Well-written mechanic work orders help technicians stay on task and efficiently move jobs through to completion. With Tekmetric’s Job Board, mechanic work order templates, and Tech Board, you can craft and manage highly detailed work orders, strategically assign work, and track progress all from one intuitive shop management software.
If you're a service advisor, you probably know the ropes of preparing a work order like the back of your hand: you get the technician to perform an inspection, put together an estimate, get approval for the work, and then prompt the techs to complete the work. And if you’ve read our digital vehicle inspection guide, you know that Tekmetric makes drawing up mechanic work orders that much easier. But what happens when it’s time to assign work, and it seems like all the technicians are already stacked with jobs?
Without the right tools, assigning work evenly across your team of technicians can come with a serious learning curve. Fortunately, Tekmetric can simplify work order creation and job distribution, too. Small details and adjustments intentionally designed into our system can make a big difference in how efficiently the work is completed.
Technicians and service advisors, you know the pace and organization of a shop depends on the efficiency of its work order process. If you don’t know what to do, what to use, and how long you have to complete a job, it’s difficult to fix a car and get it back to the customer on time. And as your shop scales to take on more work, the management challenge increases exponentially. So let’s dive into how to streamline mechanic work orders and get more work done without it seeming like, well, work.
Evenly Distributed Workloads For a More Efficient Workplace
Imagine it’s summer and you come in one sweltering day to a slammed schedule and not enough help. Juggling all that work can be challenging enough with an evenly distributed workload, but when the workload isn’t balanced, work can become downright frustrating.
It can also mean turning away customers.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to sustain and grow a business if keeping up is a struggle and panic sets in when a sudden influx of jobs comes through the shop. Changing up how work orders are drawn up and issued can make a big difference and turn a chaotic workplace into an efficient one.
In a well-balanced workplace, technicians tend to be happier and more efficient at their jobs. The quality of their work goes up, leading to more satisfied customers. Everyone is safer in a well-balanced workplace, too, as they are not constantly required to rush to finish their jobs.
Contrast our example of a garage in chaos with one where each technician knows exactly what tasks are on their plate and how many hours they need to get in, or have left, on a particular job. Now imagine that they also have an easy way to track and communicate their progress to the rest of the team.
With Tekmetric’s work order tools, you can fine-tune your team’s timing and bring order back to your shop.
Generating a Mechanic Work Order on Tekmetric’s Job Board
Exploring the Job Board
Service advisors, get ready to meet your new command center: Tekmetric’s Job Board. The Job Board provides a launching point for creating new work orders and integrates with other aspects of managing mechanic work orders. The Job Board lets you see work order cards under Estimates, Work-In-Progress, and Completed jobs columns. Each job card displayed shows the customer’s name, car description, and estimate.
You can initiate a new work order by clicking “CREATE REPAIR ORDER'' in the upper-right corner of the Job Board. Creating a new repair order will pull up a new repair order form where you can record the details of the new work order. If you’re helping out a customer that has already been in the shop, you can search the customer by name, plate, VIN, email, or phone number to quickly populate their information. If they are a new customer, simply click “ADD NEW CUSTOMER” and gather their information to save into the system.
Inside Tekmetric Mechanic Work Orders
Every new work order starts with an estimate. Service advisors and technicians can collaborate within Tekmetric, leveraging Digital Vehicle Inspections to capture even the most minute details about the vehicle and the reason it's in the shop. Parts and labor time needed can also be documented. If you’re a service advisor, Tekmetric will prompt you to provide details on each job needed for the work order, including labor hours required and a cost-estimate based on what the techs find.
With Tekmetric’s Repair Orders, which function like digital mechanic work order forms, you can say goodbye to the days of guestimates and incomplete work orders. From within the work order, you can send estimates and information to the customer for approval. Once an estimate is approved by the customer, you can begin distributing jobs within a work order to different technicians You’ll also have easy access to car and customer history from each work order.
Tips for writing a useful work order
Be sure to read through the customer’s history and highlight any important details in your notes. In the auto repair world, customer care is just as important as caring for the car itself.
