Best Auto Repair Software

The recent automotive innovations have transformed the auto industry by providing end-to-end solutions for all industry participants. Technological advancements and software innovations are changing the way automobiles are designed, built, powered, and repaired. The high-tech automobiles, transformational designs, AI-powered auto dashboards, etc. are causing the low-tech repair shops to change their mechanisms and upgrade their systems to serve high-end, digitized, and automated vehicles. 

Auto repair shops need to embrace the disruptive changes that the automotive industry is going through in recent times. With rapid development in automotive technology, computer-based auto repair software solutions are indispensable for running auto repair units profitably. However, selecting the one that fits your business size and demands is equally important. This buyer’s guide for auto repair software intends to provide auto repair shops complete understanding of the auto repair software solutions available in the market. 

Auto repair businesses have complex workflows. Below are some of the major challenges that they face every day:

Mechanic Scheduling and allotment: The business for garages is not a uniform one. There are peak days when mechanics are overburdened and there are days when there is no work at all. Most people come for normal services on weekends, making weekends busier than other days. In such working scenarios, appropriate and time-efficient scheduling remains a big challenge for auto repair businesses.

Inventory Management: Repair works need a lot of supporting tools, replacement parts, and equipment to get the job done. Managing the inventory needs is critical for not facing a shortage of spare parts or tools. However, getting parts from suppliers on time is not an easy thing.

Updating Knowledge: Staying updated regarding the latest diagnostic technologies, current vehicle tech, advanced repairing tools, etc. is critical to cater to a large customer base. Also, high-value vehicle owners will come to your repair shop only if you are a tech-driven advanced auto repair expert. 

Keeping Repair Costs Affordable: Increasing technician costs, higher parts prices, and complicated repairs challenge the auto repair industry to keep the costs affordable for the customers. 

Branding and Promotion: Most auto repair shops find it difficult to market, promote, and do branding for their business. Some know the benefits, however, they don’t know how to exactly go about it. 

No Training from OEMs: The original equipment manufacturers are consistently coming up with advanced designs, and high-tech products with complex workings. However, technicians and mechanics rarely get any training assistance from OEMs. 

Repair Failure Risks: Low-quality spare parts, technical glitches, or human errors can lead to complete failure of repair work. It can put customers at risk and cause litigation over repair shops. 

Workflow Management: Auto repair shops are a busy place. There are a number of activities to manage before you can repair and deliver a single-vehicle. This can be exhilarating without a systematic plan, and technological assistance.

Training:  Repair shops need to be competent to work on all types of power systems-fuel, gas, electric models. Getting technicians and mechanics who are competent to work on all types of vehicles is a bit of a struggle. Training mechanics for handling multiple variants of vehicles is challenging. 

Accounts Management: In a busy setup such as auto repair shops, managing billings, invoicing, accounts, and taxes can be a bit overwhelming. 

Auto repair shops can mitigate all the above challenges by deploying auto repair software that comes with functionalities to manage all activities that take place in the auto repair business. 

Auto Repair Software is a set of applications that provides a set of digital tools for the auto repair shops to ease, streamline and manage their daily workflows efficiently. Some of the noted features of an Auto Repair software are:

• Repair Orders Management 
• Online Appointments
• Interactive Calendar
• Client Management 
• Inventory Management 
• Digital Vehicle Inspections
• Automotive Service Writing tools
• Employee Scheduling
• Vendor management
• Tire and Auto Parts Management 
• Technician Management
• Messaging and Alerts
• Automated Notifications and Reminders
• Customized Branding
• Employee Time Tracking
• Analytics and Reporting

Auto repair shops provide two types of services:

• Routine Services: Oil Change, Tyre repair, and change, general maintenance and service, part replacements, car washes, air-conditioning repairs, electrical and gas-related repairs, Wheel alignments, 
• Non-Routine Services: Rust Proofing, Painting, Makeover, Vehicle Customization, Body Work

Optimizing all the above types of services, related workflows, and resources is required for achieving success in the automotive service space. 

