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What Auto Repair Management Software are you Using?

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Robbie
Robbie

I understand that. Maybe I took a harsh tone. I apologize. As shop owners, I think we all know what it feels like to have customers that don't value our time. I take the same tone when I hear a fr

Robbie
Robbie

LOL! You sound like a customer that never wants to pay to fix things, but then constantly whines about how their car always breaks down. Computers, operating systems, protocols, etc are always chang

Frank
Frank

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  • 4 weeks later...
Alex

Alex

Posted
Posted
I own/manage a 16 bay undercar turn general repair shop. we had old triad dos system. up graded a year and half ago with R. O. writer. pretty pleased, they have had seveal upgrades and a minum of trouble.

 

I can also vouch for R.O.Writer as I used it in a shop that I came from about 3 years ago. R.O.Writer is owned by the Midas group. http://www.rowriter.com/index.aspx

  • 1 month later...
autoguy Rising Star

autoguy

Posted
Posted
There are not a lot of good programs that focus on the independent. We use Mitchell and find it works great. We see Mitchell as a company dedicated to the independent and we need to support this.

 

I agree, Mitchell is excellent.

  • Thanks 1
  • 1 year later...
Roddor Rookie

Roddor

Posted
Posted
I agree, Mitchell is excellent.

I am interested in learing more about Mitchell. How do I find their website or more info on their system?

  • 1 month later...
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  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
autoguy Rising Star

autoguy

Posted
Posted
I am in process of evaluating software. I want a system that allows me to important part numbers and labor times into the estimates. I will look at Mitchell and Alldata. What others do you suggest?

 

Are you saying that you want to be able to import part numbers from your old system? Or just the ability to add part numbers..

 

I know Mitchell Manager Plus has inventory control and so does RO Writer. What are you using now and are you planning an import form that? There are some companies that can transfer your database.

  • 2 months later...
ssauto Rookie

ssauto

Posted
Posted

autoguy

Anyone using Invomax?

 

We are.... or rather trying. The company has software that crashes with every update and POOR customer service. Nice to think I could have invested $1300 in a company that cares,

autoguy Rising Star

autoguy

Posted
Posted

autoguy

 

We are.... or rather trying. The company has software that crashes with every update and POOR customer service. Nice to think I could have invested $1300 in a company that cares,

 

Wow, that's not good if it crashes all the time. with updates, how do you like it overall day to day...features and all?

ssauto Rookie

ssauto

Posted
Posted

Wow, that's not good if it crashes all the time. with updates, how do you like it overall day to day...features and all?

I like the day to day stuff. It could be great software just I feel that they release a bete version and dont care about getting the bugs out.

I just its like seeing an employee not working to their full potential...... exept I cant fire this one :angry:

  • 5 months later...
RickM Apprentice

RickM

Posted
Posted

Has anyone used or tried the Automotive Expert Management System? The adverisements look like it has a lot of good featuress. I am using Alldata Service Center now. I havent compared yet but it seems that Alldatas labor times are low on a lot of items.

TheTrustedMechanic Community Regular

TheTrustedMechanic

Posted
Posted

I use Alldata Manage. I looked into Mitchell Manager but it's too bad the repair information sucks. The first three cars I looked up info for, or rather tried to, Mitchell OnDemand was worthless. The first one had no info, Alldata did albeit limited. The second one I couldn't find the info at all in Mitchell but Alldata had good info. The last one, I gave up after that, was a 1988 Ford Ranger. I was looking for tune-up specs. firing order, #1 cylinder, spark plug gap etc. Even with the pathetic Google search I spent 35 minutes finding the info. AllData was simple, Powertrain Management / Ignitnion System / Firing Order - Spark Plugs / Specifications. All pretty intuitive.

