mikerisich

I have been doing some research on telephone systems for my shop. My 3 phone lines with a on-hold program is running over 250 a month. I have looked at some VOIP systems, I really think I am spending to much on phones at this point. I think I could buy 3 new cell phones or just forward all calls to me and my employees cell phones. Anyone have any ideas how to keep this rather simple, I still want to stay a little on the personal side, I feel like that is important in my business.Technology is changing so fast it is scary. I can exit my phone contract at this point. One other issue is the phone number to our location has been used since 1961. I sure do not want to change that. Thanks for any help. I have not been around the forum much lately, my father is having a few minor medical issue's , although he is getting back in the swing. On more small procedure this week and maybe we can get back to the forum some. Again thanks for any opinions, i am always up to a better mousetrap.

 

 

Hi David,

I hope everything works out for you and your father. Best of luck!

As for phone systems, we have a solution that might help. It may help with the amount you’re paying a month and also provides additional benefits that your current phone system doesn’t.

Pro Call is the name of the solution, and with it you can see who’s calling before answering the phone, and also see:

· all vehicles owned by the customer

· each pending service recommendation - for each vehicle on the account

· the average money spent per each vehicle on the account

· the total money spent by the customer

· the total amount of times the customer has visited your shop

· directions from the customer’s location to your shop

· and call logs of all your phone activity

This all shows without having to switch back and forth between screens to help the customers, and is fully integrated with your shop management system. There are other benefits as well, but in an effort to not sound too promotional, I’ll leave it at that.

If you want see a live demo of all the benefits, give John a call at 610-400-1019 ex. 122

Hope this helps.

I have read every thread about this subject, and I have searched the internet also. No decisions are pressing so I have time to research.

 

My big question, which is also my deal breaker for any software, is can I track inventory with the SMS? We have a retail store and I need to track the inventory of the store and have the ability to make retail sales. Any suggestions, or any that will absolutely not work? TIA

Hi PAPShop,

From our experience, the shop management systems we recommend for Repair Invoices (Mitchell 1, ShopKey, NAPA TRACS, RO Writer, ALLDATA and some others) can handle inventory tracking but are not really configured to do the quick check out process typically required by the Retail Side, but do offer the ability to create the Counter Sale invoice to accommodate such transactions.

Hope this helps.

I have just took the plunge and went with Mitchell Manager SE, this was a huge decision for me. I really like the QB financial part, my CPA uses it also. I have used QB for 17 years, I have just outgrown it. My decision with Mitchell was my salesman who has been fantastic, young guy named JMichael, he also has a tech guy named Dustin. These guys have really impressed me so far, they are professional and know the product. I actually told JMichael about some negative reviews with support from Mitchell, they assured me that will not be a issue , I call them and they call me back. I kid them about Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. I cannot say enough about these two guys so far they are top notch. I think Mitchell may have got the message, they even extended a 30 day get out deal. He advised me to lets just start with the basic management first , although I did sign up for the CRM for my commercial accounts . If all goes like I feel it will Bolt on will follow in the next few months. I end my year this month, we go live Oct 1. I am integrating with Quickbooks. If any of you guys have any TIPS and HELP with the Mitchell program I sure would appreciate you shortcuts and secrets. I know we will have a learning curve and hiccups and second thoughts. Any head's up advice that some of you guys experienced that you feel would help me and my brother with this changeover would greatly be appreciated. GOOD OR BAD. Again I really have enjoyed my short time here. There are some great guys on this forum with some serious knowledge of the business and I appreciate what you guys share. Have a blessed week. David

Hi David,

You’re in pretty good hands with Mitchell. They’re one of the best shop management systems around. As for tips and help, you’re right to ask, there are things to consider when using it. Some of the things are a little involved, though, so you might want to speak to someone.

Feel free to give us a call, we’d be happy to help. I’ll let John know you might reach out to him. His number is 610-400-1019 ex. 122

Mike

We have mixed feelings on bolt on. We subscribed to the services but we are on month 3 of caller id pro being down and the 1 on 1 training is subpar. We see the vision but the operations is causing us to wonder if it justifies the investment.

 

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Hi Matt,

Thank you for sharing your issue. I apologize for any inconvenience you experienced, and have made sure you were not billed at all for Caller ID. You should be all squared away now. We’ll see you Friday for training.

