Service advisors serve as the major touchpoint between customers and your shop. While they ultimately need to build repair orders for technicians, they need to get that information from the customer.
And vice versa, when technicians provide inspection findings, service advisors explain those findings to the customer to figure out the best path forward.
That's why service advisors need to make customer service a focal point of their role, to build that trusting relationship between the customer and your shop.
Because when customers feel like they can trust that your shop is giving them the right recommendations, they'll feel more comfortable approving repair orders for the work their vehicles need to keep running safely and reliably.
1. Support Your Customers and Your Team From Anywhere
Remote work is here to stay, the ability and flexibility to access your shop from anywhere in the world, at any time, as long as you have an internet connection, is unparalleled. You've never had this type of control and access before.
Let the Cloud Do the Heavy Lifting
Think of the "cloud" like the lifts in your bays. Obviously you can't jack a car up on your own, so you bring in a tool to do that for you. That's pretty much what a cloud-based platform does for your business. Because modern shop management systems are cloud-based, nothing lives on your shop's computers, or stuffed in your binders.
Why is that a good thing?
Because you never have to worry about losing it, and you can access everything required to run your shop anywhere you have an internet connection. All that information is stored on servers operated, maintained and secured by your platform.
Access Your Shop From Anywhere
All of your shop's operations, data, customer history, vehicle inspection findings, declined estimates, and everything, is collected and saved remotely. This opens up a whole new dimension for not just shop owners, but general managers and service advisors too, with the ability to check on and manage every aspect of their shop remotely.
2. Help Your Shop as Run Efficiently as Possible
A lot is going on behind the scenes at an auto repair shop. Tekmetric helps you streamline those in-shop tasks so you can get back to leading your team as repairs come and go.
Inventory Table & Parts Reports
Tekmetric’s inventory table you'll gain full visibility into see exactly what parts sell well, which brands of parts your customers prefer, and which parts manufacturers your shop may want to avoid in the future due to repeated recalls or low inventory.
Labor Guide
Establishing accurate repair times shouldn’t be a guessing game nor should it take you away from your other service advisor responsibilities.
Built-in labor guide smakes it easy to find accurate labor times for repairs without having to leave Tekmetric. With VIN decoding, additional labor, and a wealth of labor times at your fingertips, you can build estimates faster than ever.
Labor and Parts Matrices
Tekmetric makes it easy to create and save markup matrices directly in your shop’s settings. When you’re building estimates, your labor and parts markups will be auto-applied based on your settings. No more guessing or extensive calculations!
3. Lead Your Team With Clarity and Communication
A good leader knows how to inspire their team while also trusting them to make the right calls. We’ve developed the following features to make it easier for service advisors to see the status of all repairs without having to leave the service desk.
Streamline your shop's workflow
By streamlining your auto repair shop workflow, service advisor's can establish a standardized intake process to ensure the same level of service, care and professionalism is provided to customers every time.
Build repair orders in seconds and apply the right digital vehicle inspection templates with just a few clicks. Service advisors can get some time away from the computer screen, letting them focus on the customer directly, address their concerns, and create a stress-free experience.
Visibility into upcoming work
With a clear view of scheduled repairs, technicians can manage their workloads more efficiently by providing a clear view of the tasks they need to complete each day.
And because Tekmetric provides technicians with easy access to customer data, including vehicle history, service records, and customer preferences, they can provide more personalized service to their shop's clientele.
4. Create a Personalized Experience
Building and fostering that trusting relationship between your customers and your shop starts with creating a personalized experience. Customers want to feel like they're being heard, and that their concerns or hesitations are being taken seriously.
When service advisors can take a step back from building a repair order to focus on having a direct and responsive conversation with clients, they can help customers feel like they're receiving the best guidance and care your shop has to offer.
Customer History
With detailed customer history available at your fingertips, even across multiple locations with shared customer history, Service Advisors can always stay on top of the latest repairs completed on their customers’ vehicles.