Auto repair software assists auto repair shops by providing tools that help all the concerned parties: 

• Shop Owners: Managing auto repair shop workflows 
• Mechanics and Technicians: Scheduling of repair work, inspection, diagnostics, equipment management, and repair tracking 
• Customers: Easy communication with the repair shops and tracking the status of repairs

For instance, two mechanics of your repair shop want to use the welding machine at the same time and they cannot proceed further without welding a component. In this scenario, one has to wait until the other gets the work done. However, with auto repair software’s daily workflow management system, mechanics can schedule the usage of tools prior to starting the repair work. So, if common equipment is booked, a mechanic will first take a vehicle that doesn’t require the same tool when any other mechanic is utilizing it. Optimum utilization of mechanic time and resources leads to higher profits for your repair business.

An auto repair software streamlines and optimizes everything from vehicle check-in to repair completion and follow-ups:

Check-in and Registration: The auto repair software allows customers to book a repair appointment with you. Customers can book the empty slots for non-urgent vehicle repair works such as regular service or maintenance, repair, or upgradation work. If the customer has come unannounced or if the vehicle has broken down on the road, you can enter the details in the software, and the software automatically assigns the mechanic who is free to take the task. 

Inspection Data: Your technician can feed inspection data in the software application for better diagnostic and quality service. The past repair data, maintenance history, etc. can be entered into the software for future reference before taking possession of the vehicle.  If the customer is coming for the second time, then you can simply check your database for previous service history. 

Cost Estimation and Authorization: Based on the diagnostic, the required repair work can be clearly noted down along with the costs. The software can accurately estimate the overall repair costs and also provide segment-wise details of the cost. Once the repair cost estimate is ready, you can take written or email confirmation from the customer before the task is performed. Cost estimate confirmations are mandatory in many countries and auto repair software helps garage owners in adhering to the local laws. 

Work-in-Progress: During the repair process, the software helps your mechanics, technicians, and helpers in scheduling various phases of the repair work, managing inventory, ordering parts, etc. During this phase, the customer automatically gets notified about the work done on a regular basis.

Completion and follow-up: Once the job is completed, the customer is notified for pick up. The software also generates bills and invoices and can also integrate with payment methods to receive payments via cards, wallets, or online transactions. The software sends follow-up notifications, feedback emails, and future service reminder emails whenever required. Such features are critical for marketing and branding purposes.

Auto Repair software is specially designed to benefit auto repair shops in all activities that they do. Below are some of the benefits that auto repair software provides: 

Paperless management: Job sheets, invoices, maintenance reports, etc. can be digitized and auto repair shops can go completely paperless.

Saves Time: Diligently reduces time utilized in scheduling, documentation, cost estimation, back-office operations, etc. 

Better communication: The software for auto repair shops unleashes better two-way communication between auto shop owners, their employees, mechanics, and customers. 

Reporting: Offers insightful reports, analytics, and time-wise performance metrics for your auto repair business. 

Mobile App: The software application can be accessed on mobile devices and is very helpful during on-road services for car breakdowns. 

Profit Boosting: Automation of various daily workflows, auto-repair scheduling, mechanic allotment, and resource usage booking features lead to boosting of profits.

Helps in Improving online presence: Many auto repair software come with CMS integration to help you in building your online presence with a website. 

Automation: Automation saves you from spending too much time and effort on redundant activities making work orders, invoices, bills, etc. 

Marketing: Auto Repair software also assists garage owners in marketing their shop by features to offer discount deals, free services for loyal customers, sending regular emails for maintenance, and service reminders, etc. 

Better Management of Inventory: Auto repair is an inventory-dependent business. Mechanics need tools, spare parts, equipment to repair vehicles. Managing inventory levels is easy with auto repair software. Automated order booking, vendor management, and payments features allow auto shops to maintain inventory levels without chaos. 

Workflow Management:  Whether it is an independent auto repair shop or an auto repair company, clearly defined workflows, organized activities, and streamlined processes are critical to profit sustainability. Auto repair software takes care of workflows beginning with appointment booking to final vehicle delivery. 

Accounting: With inbuilt accounting, invoicing, and billing features, auto repair shops don’t have to take stress for financial accounting. 

Training: Auto repair software comes with integrated training modules for various variants. Troubleshooting, repair guides, and car maintenance modules help technicians in keeping themselves updated with the latest repair methods and technologies. 

Human Resources: Auto repair shop management software can keep a record of all your employees, track schedules and attendance and assist in payroll operations.