Don’t be afraid to add details to the automotive repair work order template once a job starts. The more information technicians have access to, the better.
Think of the repair order (or digital mechanic work order) as another tool in your toolbox. It’s only useful if you know how to use it. Make sure everyone on your team is trained to use the work order feature.
Write for your audience. If you’re a service advisor, remember that technicians aren’t mind readers, so your shorthand or abbreviations may not make sense to them. The same goes for customers reading your estimates and digital vehicle inspections.
Technicians and Service Advisors—Meet Your New Best Friend: Tekmetric’s Tech Board
If the Job Board is where the work is estimated and tracked, the Tech Board is where the work is divided and completed. Switching to the Tech Board from the Job Board is simple: the icon for Tekmetric’s Tech Board is found directly below the Job Board on the left navigation panel.
Think of the Tech Board as your team’s digital playboard. The Tech Board is a place for everyone to come together and strategize.
If you’re a service advisor or shop foreman, you will act as an account administrator to assign and arrange tasks by job and team member and choose whose accounts to show on the Tech Board at any given time. If you choose to give viewing access to all technicians, your whole team will be able to view all the work assigned across the shop, or you can adjust Tekmetric’s settings to only show each individual their own task list when they login.
Technicians, the Tech Board will let you see exactly what is on your plate at a glance and how many hours you need to put in. It will also show you exactly what jobs to prioritize.
Orienting Workloads with the Tech Board
The Tech Board displays mechanic work order cards divided by columns according to their assignment status. The first column to the left of the interface displays No Tech Assigned jobs, and technicians are represented by separate columns to the right. Each column representing a technician also shows Assigned, Complete, and Incomplete hours, and displays any assigned work order cards. Each card shown on the screen displays information about the customer, the vehicle, and the promised completion date, time, and hours for the work order.
If you’re the service advisor, the wrench in the lower right corner of each card allows you to assign specific jobs within the work order to the technician of your choice. You can assign all of the jobs to one technician or divide the jobs within the work order between multiple techs by clicking the wrench, hovering over individual jobs within the work order, and then clicking on technicians’ names for each job listed.
When you distribute jobs within a work order between multiple technicians, a purple split-arrow icon will appear in the upper left corner of the work order card to indicate multiple technicians are assigned. You can hover over the purple icon to view the names of the technicians assigned to the work order. You can also monitor how many hours a coworker has completed for a specific work order by checking the hours listed at the bottom of each mechanic work order card.
Want to prioritize one job over another? Simply drag and drop the mechanic work order card in question to the top of the column.
The Tech Board integrates seamlessly with the rest of the Tekmetric shop management system as changes made within the Tech Board are automatically reflected across the entire system. Need to make changes to a Repair Order while working from the Tech Board? Just click on the work order card in the Tech Board to open the full repair order.
Tips for Efficiently Distributing Mechanic Work Orders
A poorly balanced workflow introduces unnecessary stress in a workplace. Finding balance with Tekmetric’s Tech Board can help you alleviate stress and streamline the flow of work.
Here are our seven tips for leveraging the Tech Board to create an efficient, well-balanced work environment:
Adjust account settings so that everyone on the team can see who is working what job. This increases transparency and trust and reduces resentment between workers.
Split up jobs within a work order between technicians to provide natural breaks in their day.
Remember that you can always reassign a job or an entire work order. If one technician has a lot of work on their plate, and is nearing a deadline, pull other technicians in to assist by assigning incomplete jobs to any available (or less busy) techs.
Adjust your Tech Board settings to temporarily hide technicians who are on vacation or out sick. This will make seeing who is available to work much easier.
Save time by using the search feature to quickly display who is working on a specific job.
Use the Tech Board in group meetings to strategize and analyze performance. You can also run a variety of reports, from financial to employee to customer and parts reports.
The Tekmetric Difference
Tekmetric’s Tech Board and automotive repair work order templates are designed specifically for the automotive industry and are uniquely suited to help shops stay organized and on task. We are constantly adding new features, too, making life easier for service advisors and technicians like you.
