Adjusting parts and labor matrices to maximize margins
Extending or removing a running promotion
Deciding to add more people to the team
Knowing when it’s the right time to expand the business with new bays or by opening a new location
Reading Your Shop’s Report Card
Conference season is still a couple of months away, but part of growing a business is keeping up with industry trends and seeking out learning opportunities. Prasanth wants to make sure that shop owners are educated about the abundance of tools available to them year-round.
And he also understands that getting acquainted with a new shop management system can be a bit of a learning curve, especially with so many different reports to sift through.
Prasanth and Sunil built Tekmetric with shop owners in mind, making sure data visuals are intuitive and easy to understand. At just a glance, shop owners can clearly spot data trends and adjust the shop’s operations as needed.
Employee Activity and Labor Reports: Efficiency and Sales
Customer Activity Reports: Job History, Declined Jobs, Lead and Marketing Source
Parts Reports: Parts Ordered and Parts Usage
Financial Reports
These reports help shop owners assess the health of their business by tracking trends in the day-to-day operations and profitability of a shop within a specific time range.
Knowledge is power, and having a clear view of your financial forecast is crucial to making financially responsible decisions.
Employee Activity and Labor Reports
Tracking employee-related metrics is essential to keeping track of shop morale.
Staying clued in to what’s happening with productivity, Close Ratio, and Average Repair Order totals can help shop owners make informed decisions related to employee management and training.
Customer Activity Reports
Providing good customer service can be a differentiating factor for building customer loyalty.
Customer activity reports help shop owners keep track of how each customer interacts with the shop and what keeps them coming back.
The Declined Jobs report also makes it easier for service advisors to follow up with customers and help maintain their vehicles.
Parts Reports
It can be frustrating when the numbers don’t add up. Tekmetric makes parts management and reconciliation a breeze so that shop owners can ensure they are buying the appropriate parts and pricing them accordingly.
The Winning Formula for Shop Success
If you ask Prasanth how to run a business, he’ll tell you it’s an art and a science. The key to making good business decisions is following your gut while also supporting your hunches with real-time data.
Even if the numbers aren’t where you want them to be, Tekmetric’s real-time reports give you the data and insights you need to turn things around for your business and for your team.
The winning formula for shop success starts with you.
Mechanics need the best tools to perform repairs efficiently and safely. With so many brands in the automotive industry, it can be hard to sift through the noise to find the right automotive tool brand for you. Whether you are a beginner or an expert mechanic, this guide will help identify the best brands for you.
Below, we have highlighted the top automotive tool brands to help you select the best tools for your needs. We have hand-selected these brands to provide a variety of price points and quality levels. Each brand has something unique to offer and we hope this guide helps you narrow down your choices.
Our Top-Rated Mechanic Tool Brands
While every mechanic tool brand has something unique to offer, these high-quality brands stood out to us based on value, reviews, durability, and performance. Tekmetric reviewed these brands without any affiliate commission to remove bias.
Matco Tools: Premium tools for everyone
Matco is a prominent brand in the automotive tool space because of its reputation for durable and reliable products. Featuring a wide variety of hand tools (and apparel) at reasonable prices, Matco has become a leading brand. Products include wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers and more. This brand is a great option for mechanics looking for quality tools that are built to last.
Kobalt: Budget-friendly tools
Kobalt has become a popular choice for mechanics looking for professional-grade tools without breaking the bank. They have found the perfect balance of quality and price. Plus, they are easy to find and readily available at Lowes and Amazon. However, if you are looking for highly specialized tools, Kobalt may not offer every tool you need. In addition, you may find better quality from other brands but quality comes at a cost.
Wright Tool: American-made tools
Wright is an innovative USA tool supplier that has created a reputation for quality long-lasting tools. Wright features an extensive product range including wrenches, sockets, hammers, tool storage, screwdrivers, and more. Wright is a great option for those looking for innovation and American-made tools.
Snap-On Tools: Professional-grade hand tools
Snap-On has become synonymous with exceptional quality, precision, and durability, making it a preferred choice among professional automotive mechanics. The premium pricing will be easily justified by professional mechanics and those looking to make an investment but may not be the best choice for casual or DIYers. Snap-On is a great choice for those looking for top-notch quality and performance.
Craftsman Tools: Reliable and budget-friendly
Craftsman is another popular choice for mechanics looking for quality tools without the premium price tag. Craftsman offers a wide variety of tools including sockets, torque wrenches, and ergonomic power tools. Craftsman is a great choice for those looking to find a balance between price and quality. Craftsman is available at most of the large retailers including Amazon, Lowes, and Home Depot.
OTC: Diagnostic and specialty tools
OTC is a reputable brand offering specialty equipment for mechanics. OTC specializes in jacks, diagnostics and speciality equipment. They do not offer every tool you will need but they have select specialized tools that can be hard to find elsewhere. OTC is a great choice for mechanics looking for technical products or needing specialized equipment.
Tek-Tip: Don't forget to look at warranties when comparing the best mechanic tool brands.