The global automotive repair and maintenance market is then expected to recover and grow at a CAGR of 7% from 2021 and reach $828.6 billion in 2023. Currently, the number of aging vehicles in the US is on a rise. This is leading to a demand for auto repair services. Such is the potential of this market. You only need to differentiate yourself from the competition, and there is no dearth of revenue opportunities for your auto repair business. However, considering the complexities of today’s vehicle, multiple variants, and the number of new launches every quarter, auto repair shops have to stay ahead of the learning curve to serve the industry efficiently. Auto repair shop management software helps auto repair businesses in improving their efficiencies with various productive and time-saving modules. For examples: 

• With automated digital vehicle inspections, and integrated onboard diagnostics, auto repair systems reduce the inspection time, and lets mechanics quickly identify the repair requirements. 
• Merely scheduling repairs on the calendar or manually is not sufficient. Without efficient scheduling systems, garages may underbook or overbook repair works leading to delays, angry customers, and overburdened or idle employees. Auto repair software improves the efficiency of garages by plugging in automated scheduling, and appointment tools. 
• It expedites the repair process by improving other supporting activities such as job cost estimation, part procurement, billing, and reminders to pick up the vehicle.

Today, almost all major vehicle manufacturers add computer controls, chips, sensors, and applications to the vehicle’s dashboard, steering, brakes, airbags, doors, etc. Today, diagnostics is not just about checking the car’s engine or inside the front deck, but also about checking if all technical systems are functional or not. Generally, technicians or mechanics plug an OBD port (on-board diagnostics) into the vehicle's dashboard and take readings. Code errors can accurately tell the mechanic about any malfunction. The auto repair software can integrate with OBD ports to read the specific trouble codes. With such advanced tools, mechanics can save their time of ‘inspection’. The auto repair shop can send their technicians to on-field repairs by a system that allows remote scheduling, dispatching, and messaging for field jobs.

Adopting technology has always benefited businesses and auto repair services are no exception. However, before you select the top auto repair software, you need to understand what factors to consider to make a prudent buying decision. Below are some critical factors that you need to consider meticulously: 

• Can the auto shop management software integrate with other technologies such as IoT, AI, machine learning, etc.?
• How secure is the software from data theft? And what are the privacy features?
• Does the software provide the required storage capacity? 
• Is the auto repair software system user-friendly, intuitive, and easy to navigate?
• What is the uptime guarantee?
• How much experience does the vendor have in this field?
• How many locations, garages, and workshops can it monitor?
• Is the auto repair app scalable to accommodate more features?
• Is the auto repair solution accessible on multiple operating systems and devices?
• Is the software compatible with OBD, GPS, RFID devices, and related automotive technologies?
• What is the pricing structure for the software? Is it available for a monthly subscription, annual pricing, or one-time pay?
• How many users are licensed to use the software?
• Are there any installation costs, and software training charges? 
• Can the auto repair shop software work smoothly with low bandwidth internet connectivity?
• Whether it provides 100% compliance to the existing data privacy and local regulations?
• Whether the below functionalities and services are available?
• Acceptance of multiple currencies for payments
• Automatic invoicing and inspection receipts
• 24/7 customer support
• Customization for branding needs
• Marketing Features
• Free integrations with popular apps
• Free software upgrades
• Free trial or Free demo

• Appointment Scheduling: Allow your customers to book online appointments with technicians, and mechanics with this feature. 
• Repair Notifications: By monitoring the previous usage, and historical maintenance records, repair software can send automated notifications to customers for upcoming service, oil change, filter change, etc. 
• Service Listing: Users can list services such as vehicle repair, car wash, maintenance, general service, etc., and keep a record of all separately. 
• Notify and approve: The software sends email and SMS notifications for any status update, extra expense approval, revised preliminary estimate, etc. 
• Manage lists and service histories: Manage updated list of customers, vehicles repaired, vendors, and technicians along with the detailed service history records.
• Inventory management: Manage stock levels, parts purchase orders, and other inventory-related analytics. 
• Work templates: Get access to pre-built templates relevant to the auto repair business such as the estimate sheets, inspection lists, etc. 
• Mechanic Time-tracking: Monitor the time at work for technicians, employees, and mechanics with inbuilt time tracking tools. 
• Integrations: Auto repair software can integrate with invoicing tools, payroll software, accounting software, payment apps, supplier ordering systems for direct ordering of parts, etc.
• KPIs and Analytics: Track critical metrics for your business such as technician performance, profitability, the average time for repairs for similar works, revenue per repair, etc. It also provides real-time information regarding the number of jobs pending in the garage, the number of customers with pending estimate approval, the number of declined estimates, etc. 
• Security: Real-time full data backup, encryption to protect data theft, GDPR compliance, and many more security measures are available with auto repair software. 