We know your team works hard to get the job done right, and with Tekmetric, you’ll be able to comprehensively document and track mechanic work order details to see repairs through to completion faster than ever, whether you’re logging in from a laptop, tablet, or your phone.
Best of all, our customer service team is always available to help!
Highlights from November include the refresh of Tekmetric Payments, launch of our Booking Tool in beta mode, and your #1 ask for the mobile app: a time clock!
Learn more about what we’ve been up to below.
Streamline Payments for Your Shop with Tekmetric Payments
We’re excited to introduce our refreshed payments solution, Tekmetric Payments (formerly known as Tekmerchant).
This refresh comes with some exciting new features including:
A dedicated “payments” section of the platform
View into payments over time and their details (method, timeline, etc.)
More detailed information around payouts (transactions included, payout schedule etc.)
A dispute management & resolution workflow right in the platform
Sunbit is now available as an additional buy now, pay later option
These enhancements are included on top of existing Payments features, at no additional cost for current Tekmetric Payments customers. This is just the beginning - expect more features and financial partners to be added in the coming months.
Who’s this for?: Tekmetric Payments Customers. Interested in adding this to your subscription? Contact us.
See the Evolution of our Mobile App - Time Clock & Enhanced Camera Experience
Your techs asked, and we delivered! The Tekmetric Mobile App now includes time clock functionality you've been waiting for, letting techs clock in, out, and take a break – all from their mobile device. We've also enhanced the camera experience with tap-to-focus capabilities and added a convenient "trash can" feature to image markup functionality for easy editing. No more switching between desktop and mobile for inspections – just perform seamless, efficient DVIs right from your phone.
Who’s this for?: All customers using version 1.7.0
Check what version you’re on the bottom of the left sidebar - Easily update your app via your app store
Ever wish that you could manage your scheduling process right from your Tekmetric account? Your wish is our command. Configure your appointment settings and embed directly onto your website in minutes. No more splitting windows or managing between two different systems.
Connect to PartsTech Seamlessly
We’ve eliminated the complexity of the traditional multi-step integration processes when connecting Tekmetric with PartsTech. Say goodbye to hunting down API keys or navigating complex vendor setups – now you can connect to PartsTech's extensive parts network directly within Tekmetric Integrations with just a few clicks. This enhancement was built to help make your parts setup experience effortless, allowing you to order them quickly on the estimate. This allows you to focus on what truly matters: getting vehicles back on the road faster.
Who’s this for?: All customers - Primarily those without PartsTech enabled
Gain Control of Your Pricing Strategy For Oil Changes
When you build a Smart Canned Job for oil changes, we put you in complete control of your pricing strategy. Now you can present service specials with clean, professional pricing that builds trust with your customers – perfect for advertising those competitive oil change specials while managing surplus charges effortlessly.
Get Professional-grade Accountability With PO# on Estimates
We know for some shops, fleet work is imperative to helping grow your business. Now you can add the PO# directly on repair orders, having it display automatically across estimates, invoices, and A/R statements for your fleet customers. This enhancement brings professional-grade accountability to your workflow, making it effortless to track approvals and maintain precise documentation. Just input the PO number once in the RO sidebar, and Tekmetric handles the rest – ensuring every fleet repair has a clear, traceable approval record.
Take control of your inventory management with our new shop-level inventory feed located on the shop dashboard which puts vital inventory edits at your fingertips. This view helps how you monitor inventory changes across your shop, making it easier than ever to spot trends, prevent shrinkage, and ensure you have the parts you need when you need them.
Running a repair shop takes more than turning wrenches. It’s booking appointments, reminding customers to show up, following up on declined jobs – all while keeping bays full and the front office running smoothly.
But for most shops, staying connected with customers feels like a second job. Some rely on a patchwork of booking tools, texting apps, and review platforms. Others don’t follow up at all. Either way, things slip through the cracks. The result? Missed appointments, lost revenue, and customers who never return.
That’s why we built Tekmetric Marketing.