 

As for the shop management software AllData Manage is all I've used. When I opened my shop 5 years ago I knew I wanted my service records on computer and AllData was the way to go according to the feedback on the shop management forum of another industry site. I attended a few management trainign classes and the instructor's shop used Mitchell and that's why I looked into it after seeing all the reports and information you could get out of it that I couldn't get from Manage. I also looked into R.O. Writer, never in a million years. At 15 grand it is way over priced for what I was shown. Sure it can pay for itself with all the little extra charges it heaps on your customers. A nickel here, 94 cents there and pretty soon you're talking big money. Just the way he showed it seemed very unethical to me. Cheating actually. But as for AllData Manage, I think it is a very good program as far as it goes. I would like the ability to import part numbers and prices from my online ordering through NAPA and a local independent jobber. Supposedly that's coming with a future update but right now all you can do is Autozone junk.

 

I looked into GarageOperator and was interested but the disc I got didn't work for some reason, maybe because I installed 6 months later? Reasonably priced. You own it, not subscribe to it like Mitchell and AllData. Maybe I'll contact Chip agian and get a current disc and play with it. Does anyone else use GarageOperator? How does it work for you?

  • 3 months later...
ALANBOYER Rookie

ALANBOYER

Posted
Posted

We just opened a new shop. We are using Mitchell Manager. We got it up and running pretty fast. I'm trying figure out how to enter listed labor times into my estimates ?

Southards Enthusiast

Southards

Posted
Posted

I signed up with TABS auto Biz one year ago this month. We have owned this business for 15 years and have been "rock & chisel" all along. I think I learned about TABS from someone on this sight and I couldn't live without it. I call the TABS office anytime I have a question and/or suggestion, which can be weekly, they are awesome. Very helpful and can log in on my computer to look at what I am having trouble with or trying to create. For a start up fee, and $70.85 a month, it has made me a lot of money. You will not regret connecting with them. If you do, mention our name.

  • 1 month later...
Junior Collaborator

Junior

Posted
Posted

We are in the process of evaluating shop management software right now. We currently have a product called Motorware. It has served us relatively well for nearly the last 10 years but has not kept up with our needs.

 

We need a much more robust schedule as we book work out over a week, sometimes two now. We also are looking at new ways to manage and sell regular maintenance based on manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedules. Other needs include better ways to contact and connect with our customers. Email and SMS messaging are some of the tools we are looking to add. We'd really like to add some customer self service tools also but it seems no one in the Automotive management software sector is operating on this level yet.

 

I came here a year ago after working in Technology management for 10 years so I's still a little surprised how archaic most software I've seen is compared to where technology is in other business sectors.

 

We have reviewed a few different packages and right now see only two that might meet our needs.

 

R.O. Writer, the most expensive of what we've looked at is very well put together and the people I've spoken with there are both well versed in automotive shop management as well as what software can do and should do in a business operation. This software lacks a little in a few spots, mostly the schedule. There are not as many ways to manage the work flow and it loads into the shop. No way to manage parts on order for jobs due in the future. Total visibility to the workload on the shop is limited. It does support custom report writing through crystal reports, so I can fix most of this, but for a software that's both expensive (compared to others in the sector) and advanced in many other respects I find this a significant short sight.

 

Pace software's Yes is the other that may fit our needs. The schedule in this software is the best I've seen to date. It is very robust as far as managing total work as its loaded into the shop. You can easily sort through jobs in natural states as you would see them in your shop environment (waiting for parts, needs diagnostics, waiting on customer approval, ect) The visual layout and interface could be improved but is very functional. I have been having some trouble through their demo with integration through activant. It does not seem to be very well implemented. My sales rep thinks something is wrong with their demo install and is working on fixing it now. This has left me a little weary about the stability of the software.

 

Both packages offer pretty intelligent kitting, integration with online ordering systems like wrenchhead, carquest, worldpac. They both integrate with Alldata, which we use.

 

Packages that we eliminated from possible candidates.

Gem Car

Invomax

Scott software Maxtraxx

Winworks

TABS

 

 

We use Alldata and I have heard that the Mitchell program does not integrate with Alldata. If this is not true if someone could chime in.

 

Are there other packages people are using that I should look at?

Junior Collaborator

Junior

Posted
Posted

Mitchel demo is on the way so we'll be looking at that soon.

