Are you heading to the Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo? What about AAPEX? Of course, there are dozens of trade shows in between.
But, before you travel to any of them, you may want to consider some advance planning. The trade show floor can be intimidating. Hundreds, if not thousands of exhibitors, countless booths, an unending array of things to see, try out and learn more about.
The experience can be overwhelming. But, with a bit of advance preparation, you and your auto repair shop staff
With the latest Report Pro requested feature addition, shops can more easily identify the status of vehicles being serviced.
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s latest auto repair software release – which is available for Mitchell 1 customers – uses color-coded easy-to-read blocks showing vehicles that are unassigned, complete, in progress, waiting for parts and orders involving customers who are waiting.
Dubbed the WorkFlow Manager, the Report Pro upgrade takes Mitchell 1’s Work In Progress screen
The Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo begins in about a month.
But, don't worry, there's still time to register for this four-day event, which happens March 5-8 in Kansas City, Kansas.
Featuring technical training, a tool expo, service advisor summit, management and technical training, and, of course the two-day Vision Expo, this annual trade show offers something for everyone.
In addition, BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY's sales and support staff will be exhibiting March 6 and March 7 as part of
With the most recent time-saving feature added to Mobile Manager Pro, technicians can be assigned to a labor item, either per work order or an individual line item – right from the tablet and into your shop management system. The latest update works with Mitchell1 shop management systems only.
Now with the addition of the most-requested feature, service advisors no longer need to be at the desktop workstation to add or remove technicians from a work order.
And since assigning technicians to a
Thousands of Shops Can Be Wrong
Over 100 of the most used service categories
Hundreds of pre-built jobs, service descriptions & labor notes
The most accurate reporting possible
More effective appointment scheduling
More accurate estimates
Your shop needs a powerful management system to produce the level of efficiency and accuracy necessary for growth. To achieve this the old manual way, you need considerable time and patience when learnin
Overwhelmingly, auto repair shops are removing the guesswork from handwritten vehicle inspections, repair orders and service recommendations through the use of automotive software designed to simplify processes, save time and boost productivity.
Below are seven fool-proof tips for using vehicle maintenance software to improve overall shop operations.
1. Scan VINs
Jotting down a vehicle identification number (VIN) is easy, right?
Sure. Getting each and every letter and number correct – a
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY™ is committed to passing the ‘V’ – are you?
The greater Philadelphia area developer of more than a dozen wireless solutions to simplify automotive repair shop operations is supporting the V Foundation.
Spurred by support from Bolt on Technology Director of National Sales and Corporate Sponsorships Frank Dragoni, a local youth baseball coach, the company is backing the altruistic efforts of the 21-year-old foundation.
Dragoni, who’s been fundraising for the V Founda
It’s been said that one of the most difficult things for an auto repair shop to do is to increase car count.
With that being the case for many businesses, shop owners are left with pretty much one option to boost revenue: Generate additional income from the existing pool of customers. While some shops may view this as a challenge, in reality it’s an opportunity to maximize spending from a shop’s existing customer base.
Since your customers aren’t coming in more frequently, you have to make eve
Say good-bye to tedious customer check-ins with our latest automotive software solution, Welcome Station™, the first-ever self-check kiosk designed specifically for the automotive repair industry. With our tablet-powered tool, your shop can join airports, grocery and convenience stores, as well as restaurant chains in simplifying the customer experience.
Our touch screen kiosk delivers faster business results, better accuracy and increased up-selling and profit generation opportunities with eac
Would you like help building fully customizable multi-point inspection reports? Or how about insight on harnessing the power of mobile technology to digitize your vehicle inspection process, all while saving time, increasing upsell opportunities and boosting your average repair order by 60 percent or more?
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY™ can help with all of those things and more during the Mitchell 1 Shop Management Super Workshop in San Diego, Calif. at the Hotel Solamar July 17-19.
Representative
Mychael Althouse had a record-breaking month of sales at his auto repair shop, United Tire & Service in Feasterville, Pa., in April 2014. [see the video here]
The Philadelphia suburban eight-bay shop serviced 12 to 15 cars per day as it has since Althouse took over the 30-year business three years ago.
“We gained probably about $20,000 in total sales that month,” Althouse said. “That month was the best month in my company’s history of owning the shop.”
Not coincidentally, April
Since his 16-bay repair shop began using wireless automotive software solutions last fall, Dave Murray, VP of Operations at Florida-based Murray Motive, said his family-owned business has been able to save an hour each day “by not doing a whole lot.”
Incorporating BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s™ Mobile Manager Pro, Murray said processes that had previously taken 10 to 20 minutes to complete now take “five minutes or less.”
“It improves our efficiency dramatically when building ROs,” he said. “It s
In the 17 years since Bill Hill and his significant other, Leigh Anne Best, have owned Ohio-based Mighty Auto Pro, the couple has “seen it all” in terms of shop management systems and add-on software programs.