If you need us for anything else, please don’t hesitate to reach out. http://boltontechnology.com/contact-us

Michael, I spoke to John at Bolt-On this morning,He was very resourceful and polite. He answered all my questions he is sending me the link for some answers I had. I spoke with my Mitchell rep a few minutes ago.We are meeting today. It is actually starting to sink in how it all operates. Us old guys are having to change the way our brains process info. John, with Bolt On,was a super polite and informative guy.Thanks for reaching out. David Mack

Thanks David,

I appreciate you taking the time to discuss your experience with John. It sounds like you have a better idea of your options now. If you have any further questions at all, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here for you.

I have been watching this topic very close for a few weeks, the more people post the more confused i get. I have been on Quickbooks since mid 90s, My brother has been doing the payables and receivables for 35 years at the store. Business has changed so much and volume has increased to the point that Quickbooks is a paperwork and input nightmare for us, although quickbooks accounting is great, we really are comfortable with quickbooks accounting. We have 1 location but maybe putting in 3 or 4 more locations in next few years. We have decided to reach out and find other options for our shop management software, I really do not use a shop management now, because of me and my brothers knowledge of Quickbooks, integration is a must. I have limited knowledge of all the shop programs, it seems from what i have read and been told is Mitchell "we have had for 18 years" INTEGRATES well with Quickbooks. The new Mitchell guy came buy last week and me and my brother discussed adding Mitchell Manager SE with him, It has really gotten mind boggling for me , out of my comfort range , I am in uncharted waters. I realize no one can tell me which program to purchase. This is my idea ,I think, I want a program that I or one of my writers basically can walk out to car scan vin or tag with camera ,write work order, assign to tech , get diag from tech,he can type in and it comes on our tablets, look up parts and tires ,give estimate , order all items, it puts them on estimate or invoice creates it , it automatically enters it in payables and receivables. We are hand typing that today. Mitchell has offered a 30 day trial, I can bail out with no charge. They do all the setup and integration. I have not made a final decision other than the Mitchell guy did come buy and see me. Ok now it gets really confusing to me, what is Bolt On, I am confused on this, I thought it was in the Manager SE or that SE is the same program . I see where bolt on and Mitchell integrate . That issue has me stuck. Is there another program that works with Mitchell labor and Quickbooks that I should look at. I understand I will be buying some tablets for my techs and SW's. I would rather have a program that does not make me own proprietary computers and cash drawers etc. I have 8 workstations now that I can use . Guys, I understand this is a broad and crazy question, as you can tell I am spending a lot of energy on this , I think this is a major decision in the direction of my shop. Has anyone here been in my situation with Quickbooks and made this changeover, if so could you quickly tell me who you went with , why, do you like it. I have read Mitchell support is not the best. I know it will be challenging for all of us , I have put this off for 3 years. I have got to make a move in this fast changing business. I understand you get what you pay for, I do like the idea of pay as you go with all the updates and changes that will come up weekly. Any input is appreciated. Thanks David

Hi David, Happy Labor Day.

You’re right in taking this change seriously as each shop management system has its pros and cons. As far as being able to walk out to a car and scan the VIN, write a work order, assign a tech, etc. though, shop management systems themselves don’t do that.

This is where Bolt On (my company) comes in. We are an automotive repair software company that fully integrates with the most popular shop management systems. We provides shops with the ability to take a tablet out to the car, scan the VIN, decode the license, start an order, assign a tech, take service specific photos, text and email customers a digital multi-point inspection with photos attached, etc.

All of the information gathered with the tablet is integrated (in real time) back into the shop management system, eliminating the need to write anything down.

There are other benefits as well, but in an effort to avoid self-promotion on this forum, you may want to reach out to us. http://boltontechnology.com/contact-us/

Mike can you give us an update on the SMS you integrate with. This thread is kinda old and I'm curious to know who else your company is working with.

 

Regards,

Dan

Hey Dan,

We currently integrate with the following shop management software:

• Mitchell 1
• ShopKey
• R.O. Writer
• NAPA TRACS
• ALLDATA

*We also have TCS, Tasco, MaxxTraxx, Omnique and more in the works as well. I'll keep you posted as we release them.

Sorry for your loss, Harry.

Hi Bob,

This may just be a matter of providing better proof. Plainly put, a large portion of customers feel their auto repair facility purposely suggests more services than necessary in order to generate more revenue for the shop.

To fix this, you should be adding photos specific to the vehicle’s needs to each inspection. This provides undeniable proof that there is indeed a need for service, and has proven to increase ARO.

Click here for a better explanation: http://www.autoshopowner.com/blog/7/entry-176-digital-inspections-drive-shops-225-higher-ro/

Thanks for the great discussion. I've enjoyed reading all of the comments here.