 

Does anyone else here run the Pace Software Yes package? It seems very capable and I really like the workflow but the demo just seems to always be broken. I really need to know if this is just a problem with their demo setup or is this is systemic in their reliability. If the software would work as designed it would be the best fit that I've seen so far, unfortunately it simply doesn't work as we've seen it.

jeffg Apprentice

jeffg

Posted
Posted

Mitchel demo is on the way so we'll be looking at that soon.

 

Does anyone else here run the Pace Software Yes package? It seems very capable and I really like the workflow but the demo just seems to always be broken. I really need to know if this is just a problem with their demo setup or is this is systemic in their reliability. If the software would work as designed it would be the best fit that I've seen so far, unfortunately it simply doesn't work as we've seen it.

 

 

We use Pace Software Yes Management. Too much to go into here, would be glad to talk to you on the phone if you want. We have 12 retail locations and like most things about it. I have a bit of programming background and have been in the Automotive business for over 20 years, and have dealt with the implementation side of shop management software all of that time as well as handled the accounting and IT for 2 different multi store operations. There are some things I would sure do differently, but all in all it is a pretty good solution with a lot of bells and whistles to fit many different ways of doing things. Give me a call and I can go into the details if you like.

 

Jeff Graser

CFO

BRAKEmax Car Care Centers

520-229-9380 x 308

  • 3 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
Junior Collaborator

Junior

Posted
Posted

We are just getting back into looking at software after a brief hiatus. I took a look at Mitchell and found it useless. The biggest problem was the schedule. Its simply a list of text lines at times. You can't assign jobs or time blocks, techs or bays. This is one of the things I need and I don't see how a busy shop can do without. Use of maintenance information from Mitchell was terrible. The software lacked most of the factory maintenance items and had incorrect maintenance intervals on a handful of cars I looked up. That information came with Mitchell repair. If you don't have the full repair information system you still get the parts and labor guide and maintenance guide with Mitchell manager. The software does not allow you to enter maintenance intervals per vehicle so if you';re trying to use CRM tools to drum up maintenance business its useless. It also can not manage estimates. Estimates created appear in your current WIP, so if you do an estimate, and the customer doesn't do the job, you have to delete that estimate and loose a record or ever quoting it. The alternative is keep it and need to see that estimate within all your current open work. This would easily be hundreds of open estimates and simply not manageable. The workflow of the software was relatively poor also. I does not follow the natural progression of work through the shop and is not customizable in any way. I saw no added benefit to Mitchell than I already see with my current management program MotorWare, which is already bought and paid for and outdated.

 

 

On another note, we are taking a second look at R.O. writer next week with an in house demo. I am still trying to be optimistic about Pace's Yes management, but they can not get their online demo to work properly and in the last week I have started to receive poor correspondence from my salesperson (read none). We'll see how that goes.

Southards Enthusiast

Southards

Posted
Posted

We are just getting back into looking at software after a brief hiatus. I took a look at Mitchell and found it useless. The biggest problem was the schedule. Its simply a list of text lines at times. You can't assign jobs or time blocks, techs or bays. This is one of the things I need and I don't see how a busy shop can do without. Use of maintenance information from Mitchell was terrible. The software lacked most of the factory maintenance items and had incorrect maintenance intervals on a handful of cars I looked up. That information came with Mitchell repair. If you don't have the full repair information system you still get the parts and labor guide and maintenance guide with Mitchell manager. The software does not allow you to enter maintenance intervals per vehicle so if you';re trying to use CRM tools to drum up maintenance business its useless. It also can not manage estimates. Estimates created appear in your current WIP, so if you do an estimate, and the customer doesn't do the job, you have to delete that estimate and loose a record or ever quoting it. The alternative is keep it and need to see that estimate within all your current open work. This would easily be hundreds of open estimates and simply not manageable. The workflow of the software was relatively poor also. I does not follow the natural progression of work through the shop and is not customizable in any way. I saw no added benefit to Mitchell than I already see with my current management program MotorWare, which is already bought and paid for and outdated.

 

 

On another note, we are taking a second look at R.O. writer next week with an in house demo. I am still trying to be optimistic about Pace's Yes management, but they can not get their online demo to work properly and in the last week I have started to receive poor correspondence from my salesperson (read none). We'll see how that goes.