Other Features;

• Labor time and cost estimate
• Invoicing and Billing
• Mobile App
• Custom Dashboard
• Access Controls and Permissions
• Advanced Reporting

Sustainability Policies: Governments are getting stricter over environmental concerns, pollution measures, and safety protocols used in automobiles. In this context, repair shops have to be extremely careful while replacing parts. Auto repair owners have to keep proof of any part replacement, repair, or modification and its effect on the vehicle’s emission rate or safety protocol. Auto-repair shops can be liable for any unwarranted change in the functioning of a vehicle if it leads to any mishap. 

High Repair Requirements for Cab Services/Shared Vehicles: 

The past few years have witnessed the swift rise of services such as Uber, Lyft, Ola, Hailo, etc., and shared vehicles have increased the demand for vehicles. Compared to autonomous vehicles cabs associated with these services require frequent repair work and maintenance. 

Growing Auto Repair Establishments: Between 2010 and 2020, the US alone added 6500 auto repair shop establishments. The surge in the number of auto repair shops indicates both opportunity and demand in this field. However, it also means increased competition. Auto repair shops need to get technologically advanced to cater to the industry. 

IoT: The automotive repair and maintenance companies are increasingly adopting IoT technology to improve repairs, detect repairing needs, connect with vehicles in real-time for remote assistance to drivers. Advanced auto repair shops collaborate with manufacturers to access the sensor-generated real-time status of vehicle components. Predicting any part failure provides auto repair services to provide proactive repair and maintenance services.

Increasing Software Codes in Vehicles: The program code for a sophisticated car is increasing day by day. Car manufacturers are delivering location-based services, in-vehicle content, remote analytics, mobility services, safety measures, etc through in-vehicle software and cloud-based support. 

Laws for Right to Repair: The OE manufacturers who build connected vehicles refrain from sharing vehicle data with dealers and independent repair shops. However, to make data freely available on independent platforms, and to grant the right to repair to vehicle owners, a new act was added in the US motor vehicle act by the Massachusetts electors. This eliminates the dependence of vehicle owners to go to OEMs designated repair shops only and provides them the liberty to get their vehicles repaired at any auto repair establishment.

The costs of  the best Auto Repair Shop Software depends on factors such as:

• Features
• User-interface
• Automations 
• Security 
• Deployment Models : Cloud-based, Web-based, on-premise software, or open-source.
• Quality of service and customer support offered 

ARI auto repair software comes at a monthly price of $19.99 that lets you manage unlimited clients and vehicles. You can also buy its lifetime version for $350. Complete Auto Reports value plan comes at $69.99 and standard plan at $119.99 per month. For the silver plan of Shop Boss, you need to pay $109 per shop. The basic plan of a shop monkey starts from $99 per month for 3 users' licenses. VIP shop management auto repair software comes for a $350 one-time payment for three users.  If you need free auto repair software. check out the free version of AutoRepair Cloud.  If you are looking for cost-saving auto repair software, then the best option will be to check the list of  free and open source auto repair software generated exclusively by GoodFirms. For other Auto Repair software solutions such as Alldata, AutoFluent, you need to contact the vendor. Get the updated list and complete information from the GoodFirms Auto Repair software page.

GoodFirms is among the world’s top software research and product listing companies.   GoodFirms fuels the IT industry by connecting the B2B software buyers with the best software vendors around the globe. GoodFirms uses its proprietary research methodology to help B2B software buyers in making a well-informed purchasing decision. Currently, the listings at GoodFirms have crossed the 60k mark, and it has also collected 30k reviews from verified software users. Auto repair shops and establishments can rely on GoodFirms’ expertise to uncover the best auto repair software for their business. The readers of this buyer's guide for auto repair software are advised to navigate the list of market-leading auto repair management software vendors that provide valuable features and quality services to auto repair shop owner