Garage Management System: What It Is and How It Helps Your Workshop

The software used to store, handle and track bookings, job cards, customer data, parts and invoices, and remind the customer of the job, all in one place is called the garage management software. Get rid of paper diaries and spreadsheets with your team and get more time to work on repairs.

With the hustle and bustle of a busy workshop, there's a lot going on on the phone and processing work books, orders/quotations for parts and invoicing throughout the day. Under the right garage management system, all those tasks should be moved to a single screen where they cannot be lost amidst the cracks.

What features should garage management software have?

A good car repair software solution will cover all facets of the repair work ranging from the initial enquiry to the final settlement. To find Annotated Theses and Dissertations you need to:

• Online booking: customers book a booking without calling, at any time.

• Job cards are created for all work tasks, notes, pictures and parts are recorded on the vehicle.

• Customer & vehicle history: Collect vehicle history (including repairs, MOT dates and service notes) in seconds, sometimes by just several digits of the registration.

• Quotes & Invoices with VAT: Make sure that good estimates are made, approved before issuing and then sent at the end of whatever job done with VAT included when required.

• Auto Reminders, remind Customers by text or email.

• Reports: Revenue - repeat customers and repeat days.

What are the benefits of garage management software to a workshop?

• Fewer missed bookings. Even double bookings are avoided and every technician has an explanation of the day contained in a common digital log book. Online bookings also provide for their recording of the inquiries after the closing.

• Less admin. Data is only entered once, and then used for the job card, quote and invoice. This is a less cumbersome and error prone process!

• Better customer trust. Customers are issued with gifts in writing, update notifications via SMS and an extensive record of all of the services that customers received. In business one of the easiest methods to get repeat business is to provide clear communication.

• More repeat work. We leave customers with service and motor insurance reminders to come and get them. Reminders ensure that the car is working consistently and predictably every year thereafter until it reaches its MOT service (from year 3 onwards).

• Clearer finances. Report constraining information about the top services to assist in constraining the pricing and staffing.

Who needs automotive workshop software?

It's a handy app for those businesses that invest in repairing and servicing vehicles. Which is not only independent garages, MOT centres, tyre/exhaust fitters, body shops, mobile mechanics, but also the service departments at dealerships. Simple booking of and invoicing for a small two-person garage. Techniques scheduling, stock control and reporting can apply to a larger workshop with multiple bays as well.

It is common knowledge that the amount of time saved by replacing paper and spreadsheets with a Garage Management System is considerable.

How do you choose the right auto repair shop management software?

• Record your main challenges – e.g. no shows, papers missing, etc. and invoicing is slow.

• Try it on your phone, tablet and desktop and make sure it can be used in the workshop by the workforce.

• Ensure that it is compatible with UK Garages: VAT Invoicing, MOT reminders, registration lookup, etc.

• Request assistance in set-up and adding existing customer lists.

• Compare price or term, “apples to apples”.

• Do a demo with your team BEFORE you make a commitment.

The value of Repair Booking to garages. Repair Booking's advantages for garages.

The Repair Booking feature has been developed in order to make workshop management easier. Customers are updated, service jobs and repairs are scheduled through one collection point, on-line and everything else is done in a virtual way. It will help to eliminate phone tag and paperwork in your garage, make it more efficient and productive to do more work in less time. If you're seeing several garage management software demos, run tests on each with the above top 18 criteria.

Frequently asked questions about the garage management system.

A garage management system is what exactly does it do?

Its job is to monitor the day-to-day operation of the workshop. Performs all of the functions for bookings, job cards, customer management and records, parts, quotes, invoices, reminders in one location!

Is garage management software suitable for small garages?

Yes. A one or two person garage saves time in the booking process, invoicing, and customer records. But there are systems that will provide you a wonderful base system and add the features to it as you require them.

Can a garage management system send MOT and service reminders?

Yes. The majority of systems will encourage the customer to come back more often by sending a text message or email reminder to remind them of bookings, MOTs or services.

What is the price of car repair software?

The costs may vary based on different providers, volume and containments of users. Many have a monthly subscription fee and pay for it on a monthly basis, so make sure to research plans and ask before you choose one, as well as what the terms and conditions are within the contract.

Final thoughts

You now have a full, accurate set of records for each of your customers, vehicles and jobs with a Garage Management system. It cuts down on admin, missed bookings and gets customers to come back. Attempt with their worst headache on the day at any time, then select the system that remedies it.