I have been a user of TABS software since Nov 2009. I find it to be outstanding for my needs, www.tabsautobiz.com. There you can run the demo and check it for yourself. The staff and customer service is excellent, always get a live person, in the one location. They can log on to your computer and walk you through any dilemmas. Try them, if you go with them, please mention our shop as the referral.

Brianp Enthusiast

Brianp

Posted
Posted

We are just getting back into looking at software after a brief hiatus. I took a look at Mitchell and found it useless. The biggest problem was the schedule. Its simply a list of text lines at times. You can't assign jobs or time blocks, techs or bays. This is one of the things I need and I don't see how a busy shop can do without. Use of maintenance information from Mitchell was terrible. The software lacked most of the factory maintenance items and had incorrect maintenance intervals on a handful of cars I looked up. That information came with Mitchell repair. If you don't have the full repair information system you still get the parts and labor guide and maintenance guide with Mitchell manager. The software does not allow you to enter maintenance intervals per vehicle so if you';re trying to use CRM tools to drum up maintenance business its useless. It also can not manage estimates. Estimates created appear in your current WIP, so if you do an estimate, and the customer doesn't do the job, you have to delete that estimate and loose a record or ever quoting it. The alternative is keep it and need to see that estimate within all your current open work. This would easily be hundreds of open estimates and simply not manageable. The workflow of the software was relatively poor also. I does not follow the natural progression of work through the shop and is not customizable in any way. I saw no added benefit to Mitchell than I already see with my current management program MotorWare, which is already bought and paid for and outdated.

 

 

On another note, we are taking a second look at R.O. writer next week with an in house demo. I am still trying to be optimistic about Pace's Yes management, but they can not get their online demo to work properly and in the last week I have started to receive poor correspondence from my salesperson (read none). We'll see how that goes.

 

 

Iv never found any discrepencies on the maintenance stuff on mitchell. Were you vin decoding? As for estimates there easily kept in the revision tabs without startign a repair order. I ve done it daily for the last 10 years with no problems. I have never found any othe the issues you are describing to be true for me. Its true you cannot "customize" maintenance intervalls they are there in the factory form. I use there crm program and it also allows customers access to there information and videos onlone if needed. Autoownersite I believe. Its a great tool. Ive found mitchell to be the best in my limited experiece of using them 10 + years.

  • 1 month later...
opsrex Newbie

opsrex

Posted
Posted

Anyone know anything about VAST Enterprise retail?

 

http://www.aftersoftna.com/vast_retail

 

I dropped RO Writer in favor of VAST shortly after buying a Midas franchise. I've had my ups and downs with VAST, but all in all, I am happy with it. It works well with Quickbooks, has a great inventory tracking function, and it is highly customizable (easy to put together packages). I have VAST integrated with Activant for catalog lookup and their OpenWeb program lets me order online from CarQuest, Pronto, USAutoforce, Worldpack, and AutoZone (last resort) without leaving the estimate screen. It works well, but I have hundreds of hours over the last 3 year tweaking it so that it does what I want it do.

 

phl

Alex

Alex

Posted
Posted

Bay-MasteR Shop Management connects with multiple suppliers pulling part #'s from all different vendors right into the work order, No contracts, access to either the Mitchell data or Motor information system. A software that you can really customize to your shop. Also free and unlimited training (even for new employees after you have the system), online support AND updates. A real bang for your buck. Pricing is posted right on the website as well. www.bay-master.com

 

If you have any particular questions feel free to contact me.

 

Welcome to AutoShopOwner. I know a couple of shops that use Baymaster and are happy with it. :D

Guest Bay-masteR

Guest Bay-masteR

Posted
Posted

Welcome to AutoShopOwner. I know a couple of shops that use Baymaster and are happy with it. :D

 

Thank you! I appreciate the welcome! :D

  • 9 months later...
  • 5 weeks later...
roboutlaw Rookie

roboutlaw

Posted
Posted

I am using rowrighter and have been for about 7 years now, also using the accounting link from rowrighter to quick books

Ostrom's sales and service

Minong Wi

715-466-2377

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.