Husky: Affordable quality tools
Husky is a big name in the automotive tool space because they have found the right balance of quality and price. They have a large selection of tools and back them up with a lifetime warranty. Products include mechanic tools sets, wrenches, sockets, and more. Husky is easy to find at Home Depot, Amazon, and other large retailers. Most users will like Husky but if you want to make a larger financial investment, you can find higher-quality brands elsewhere.
Proto: Durable and innovative tools
Proto is a reputable brand in the automotive tool industry, offering durable, high-quality tools that are often favorably compared to other brands. Products include adjustable wrenches, combination wrenches, screwdrivers, and more. They offer innovative designs and competitive pricing which make them a viable option for professional mechanics.
Blackhawk: Specialty shop equipment
Blackhawk is another specialty brand offering jacks, stands, ramps, creepers, and shop equipment. While they do not sell every product mechanics need, they specialize in a few key products and have made a good name for themselves. Blackhawk is available at some major retailers including Amazon and Northern Tool.
Milwaukee Tool: Cordless power tools
Milwaukee is a big name in the tool space in general and has been building its presence in the automotive space. Milwaukee offers a wide variety of tools including power tools, lighting, safety equipment, mechanic tool sets, wrenches, and more. They specialize in innovative cordless power tools and can be found at Amazon, Ace Hardware and Home Depot.
DeWalt: Reputable retail supplier
DeWalt is a large supplier of automotive tools and typically caters to both DIY and professional mechanics alike. They offer a comprehensive product line featuring wrenches, power tools, tool kits, storage, hand tools, and more. DeWalt is a great option for those looking for a reputable brand that is easy to find at Amazon, Lowes and Ace Hardware.
Mac Tools: Premium-grade tools
Mac Tools is a leading brand in the automotive space and is recognized for durability and quality. They offer almost every tool a mechanic will need but they are not available at most retailers (buy from a franchise or their website). Despite being harder to locate, Mac Tools is included in this list for a reason and has a lot to offer mechanics looking for professional-grade tools.
Makita: Automotive power tools and batteries
Makita is a reputable automotive tool company specializing in power tools and batteries. If you stay within the Makita ecosystem, their batteries can power over 325 different tools. Power tool products include drive impact wrenches, grinders, lighting, and more. Makita is a top choice for mechanics looking for cordless power tools at a good price.
SK Tools: Renowned quality
With over 100 years of experience, SK has created a reputation for delivering quality tools that last. SK offers mechanic tool sets, sockets, ratchets, wrenches, screwdrivers, tool storage, and more. You can purchase SK Tools on their website, Amazon, and other popular retailers. SK is a great choice for those looking for quality tools at an affordable price point.
How to Pick the Best Tool Brand for You
Price, durability, warranty, and brand reputation are some of the biggest factors when looking for the best tool brand for you. When selecting your brand, make sure it meets your specific needs, budget, and has a strong reputation.
Price
Price is an important factor to consider when looking for the best mechanic tool brand. Consider if it is worth it to purchase a higher quality brand to ensure your tools last longer and need to be replaced less frequently. Lastly, consider additional costs such as batteries, electricity, and storage.
Durability
When selecting your brand, durability is an important factor to consider. Some brands are cheaper but will cost you more over a lifetime if you have to replace them regularly. If the tool has an active lifetime warranty, then this factor holds less importance. Lastly, consider how much you use your tools. Every day? Once a month? If you use tools every day, the extra expense of quality tools may be justified.
Warranty
When looking for the best mechanic tool brands, warranties can be one of the most important factors to consider. Some brands offer lifetime warranties, others offer limited warranties or no warranty at all. Replacement costs can be substantial so make sure you research beforehand.
Reviews
Reviews offer first-hand perspectives of how the tool performed for others. Research each tool and also research the brand as a whole and see how other mechanics are liking the tool/brand.
Essential Tools for Mechanics
Every automotive mechanic should have these hand tools to assist with common repairs and streamline their workflow. While not exhaustive, this list will handle the majority of common car repairs.
Choosing the right mechanic tool brand is essential for maximizing performance and efficiency in your work. You can make an informed decision by considering your specific needs, researching brand reviews, and finding the right warranty. Our top brands mentioned in this blog have earned the trust of professionals for their reliability and durability, so invest wisely in the one that best suits your needs.
Your shop’s ability to grow, make a profit, and succeed hinges on clear and accurate invoicing.
If you’re still using pen and paper for your invoice software, you probably spend a lot of time reconciling records at the end of the day and may even have to stay late to put your books in order.
Paper means lots of copies, transposition of information, and a high probability of making mistakes. The same holds true if you’re using multiple software programs to juggle records at your shop to put together information for invoices. If you aren’t using a single, comprehensive system, there’s a good chance details will be incorrectly copied or left out.
You’re looking for the right tool for your shop: something that can manage your shop's workflow efficiently, free you up to spend your time on important shop decisions, and grow your bottom line.
How do you know if a system is designed to grow your business? At the very least, it must measure your business. If a shop management system cannot accurately measure shop performance, it can’t tell you whether or not using that system has improved your business.
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