Not another system to learn. Not another login to juggle. It’s built right into Tekmetric, the platform you already trust to run your shop. With online booking, reminders, campaigns, follow-ups, reviews, and even a professional website all in one place, Tekmetric Marketing helps you keep customers engaged and loyal automatically – without piling more work on your plate. And it’s designed so anyone on your team can use it. No marketing expertise required.
More Cars. Higher ARO. Steady Repeat Business.
Every repair order holds untapped potential. A declined brake job today can turn into tomorrow’s revenue. A routine oil change can become the start of a long-term relationship.
Tekmetric Marketing makes sure those opportunities don’t slip away. Customers can schedule online 24/7, filling bays while you sleep. Automated reminders cut down on no-shows and keep the calendar steady. Follow-ups on declined jobs and maintenance turn “not today” into approved work. Seasonal campaigns help you bring customers back when business slows.
And if your shop doesn’t have a website, Tekmetric can build one for you, giving customers one more way to find you, book online, and keep your bays full.
As Ryan Froats of Yorktown Auto Care put it: “As an independently-owned shop, dedicating resources towards outreach and follow-up can be challenging. Tekmetric Marketing allows me to communicate with my customer base in a variety of ways, without tying up hours of my work week.”
That’s the difference between a full schedule and an empty bay. Between a one-time job and a loyal customer.
Turn Great Service Into Lasting Loyalty
Great service doesn’t stop when the car leaves the bay. Tekmetric Marketing makes it really easy to keep the relationship going. Post-visit follow-ups that check in with customers after service, showing you care and helping you catch issues early. Review requests that boost your reputation on Google, making it easier for new customers to find and trust you. Private feedback that gives you valuable insights to improve service and address concerns before they go public
Together, these touchpoints build trust, strengthen relationships, and turn satisfied customers into loyal advocates.
One Platform. No Missed Messages.
Because Tekmetric Marketing lives inside Tekmetric, all customer communication flows through one platform – from estimates and approvals to reminders, follow-ups, and promotions. No more bouncing between systems or wondering what’s been sent. Everything is tied to the customer profile, making communication clear, consistent, and professional.
Tekmetric Marketing also works in sync with your shop’s calendar, repair orders, and payments. Bookings instantly block off availability. Reminders align with scheduled work. Everything just works without syncing headaches or double entry.
And here’s the best part: Tekmetric Marketing is designed for busy shop owners and front office staff. It’s easy to set up, runs automatically in the background, and helps you grow your business without adding more to your to-do list – or requiring a marketing degree.
As Corey Hansen of Hansen Auto Repair shared: “It’s so convenient having everything in one place, right inside Tekmetric. I already have Tekmetric open for managing the shop and invoicing, so I don’t have to switch tabs or log into something else to engage with my customers. Having it all together just makes things faster—and for me, saving time is huge.”
Auto Repair. Done Right.
Tekmetric has always been the all-in-one platform that helps shops run better — from managing repairs to taking payments. Now, with Tekmetric Marketing, it’s also the platform that helps you grow faster, keep customers loyal, and deliver a better experience at every turn.
Turn every visit into the next one. With Tekmetric Marketing, it happens automatically.
Your auto repair labor revenue and parts margins are critical for enhancing your shop’s profitability. Adjusting your pricing on parts to make a profit is pretty straightforward.
But when it comes to labor times for auto repair shops…that’s where things can get a bit tricky.
Yes, you need competitive labor rates, but you also need to keep those rates reasonable so you don’t scare off your customers with sky-high prices.
3 ways your shop can make more money on labor:
By using a labor matrix
By creating custom labor rates
By applying a labor guide markup
Before we dive into the differences between these three methods for setting the best labor times at your shop, here’s a quick refresher on the one thing these methods have in common: the labor guide.
What is a Labor Guide?
A labor guide is like the gospel of labor times for auto repair shops. It tells you how long, on average, it takes to complete different types of repair work.
Remember that the times listed in auto repair labor guides are averages, so it’s best to treat them as a starting point.
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