8 Tips On How to Choose The Best Auto Repair Software For Professional Mechanics

Wandering what solution is the best to optimize your workflows and daily operations? And how to know that it is the best value for money? Let’s find out in this blog post.

Table of Contents

Understanding Auto Shop Management Software: Types, Features, and Benefits
Finding the Best Auto Repair Software: 8+2 Tips for Auto Shop Owners
Final Thoughts

Understanding Auto Shop Management Software: Types, Features, and Benefits

An auto repair management program is a multi-functional tool to assist mechanics and technicians in their daily tasks. This helps them perform their jobs efficiently, save time and effort and improve productivity. They also provide functions to manage repairs, preventive maintenance, and other service operations and track inventory and appointments. In addition, they allow customers to view service history and request parts.

There are two main types of auto repair software: specialized programs to perform digital vehicle inspections and CRM-based solutions to manage routine tasks and back-office day operations (in this article, we will focus on the second type). These solutions can also be classified into two categories: On-Premise (in-house or desktop-based) and SaaS (cloud-based with a subscription model). Desktop programs should be installed and run on computers or laptops, whereas SaaS solutions can be used on any device with an internet connection without being installed there. Both offer similar features, such as scheduling appointments, tracking work orders, managing inventories, and communicating with customers. Some of them are free, and some are paid. To choose the best one, you should consider various things such as features, cost, ease of use, regular updates, customer service, etc.

Here are some benefits you will get after implementing a well-rounded solution in your automotive repair shop:

• You can create estimates with automatic labor rates and parts calculations and save them in PDF format.
• You can print out customer invoices from your device.
• You can email invoices and estimates directly to customers.
• You can use customer tracking by name and manage their accounts with ease.
• You can add notes and files to work orders from any device.
• You can always have up-to-date records.
• You can send automatic appointment reminders.
• You can keep track of payments and other accounting data in one system.
• You can view detailed vehicle history in a few clicks.

As a result, you and your employees will spend less time on routine tasks, thereby working more efficiently. You will also reduce the human error risk, lower unnecessary costs, and optimize your company’s budget.

Finding the Best Auto Repair Software: 8+2 Tips for Auto Shop Owners

So, what kind of auto repair shop software should you get? There are hundreds of options out there, and it is a challenging choice to make. Moreover, selecting the wrong one can cost you time and money and result in frustration and disappointment. The following recommendations will help you select the perfect tool for your business.

Tip 1. Choose a solution that has all of the features that your business needs.

To do so, you must think carefully about what business areas are a priority for you and where you most need assistance. Then, create a list of challenges in certain areas that you want a new tool to be able to solve. This will help you speed up the process of searching for the software you need and ensure you will get the best result in the end.

Tip 2. Make sure you can use the software on all your devices.

To ensure such flexibility, choose cloud solutions over on-premise options. In this case, you just need to create an account and sign in each time you want to work in the program. You won’t worry about installations, updates, or compatibility issues as this kind of software runs in the cloud and is regularly improved and updated. Many SaaS solutions also offer mobile applications, so it is even more convenient to work on the go.

Tip 3. Ask if auto repair software vendors offer training or onboarding services.

To save time on evaluating a new solution, you should cooperate with training specialists, as they know all the most efficient ways to solve auto repair businesses’ challenges with their software. If you do the settings yourself, you must read the guidelines or watch tutorials first. E.g., all new RemOnline users can schedule a demo session with our onboarding manager to see the program features in action and to talk over their benefits for a particular industry or business type. They can also request onboarding assistance with account setup and migration from other systems or databases.

Tip 4. Check out customer reviews.

Do some research on feedback, rating, and overall customer trust. Reading what other shop owners say about the solution you want to try may help you pay more attention to some aspects of testing.

Tip 5. Look at their support options.

Issues happen even with the best auto repair software, so it is crucial to have access to a professional support team that can help with a bug fix or complex settings. Look for online chat, email, and phone accessibility, as these are the most convenient communication channels. Some vendors also offer customer portals to share experiences with their programs.

Tip 6. Do they provide any free trial versions?

Before investing in a new tool, you may want to try it out. Many SaaS companies offer free access to their services for some time. It is reasonable to test the features you are interested in and see whether they are easy to use. It will be even better if you try everything together with your employees and get feedback on a new solution.

In RemOnline, you can test all features without any limits or fees for seven days. Sign up here.

Tip 7. If you're going to do any sort of warranty work, make sure it can track those repairs.

While keeping track of regular work orders is an essential function of many applications, warranty repairs require a different logic. If you provide a warranty, you should replace a part or re-provide a service for free. In RemOnline, we use a different work order type for warranty cases. It is created as a new work order, meaning you don't need to edit or make changes to an old closed work order.

Creating a warranty work order form in RemOnline

Tip 8. Check out the available integrations.

Can a program widget be placed on your website to capture leads and schedule online appointments? Does it have direct integrations with accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero? Can you connect it to vehicle identification services like VIN Lookup? RemOnline users answer “yes” to all these questions.

Tip 9. It’s good if your new auto repair shop software has options to customize it to fit your needs.

Look for form editors and customizable templates to adjust the program to your unique workflows and generate documents with your company’s look and feel. Do not forget to build custom status chains with status updating rules so your employees can efficiently process work orders.

Tip 10. You might want to look into the payroll toolkit if you have multiple employees.

You don't need to use another application to manage employees’ wages and control labor costs. Choose the software that offers a flexible setup of payroll calculations as we do in RemOnline. You can automate the computation of daily and hourly wages, use coefficients, and set up more than eight payroll scenarios.

The entire process of digitalizing your business processes with software tools should include the following steps:

Step 1. Determine if your auto repair business is ready for an upgrade.

Step 2. Identify what type of software you need and why.

Step 3. Research the different types of software available in the market.

Step 4. Compare features and pricing.

Step 5. Select a vendor that offers the best value for money.

Step 6. Evaluate the program’s features and vendor’s customer service.

Step 7. Choose a system that meets your needs.

Step 8. Implement the new system. This article discusses how to overcome rejections and pitfalls when implementing CRM software.

Final Thoughts

To find the best auto repair software for your business, you need to know which features you want in an app before choosing one. As a rule of thumb, you should look for features that will help you manage customers and inventory, track repairs and flow of accounting transactions, handle different work orders and keep accurate records in all crucial business areas.

Pay special attention to inventory management tools, direct integration options, and payroll automation. You should be able to find free trial versions of all the programs you’re considering so you can test them before buying. Available training and support services are also necessary when choosing business management software.

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