Midwest Performance Cars Created a Frictionless Experience Across Multiple Locations
Running a modern shop requires much more than just the technical knowledge behind fixing your customer's cars. Leveraging the right tools can make a significant difference in your day-to-day – and we're not talking just the right impact wrench or alignment rack.
October 4, 2024
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Read time: 3 min
The right shop management tools are key to create an efficient process that keeps cars moving and provides a modern, frictionless customer experience.
Combine the right tools with the right mindset, and you have a real recipe for success. With 30 years in the financial industry under his belt, Andy Bizub knew that running a successful shop required more than just the technical knowledge of fixing cars, but also the operational knowledge of running a business.
That's why Andy took ownership of Midwest Performance Cars. As a new owner, Andy wanted to refresh the shop’s processes to make it as efficient as possible – and in turn, grow the business. He knew that the old pen and paper method had to go to make way for a powerful software solution: Tekmetric Shop Management System.
Efficiency is Key to Success
Before Andy bought the shop, Midwest Performance Cars was in a bit of a rough patch, and still relying on an older server-based software system.
Already familiar with how technology revolutionized the financial industry, Andy knew there was a better solution that could make his team’s daily operations far more productive.
"I’m always looking for efficiency," Andy said. "I’m always telling our people to work smarter, not harder; we can do better without setting our hair on fire."
With Tekmetric in its toolbox, Midwest Performance Cars has been able to create a streamlined, consistent, and most importantly, frictionless experience -- both behind, and in front of the counter. Being a modern cloud-based solution, Tekmetric takes out all the roadblocks and speed bumps from before, serving as a stable, reliable, streamlined shop management system that simplifies processes at every step for an efficient flow.
For example, between the two shops, Andy's team has configured over 2,100 canned jobs for a variety of repairs. Because at least one canned job is used on each repair order, they can build estimates in just seconds.
Year Established
Using Tekmetric Since
1158
Average Repair Order ($)
720
Average Car Count
Number of Employees
Number of Bays
Managing Your Shops with Ease
For Andy and his team, shop management is all about simplifying the process so they can focus on the tasks that really matter: providing amazing service and getting cars back on the road as quickly as possible.
With instant access to all his shop's information, Andy can generate the financial reports and operational data he needs to make "course corrections on the fly. If something is trending the wrong way, we can correct that before the end of the month."
And while both Midwest Performance Cars locations are Euro-focused, the downtown Chicago location is focused more on general repairs, and the Northbrook shop in the Suburbs of Chicago is focused on performance and vintage repairs. With such a clear separation of focus, Midwest Performance Cars has created an efficient process to get customers the right service they need.
"For both of our shops, they work hand in hand and pass information back and forth," Andy said. "We have a technician at Northbrook who is our top performance engineer. If we have someone at a downtown shop that is looking for that kind of work, we can route them straight to Northbrook for specialized service. Because everyone is in full communication, the downtown shop doesn’t have to explain anything to our specialist before he starts looking at the customer's car. I really like that all our people can really see things globally, so we don't have any information silos."
The ability to manage both shops from the same platform makes it easy for Andy to understand the financial side of things. It also makes it even easier to refer customers between shops, so they can get the right care and have continuity-of-care cross over.
Technicians at Midwest Performance Cars mostly run Tekmetric directly from their phones. Technicians can spend way more time working on the cars in their bay using their phone to access everything they need, instead of wasting precious time running between their static workstations and the bay. Plus, technicians can use the upcoming appointment calendar to plan out their workflow for each day.
And for his "people in the front office, it’s really more about saving them time," Andy said. "They don't have to go through multiple screens and clicks to go back and get data – it’s all right at their fingertips. They’ve even customized things in Tekmetric to set them up the way they want to work, like color coding what's most important to them."
Growing Your Business With the Right Mindset
With the right mindset, almost anything is possible. At Midwest Performance Cars, Andy's business-first mindset not only helped rescue a shop that was down on its luck, but even positioned them for growth.
"We are business owners. Don’t think of yourself as a shop owner; think of yourself as a business owner," Andy said. "And what's important for me as an owner, especially an owner who isn't in the day-to-day workflow, is getting into the overall global management of the business."
As a business owner, Andy also knows that success isn't possible without a talented team supported by the right leadership mindset to position them for their own growth. In fact, Andy mentioned that Tekmetric has made running his shop so efficient, that his new 24-year-old General Manager entered the business as a Service Manager with zero automotive industry experience, and has grown to managing their current two locations.
"We hire first for attitude, second for aptitude, and third for skills, because we can train skills," Andy said. "Having a really user-friendly interface like Tekmetric makes bringing someone from outside to inside the industry that much easier."
This unique mindset of running not just a shop, but an overall business, has enabled Midwest Performance Cars to adapt to a modern approach, offer an amazing frictionless customer experience, and eventually open up an entirely new location.
Tomi Oliva, owner of SJ Automotive in Chicago, took over his family's auto repair business in 2016 and has transformed it into a thriving shop. He faced typical challenges for many shops, including inefficient workflows, difficulties in tracking key metrics, and the need for better customer communication. Tomi recognized the need for change and embraced Tekmetric, a decision that led to dramatic results.
Challenge
“I started noticing that my shop management system was really, really bad.”