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      Overall, the episode serves as both a retrospective on the past year's achievements and a motivational message aimed at inspiring business improvement. Chris Cotton's insights and stories provide valuable lessons and encouragement for auto repair shop owners looking to elevate their businesses to new heights.
      Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:11)
      Overview of the podcast's purpose and the value it offers to auto repair businesses. Celebrating Episode 200 (00:01:08) Kimberly's Kidney Donation (00:02:06) Highlighting Episode 164 - Unlocking Greatness (00:04:21) Highlighting Episode 170 - Four Day Workweek (00:05:24) Preparing for 2025 (00:07:42) Highlighting Episode 172 - Commitment vs. Interest (00:08:46) Highlighting Episode 175 - The Pumpkin Patch (00:09:58) Highlighting Episode 180 - Profit First (00:11:11) Highlighting Episode 185 - Mom and Pop Shops (00:12:00) Highlighting Episode 186 - Coached vs. Uncoached (00:12:46) Highlighting Episode 187 - Project Alpha (00:13:05) Highlighting Episode 189 - Impact of Politics (00:13:55) Highlighting Episode 192 - Self-Obstruction (00:14:20) Highlighting Episode 193 - Being the Best Shop (00:14:46) Highlighting Episode 197 - Chris's Favorite Things (00:15:30) Looking Ahead to Episodes 201 and 202 (00:15:50)
      Connect with Chris:
      [email protected]
      Phone: 940.400.1008
      www.autoshopcoaching.com
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
      AutoFixAutoShopCoachingYoutube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae


      #autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • carmcapriotto
      Executive Orders - Taxes and IRS Updates - Business By The Numbers
      By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      Welcome to this episode of Business by the Numbers! Host Hunt Demarest, CPA, explores the recent IRS developments and what they mean for business owners, taxpayers, and accountants alike. With executive orders, funding cuts, and shifting policies, there's plenty to unpack about the future of the IRS and tax compliance.
      Key Takeaways:
      IRS Funding Cuts: The Inflation Reduction Act promised $80 billion for the IRS, but political maneuvering and budget cuts have significantly reduced this allocation. Commissioner Resignation: The departure of the IRS commissioner raises questions about future agency direction and efficiency. Audit Frequency Impact: With fewer agents and reduced funding, audits for wealthy individuals and large corporations are likely to decrease. Taxpayer Challenges: Delayed refunds, processing slowdowns, and a backlog of cases could worsen due to IRS understaffing. Emerging Trends: Discussion on potential international tax changes and the possibility of an "External Revenue Service" impacting U.S. tax revenue collection. https://www.projectfinance.law/publications/2025/january/trump-executive-orders/ https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2025/01/23/president-trumps-cease-and-desist-to-irs-protects-middle-class-families-and-small-businesses-from-irs-audits-and-weaponization/ https://moneywise.com/a/ch-synd/irs-asks-for-more-funding_1737633682545
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      Thanks to our partner, NAPA TRACS
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      Thanks to our partner, Promotive
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Download a Copy of My Books Here:
      Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop 
      The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
      Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto https://remarkableresults.biz/
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/
      Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/
      The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
      The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/
      Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • marxautocenter
      RO Writer/ Auto Vitals, Do you use this combo in your shop?
      By marxautocenter

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • Zenoo
      I am new in business. Need advice to increase profits.
      By Zenoo
      Hi my name is Zenas and I am 26 years old from Alberta, Canada. I started my own automotive repair shop in December 2023. After running it for 1 year I made a little bit of profit. I needed some advice on how I could increase it. Its a 3 bay shop with two 2 post hoists and one 4 post hoist with alignment. I am the only mechanic in the shop as I can't afford to hire anyone at this point. I am charging about $120 per hour for the labor and very minimal mark up on parts. The shop had no customer base when I got it so it took me sometime to build returning customers. If I try to increase the prices on parts the customers run away. Seems like they are calling around the city and going to the cheapest person. My monthly over head cost is about $7000. Whatever I make in a month goes back into next month's rent. Any advices on how to manage this properly from other shop owners?


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