“There are so many programs,” said Leigh Anne. “One program will do this and another will do that.”
But, the couple had not found a software solution for everything at their 17-bay repair shop until recently: BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s™ suite of automotive software solutions.
“Nothin
Nick Nix, the owner of PJ’s Auto Repair in Yuba City, Calif., is seeing a “dramatic impact” in his techs’ ability to “point and click” their way to completing digital multi-point inspections of customer vehicles.
So dramatic, in fact, that after using BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s™ Mobile Manager Pro for only a week, Nix said his shop of 17 years made $3,600 in additional profit.
He attributes the uptick in revenue to his shop’s use of digital inspections, which include technician-recommended se
Upping the daily car count has been an ongoing goal for Tim Steigerwalt since he became owner of six Philadelphia-area independent auto repair shops in 1996.
The challenge of “not enough cars” is a problem common among fellow shop owners.
And while Steigerwalt has not yet found the magic bullet to bring more customers through his shops’ doors, he has been able to make a difference in another way.
This spring, Steigerwalt’s shops incorporated BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY’s mobile automotive
Competition in the marketplace is the biggest challenge Eric Russo has faced in his 22 years of owning four greater Philadelphia area auto repair shops.
The biggest contender of all in his quest for higher profits and a larger customer base has been dealerships, Russo said.
But, Russo said he finally found a tool to not only even the playing field, but to make his shops “better than the
dealerships.”
In short, Russo and his employees are setting themselves apart from the competition
What’s the one daily task that simplifies your shop life, increases upselling opportunities and dramatically boosts profits?
For a growing number of shops, the most important task involves snapping customer vehicle condition photos and sharing them, along with digital multi-point inspections and repair orders, with customers.
The sentiment that a picture is worth a thousand words has perhaps never been truer than for a customer literally staring down evidence of needed, and most times un
Spring and summer months are historically busier times for auto repair shops. Of course it would be great to keep that steady traffic coming into your bays day in and day out, each and every day through fall and winter too. But, how do you do it?
A stay-busy year-round solution is easier to attain than you may think.
Dentists, doctors and hair salons all use advance scheduling to ensure their respective professionals do not confront empty appointment books. The auto repair industry shoul
Following the massive recall of more than 6 million Firestone tires in 2000, federal law mandated that tire retailers take steps to notify customers of a tire recall.
Until recently, that meant bookmarking each tire manufacturer’s Web site, navigating there and inputting the customer and tire information, according to Tom Gebbie of Lansdale, Pa.-based Gebbie’s AutoCare.
A self-described “good typer,” Gebbie, who sells 1,000 to 1,200 tires a year, said he was able to carry out the registr
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY customers who use the Pro Pack suite of automotive software solutions, which includes Lube Sticker Pro, Report Pro and Message Manager software modules, can now take advantage of new features. The software add-on solutions have been upgraded for Mitchell1 and NAPA TRACS shop management systems.
Lube Sticker Pro, which, in addition to printing lube stickers and key tags and advance scheduling maintenance appointments based on customers’ driving habits, mileage milestones a
Bolt On Technology, LLC has been selected for the 2014 Best of Downingtown Award in the Software Company category by the Downingtown Award Program.
Each year, the Downingtown Award Program identifies companies that it determines have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. According to the Downingtown Award Program, winners are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
The automotive software solutions provider will demonstrate its Mobile Manager Pro tool during the show.
Are you heading to the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) on Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas, Nevada?
In addition to expanding your knowledge base through various Webinars and educational offerings, be sure to stop by the BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY booth (#2983) to learn about the many proven benefits of our mobile technology. We would love to meet you and to demonstrate how our fully dig
The automotive software solutions provider will demonstrate its Welcome Station customer check-in touchscreen tool during the show.
Are you heading to the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) on Nov. 4-6 in Las Vegas, Nevada?
In addition to expanding your knowledge base through various Webinars and educational offerings, be sure to stop by the BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY booth (#2983) to learn about the many proven benefits of our mobile technology. We would love to meet you and to de
BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY will exhibit at the show, which is set for Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas.
In a matter of weeks, thousands of exhibitors will fill 1 million square feet of the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada as part of the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX).
Businesses, particularly automotive repair shops, have much to gain from the vast educational offerings, as well as the latest and most innovative products and business solutions on display Nov. 3-6.
How can you see and do i
With thousands of exhibitors and countless products, it’s important to know which questions to ask AAPEX Show exhibitors.
In my last blog, I suggested that shops consider researching the exhibitors whose products or services align most closely to the shop’s main goals and map out a plan to make the most of the limited time available.
Now that you’ve decided which booths you will be visiting in Las Vegas Nov. 3-6, it’s time to think about what questions you might want to ask exh