SJ Automotive relied on a cumbersome system that slowed operations and hindered growth, resulting in:
Time-consuming quote generation
Difficulties in tracking technician productivity
Limited visibility into shop performance metrics
Slower customer communication
Solution
Tomi chose Tekmetric for its ability to provide real-time data, streamline shop operations, and enhance customer communication. The platform automated processes, improved financial tracking, and facilitated a transparent repair process.
Results
Doubling Car Count and Revenue
"Tekmetric is a tool in my tool bag that's helped me become profitable.”
Tomi has driven significant growth across key metrics at SJ Automotive:
Revenue: Monthly revenue has doubled, growing from ~$20–25K to ~$40–50K.
Average Repair Order (ARO): Increased by approximately $200 per vehicle.
Efficiency: Estimate creation time reduced from 40 minutes to about 10 minutes.
Car Count: SJ Automotive’s car count has doubled since switching to Tekmetric.
Data-Driven Decision Making
"I didn't even know some of these metrics before, and now they're in front of my face every time I open it."
With Tekmetric’s real-time reporting and data insights, Tomi now has a clear view of key metrics like technician hours, employee productivity, and profitability. This visibility helps identify areas for improvement and optimize overall performance. In addition, integration with SEO tools enables SJ Automotive to track marketing ROI and fine-tune campaigns for greater effectiveness.
Improved Customer Communication
"I really love the ease of communication and authorization."
SJ Automotive has improved their customer communication by streamlining estimate and authorization processes. As a result, estimates, approvals, and payments happen faster, creating a more efficient and transparent repair process and improving overall customer satisfaction.
What’s Next
Tomi is focused on continued growth. SJ Automotive's future goals include doubling their car count, opening another location, and implementing new growth strategies.
For nearly a decade, Tony Perez, owner of Euro Car Doctors in Orange County, California, has been committed to delivering premium auto care. But as business grew, outdated software made it harder to keep up, and customers started to feel the impact.
Challenge
"We'd have 10 appointments for the day, and by 11 a.m., only two quotes were out. We still had eight to go.”
Tony’s team was bogged down by:
Estimates that took 4-5 hours to complete
Inefficient workflows between techs and service writers
A backlog of appointments that led to delays and customer frustrations
Solution
“We needed something that could keep up with our intake and let us grow without being bottlenecked.”
Tony knew his customers deserved better - faster service, clearer communication, and less time waiting. After exploring his options, he chose Tekmetric for its ability to streamline operations and deliver a more efficient, transparent experience from check-in to estimate.
Learn about Euro Car Doctors' customer experience:
Results
Increased Efficiency and Productivity:
Creating estimates now takes less than 90 minutes, down from 4–5 hours. That means more vehicles in the shop and more satisfied customers driving away.
Increase in Average Repair Order (ARO):
Faster quoting and comprehensive digital vehicle inspections means customers see everything their car needs right away. The result? An increase in average repair order to $900 and more confident decisions from customers.
"Our numbers were through the roof because I was able to quote more items on those tickets that the car needed."
Improved Customer Satisfaction:
Each customer receives a detailed quote informing them about the services needed and associated costs, empowering them to make confident decisions. Transparent, timely communication has built trust with customers and it shows in the reviews with a 4.8 star rating on Google.
"We tell the customer what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Everything we see gets quoted to be fully honest and transparent with our customers."
Expansion to a Second Location:
Improved operations allowed Tony to open a second shop, without sacrificing quality.
“As we grow, we won’t open the next store until the last one runs on autopilot.”
What’s Next
Euro Car Doctors isn’t slowing down. As each shop reaches capacity, Tony plans to expand, driven by his commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, with Tekmetric helping power the growth behind the scenes.
In late 2020, Jim Kellas bought TL Auto Repair, in Union City, California. The location was strong, but the shop’s systems were holding it back—outdated software, lack of key integrations, and inefficient processes all contributed to a poor customer experience.
Determined to find a solution, Jim explored various shop management systems before switching to Tekmetric. After making the switch, the impact was transformative for TL Auto Repair.
“Stop looking at the other ones. You're done searching.”
Challenge
Before switching systems, TL Auto Repair faced:
Frequent software downtime disrupting operations
Lack of integrations with key tools, creating manual work
Limited visibility into performance metrics
Solution
After exploring several options, Jim chose Tekmetric for its seamless integrations, reliable performance, and features that made it easier to connect with customers. With Tekmetric, TL Auto Repair streamlined operations, improved communication, and set the foundation for future growth.
Results
Streamlined Operations That Drive Revenue
Integrations with tools like Affirm through Tekmetric’s Payments and adding Marketing solutions helped TL Auto Repair simplify workflows and boost sales. Offering financing made higher-ticket repairs more accessible for customers, leading to over $2 million in revenue.
“I was able to integrate with so many other programs. I'm able to know revenue-wise it's been a boom because I'm able to tie everything together.”
More Efficiency, Less Overhead
Running on a reliable, browser-based system saved time and cut hardware costs. Staff work faster, from anywhere, using devices like Chromebooks.
"The time savings have been substantial, allowing for increased efficiency"
A Better Experience for Every Customer
Text message updates, digital vehicle inspections, and contactless invoicing and payments create a more transparent and convenient experience for their customers. This has earned them trust, repeat business, and a 4.7-star rating on Google.
"Customers love getting text message updates, online inspection reports, and the option for contactless service - it keeps them coming back."
What’s Next
With a proven model and the right technology support in place, Jim plans to expand and is in the process of acquiring new shops. He is applying the same focus on operational efficiency and customer experience that turned TL Auto Repair into a thriving business.
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