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Posted

Hello everyone,

 

Our shop currently uses Identifix. I dentifix allows your to type down the symptoms the car is having and automatically shows you what other mechanics did to fix the problem. Kinda of sounds like cheating but if you want to turn vehicles around quick, its great for business. If you have a check engine light on, you can always enter the codes and Identifix will tell you what part was replaced to fix that issue. Now alot of Auto Repair in Tracy like to guess which part might need replacement but Identifix actually allows you to start somewhere.

 

Best Regards,

Erik Gonzalez

Owner of EEE Auto Service & Towing in Tracy

  • Like 1
  • 2 months later...
Posted

Check out Maxxtraxx by Scott Systems. Free trial, full featured, excellent customer service. We have used it for six years now and are still pleased with them.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

We use TireShop by Freedomsoft. Small company out of north carolina.  Awesome program, easy to use.  Great for service, quick lube, AND Tires!  Just integrated

with autotext.me digital inspections and texting.  Great price too!  About $300 per month.  They have about 300 users in U.S.

Edited by Richard Ehler
  • Like 1
  • 2 months later...
Posted (edited)

Mitchell and RO writer are the market leaders. Integrate with many digital inspections, marketing companies, etc.  Probably can't go wrong with either one.

We use TireShop by freedomSoft, integrated with autotext.me for digital inspections. We handle 1,000 car per month flawlessly.  We have a quicklube, service, and tires all in one.

Edited by Richard Ehler
Posted

starting protractor for the new general repair shop we are opening. Being a total "C" on the DISC profile at times I research the crap out of stuff including SMS. I have yet to really put the software in action however I have gone through hours of training and self study and wow what a great program. The drawbacks are there is a steep learning curve and the interface isn't that "pretty" but then again most every SMS is pretty ugly. Also it really requires you to use the software exactly how it was intended since there is integrated accounting within the system as well. It has A LOT of features which I was missing out on mitchell. Linear matrix, robust and custom reports, integrated accounting, etc etc.

 

  • Like 1
Posted

In my comparison TABS &  Winworks were the best value for my shop. My shop is small- 5 lifts, 4 empty bays, and a small yard (about 30-35 cars). TABS was easier to use but couldn't fix my duplicate ordering problem. Winworks is always pleasant and quick to take care of us.  And $50 / month for updates &  tech support is as reasonable as it gets. Many  people thrive on new technology, but I'd rather be sitting in my bass boat than stuck in front of a PC learning new programs & updates. This business dominated my time for years. Never again.  Missed too many ball games & school stuff with my kids. Now I do everything my way and on my schedule. Now it's time to  take my "grand kids" to the lake.......

  • Like 2
Posted
  On 8/2/2017 at 1:47 PM, mspecperformance said:

starting protractor for the new general repair shop we are opening. Being a total "C" on the DISC profile at times I research the crap out of stuff including SMS. I have yet to really put the software in action however I have gone through hours of training and self study and wow what a great program. The drawbacks are there is a steep learning curve and the interface isn't that "pretty" but then again most every SMS is pretty ugly. Also it really requires you to use the software exactly how it was intended since there is integrated accounting within the system as well. It has A LOT of features which I was missing out on mitchell. Linear matrix, robust and custom reports, integrated accounting, etc etc.

 

Expand  

Did you manage to get any relief on their pricing?  They are a bit pricey at $400/month and another $250/month for digital inspections?    I like their base product, think I want to use it, but I am wondering about value?  The one thing that Protractor does is update their software.   They make updates every 2-4 weeks, adding new features and fixing problems, which I find to be a positive.  Even though they are cloud based, Canadian law mandates that us users maintain ownership of our data.  They allow you to download the database weekly and back it up in their cloud much more often.  (With cloud systems, one always needs to ask about data ownership, because this is not cut and dried in the US).   Also, Protractor is month-to-month, with no contract.   They believe in themselves.

I was ready to go with RO Writer, but I've started seeing a lot of internet noise regarding a total lack of response from their tech support on critical issues.  When you couple this type of problem with their insistence on a 3 year contract, it seems very dangerous.    Many using RO Writer are using their older software.  I'm guessing the growing pains are with their new SQL system because the complaints seem to have ratcheted up recently.   When I ask them about this issue, they dodge this question hard.