By linking customer data so that service writers have access to all past information -- digital vehicle inspections, estimates generated, approved or declined work, and completed repairs -- you can save your shop time while creating a more personalized experience for the customer.
Default Inspections
With default inspections, you can set up a default inspection template that will be automatically applied to every vehicle in your shop.
Service advisors won’t have to spend time searching for your shop’s standard inspection every time they build a new repair order, but instead can tailor their service and approach to the customer’s need with a standard foundation.
Many mechanics and auto repair shops are finding success by utilizing new apps that can help speed up inspections, car repairs, diagnostic readings and more. These apps can help everyone from dealerships and repair shops to mobile mechanics and DIYers. Here is our selection of the best mobile apps and online resources by use type.
Diagnostic and code reader apps
Torque Pro: Torque is a vehicle diagnostics tool and scanner that uses an OBD II Bluetooth adapter to connect to your OBD2 engine management. It can use the GPS to provide tracker logs with OBD engine logging so you can see what you were doing at any point in time.
It works on any vehicle that uses the OBD 2 standard (most vehicles built after 2000, but can work for vehicles as far back as 1996). The app needs a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter to work. Torque is currently $4.95 and available in the Google Play Store.
Car Scanner ELM OBD2: Car Scanner offers OBD code scanning, sensor data and more. You can also reset DC fault codes with this app. It uses an OBD 2 Wi-Fi or Bluetooth adapter to connect to your OBD2 engine management.
RepairSolutions2: TheRepair Solutions app guides you from diagnosis to fix. It pairs with the newest generation of compatible OBD2 decoders and scanners to deliver the most comprehensive automotive repair database with verified fixes from ASE Master Technicians.
Tekmetric Mobile: Tekmetric Mobile is specifically designed for the automotive industry and helps car mechanics be more efficient with tasks like digital vehicle inspections. Technicians can take pictures and videos straight from their mobile phone to show customers where a repair is needed. It also provides auto mechanics with an easy way to manage their time clock.
Tekmetric Mobile is free but an active Tekmetric subscription is required to use this app. Tekmetric Mobile is available for iOS and Android users.
Tek-Tip: Mobile apps can be paired with cloud-based automotive repair software to further boost productivity and effieicncy.
SafetyCulture: SafetyCulture has designed a workflow app that helps teams collaborate and manage tasks. While not specifically designed for the automotive industry, this app can be used for digital vehicle inspections.
This app is free currently for teams with 10 people or less. It is available for iOS and Android users.
Service guide apps
BG Technician App: With access to fluid application guides, tech tips, and service guides, auto repair professionals can harness the power of the BG Tech App in the palm of their hands. The BG Tech App instills the confidence needed for technicians to discuss common car maintenance problems and solutions that prevent those problems. The BG Technician App is free and is available for iOS and Android users.
1A Auto Diagnostic & Repair: The 1A repair app helps guide you through various automotive repairs with over 19,000 videos from professional technicians. You can also shop for auto parts used in the videos directly from the app. This app can also benefit mobile mechanics by allowing them to shop for car parts straight from the app.
Tek-Tip: Don't forget about "old-school" repair manuals that are now available in digital formats.
VIN scanner apps
Tekmetric Mobile: Tekmetric Mobile can scan VIN codes and license plates to help you start your check-in process sooner and build ROs faster.
Tekmetric Mobile is free but an active Tekmetric subscription is required to use this app. Tekmetric Mobile is available for iOS and Android users.
VIN Check Report: This app will scan your VIN and show you market value, vehicle history, recalls, and more. Typically this type of app is used by those looking to purchase a car but this app also helps mechanics find title and recall information.
This app is available for free to Android users or you can utilize their website.
VIN Report: This app provides an easy way for you to scan a VIN and retrieve important title, recall, theft, and pricing information. It also can estimate depreciation and market value if you are looking to buy or sell a car. Mechanics will appreciate its ability to quickly find vehicle history information and open recalls.
The VIN Report mobile app is available for free in the Google Play Store or you can use their website.
Tire apps
TireScan Advisor: While many other options exist for measuring tire tread, TireScan has created an app to help automate this task by taking pictures from your mobile phone. This app utilizes AI to analyze your tire’s tread, TIN and sidewall.
TireScan is available for free in the Google App Store.
Anyline: If you are looking for a more robust app, Anyline might be the solution for you. They have created an app that reads sidewall, tread, TIN/DOT, sizing, make and model in real-time. However, they do not disclose their pricing and it is safe to assume that it is not a free app. This app seems to be designed for dealerships and large repair shops.
Tek-Tip: Tekmetric Tire Suite provides automated DOT registration, fitment data, ordering, and more.
Service advisor apps
BG Advisor App: The BG Advisor App is developed specifically for automotive service advisors and can help with sales, training and more. This app can help service advisors and shop owners explain repairs to customers and win more work for your shop. This app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones.
Online resources
YouTube
YouTube is a gold mine for car repair veterans and DIYers alike. Some of our favorite channels include:
Enright Auto - for new tools and repair techniques
Reddit can be another powerful resource for new techniques plus an online community to answer questions you may have. Some of the best subreddits include:
Mobile apps are more of a luxury than a necessity for mechanics, however, they can help speed up repairs and boost efficiency. They can also help reduce time spent on paperwork and simplify workflows. If your shop is looking to stay competitive in this technology-heavy era plus boost productivity, mobile apps might be the answer you are looking for.
Closing thoughts
While all of these mechanic apps and resources can be useful, it is important to find apps that pair well with your needs. Before downloading any apps, make sure to read the reviews and do your own research. Lastly, don’t be afraid to test new apps out in your shop and see what works best for you.
HOUSTON – October 18, 2023 – Tekmetric, the leading automotive repair software company, has announced the appointment of Clare Corriveau as the company's new Vice President of Marketing. With an extensive background in the software industry, Corriveau brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to the Tekmetric team.
“Clare's depth of experience and strategic acumen in the technology sector will be instrumental in driving our marketing efforts and advancing our position in the market,” said Sunil Patel, CEO of Tekmetric. “With her leadership, we look forward to reaching new milestones in our top-tier customer service and innovative solutions.”
Corriveau's professional journey spans 17 years across a variety of brands and products in B2B technology. Her proven track record in demand generation, marketing strategy, product positioning and brand development underscores her significant role in Tekmetric’s continued growth. In her new position, Clare will be instrumental in guiding Tekmetric’s marketing initiatives and brand development. Her responsibilities encompass enhancing brand visibility, devising and implementing marketing strategies and bolstering the company's foothold in the automotive repair software market.
Before joining Tekmetric, Corriveau was the Senior Director, Growth Marketing at cybersecurity startup Cobalt, where she led the demand generation team to drive revenue growth along every stage of the buyer and customer journeys. Prior to Cobalt, Corriveau served in several director- and manager-level roles with OneTouchPoint, Gotransverse, Blackbaud and more.
“I am thrilled to join Tekmetric, a pioneering force in automotive shop management solutions. Their commitment to revolutionizing the industry and empowering automotive professionals aligns perfectly with my own passion for innovation and customer-centricity,” said Corriveau. “I look forward to contributing to Tekmetric’s journey of empowering auto repair shop owners to increase efficiency in their operations and ultimately grow their business.”
About Tekmetric
Tekmetric, a Houston-based auto repair technology company, offers a cloud-based platform that enables auto repair shop owners to enhance productivity and increase profitability through its streamlined workflow management processes.
Designed by a former shop owner, Tekmetric’s platform drives shop efficiency through real-time data, a customizable user interface and customer-centric communication tools. Since its launch in 2016, Tekmetric has disrupted the industry with its robust fully-integrated system, developed with an emphasis on customer transparency and user collaboration. For more information, visit www.tekmetric.com.
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."
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