  • Like 1
  • 1 month later...
Posted

I recieved an email today announcing AMS company stopped selling RO writer and switched to Protractor.  May want to check out why.  I did demo a while back seems pretty nice.

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 9/26/2017 at 2:25 PM, Richard Ehler said:
I recieved an email today announcing AMS company stopped selling RO writer and switched to Protractor.  May want to check out why.  I did demo a while back seems pretty nice.
Probably because RO Writer corporate hated them. They bad-mouthed AMS when I spoke with them, making me think less of themselves as a result. AMS has a great online reputation for helping folks with RO Writer issues. I think that they were the last remaining RO Writer distributor. I'd imagine that AMS will offer great service for Protractor folks. I spoke with AMS, but they couldn't sell to me and handed me off to corporate.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

  • 1 month later...
Posted

I have used alldata for many years, and loved it. Tried Mitchell hated it was not easy to use. Started using Identifix and its a dream it helps with repair problems does estimates looks up parts with your suppliers price checks. I think the price is a little steep at $180.00 a month I think it could be less expensive. They even order us lunch and had it delivered to our shop. I don't think I could function without Identifix.

  • 4 months later...
Posted

Is anyone out there using Service Shop by Genesis 4? I have been with the company a long time, currently I'm considering upgrading to the new subscription based system but hesitate a bit. I would like to know if anyone has gone from the old buy software version and pay for support compared to the new subscription based system. I also have had years of issue with them about updates they said would be coming but never showed up. If someone has it and can let me know what they think I will appreciate it.

  • 2 months later...
Posted

We’ve used ROWriter since we started and it is has been a great product with great support....until recently....  With Windows 10 came a variety of issues, especially when Windows 10 updates.  Lately when we have a issue and it needs to go to a second tier of support, it’s taken up to a week to get a call back.  Support from the head office in Florida or one of the US Based remote techs is much better than the support I’ve had from their Mexico support team.   

We are trying to find time to evaluate Protractor.  What we’ve seen is impressive but there are a series of modules you HAVE to finish before going live and simply finding the time to do this is difficult for a small shop owner with a young family.  (8 o’clock at night is not my best time for absorbing new information).  The learning curve is steep.

ROWriter has a great product.  We wish they would go cloud based and up their support expertise.  We have a lot of money invested in the product and we hate to walk away from it but the frustration level keeps rising.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted

I'm using Protractor.   They do frequent updates and have been quick to fix things that break which are serious in nature.   You can't call tech support, but they do call me back if the issue is too complex to reply/resolve via email.   I especially like their reporting system.  It's pretty thorough and you can customize them as well.    Most of the challenges that I have with it are in the accounting section and the inability to correct all the errors that I routinely make!   (there are work arounds, but I'd prefer actual corrections)   I got started by watching all of their training videos and practicing in their demo system.    Anyway, let me know if I can help you answer any questions.

  • 1 month later...
  • 7 months later...
Posted
  On 8/4/2017 at 6:43 PM, prestigeeuropean said:

Has anybody tried Shop Boss?

Expand  

I spent months researching and test driving 44 different SMS solutions before opening up January 2nd this year. I ultimately settled on Shop Boss and couldn't be happier. The price, support, and features are far above and beyond everything else I tried. My ideal features I needed/wanted included email/text, cloud based, unlimited applications/users, and a modern interface. If I have any gripes at all, I don't care for their parts integration (partstech/epicor/nexpart, although the worldpac integration does work well), and I'm not a fan of Motor for repair information, and that's all they offer. I opted for the silver plan (without repair information) and just pay for that separately. Silver plan is $159/month.

  • Like 1
Posted
  On 4/11/2019 at 4:29 PM, DUFRESNES said:

Sounds like you did your homework.  Good for you.  I just have a couple questions.  Does it integrate with Quick Books.  Is it an everything solution.  Does it start by writing the work order and or estimate to the end  of a profit and loss and Balance sheet. 

Expand  

Yes, it does integrate with Q.B., although I haven't tested that functionality. It has most of the same features built in, and I rely on it 100%, beginning to end.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest 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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