As a best practice, we encourage shops to book the next appointment. It's really not much different than booking haircut and dentist appointments in advance. It saves customers from having to worry about remembering to do it and helps shops do more business.

I agree with Joe that in order to be successful, your shop should consider some type of appointment reminder. Text message appointment reminders are one of the features available with our software. Service advisors can set a default number of days to send a text message appointment reminder. Customers can respond back with "c" to confirm the appointment or can call the shop to reschedule.

Stowintegrity, it's great to hear that your appointments increased with advance scheduling! I also agree with your later post about the importance of vehicle inspections. We encourage shops to take vehicle condition photos to go along with detailed inspections. What better way to sell services than to show your customers what repairs are needed! We have seen shops dramatically increase their ARO in some cases by 200 percent or more as compared to the shop's ARO prior to doing inspections. One of our shops had a $53 ARO before inspections and now has a $377 ARO since starting inspections. Another shop took its ARO from $104 to $574 with vehicle inspections.

These are just a few examples. I'd be happy to speak to anyone who has an interest or who has further questions. Please feel free to reach out to me.

Hi Andre,

I'm sorry to hear that you are having trouble with our software. Could you please reach out to our tech support team so we can get this fixed for you as soon as possible? Our number is 610-400-1019, option 1; or you can reach us through a remote support session here: http://www.boltontechnology.com/support-team/index.html. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

SmartAutomotive,

I am not sure if this would be a help to you or not, but shops that use text messaging software to send appointment reminders are seeing a higher number of people show up for appointments. My company sells software that can help. If you would like to learn more, please don't hesitate to send me a message. Best of luck to you!

Hi,

The CARFAX Quick VIN feature is part of our Mobile Manager Pro, our digital multi-point inspection software, which fully integrates with Mitchell1, RO Writer, NAPA TRACS, ALLDATA and Tasco.

Hi,

I think some form of scripting can be beneficial, especially until service advisors feel comfortable selling service and explaining the "why" behind recommendations. Our Pro Call software (think caller ID with built-in, color-coded customer spending history, previously recommended services, etc). can script service advisors when they're answering the phone. That could be a good start to getting SAs comfortable selling services without a customer standing in front of them. Scripts could be adapted to in-person interactions as well. Hope that helps.

Hi Marksas,

We are not exhibiting at the automechanika show. However, our team could do a live demo of our products on a date and time that works for you. That would give you a good overview of the software's features and capabilities. Plus, our products fully integrate with RO Writer. Please let us know if you have any questions or would like to set up a demo. Thanks!

Hi Marksas,

Bolt On Technology's mobile technology features digital signature capture as you describe above.

Hi Nick,

M-Spec Performance is right. Digital multi-point inspections with photos are effective in showing and telling why repairs are needed. When customers can see the extent of damage - metal to metal brakes, for example - they are more likely to authorize repairs. We've found that shops that regularly do multi-point inspections with photos have seen their ARO increase by 45 percent on average and in some cases by much more. Please let me know if I can answer any questions or provide more information about our software.

Hi Junior,

We attended the Vision Hi-Tech Training and Expo and ATI's SuperConference earlier this month. Last weekend some of my staff attended the Automotive Training Expo in Washington. We'll be attending the NAPA expo in Las Vegas May 5-8 and AAPEX (highly recommended) in November. We'll also be attending the Automotive Service Association expo in Arizona in June.

For smaller shows in the Northeast, you may want to look into what the Automotive Service Association has to offer. We're located in the Philadelphia area and we occasionally attend chapter meetings in Pennsylvania. There may be similar offerings in New York. Good luck!

Hi Flacvabeach,

Just out of curiosity, what are the other ongoing efforts to increase ARO, sales and gross profits?

Hi Jimbob,

It sounds like key tags might help with better organization. Our Lube Sticker Pro software prints personalized tags for customer keys which includes customer name, vehicle, VIN, license plate and other details such as when the customer needs to have the vehicle work completed. Please reach out if I can help answer any questions or provide more information.

UsedTireShop,

Our customers dramatically reduce paper use with our mobile technology, which allows shops to text/email invoices to customers and carry out multi-point inspections on a tablet. All of the information collected automatically transmits into your shop management system, eliminating the need to write it down on an RO. Let me know if you have any questions or would like more information.

These are all great ideas. But, have you ever considered having the customer check-in with a tablet? Our Welcome Station customer check-in kiosk empowers customers to check themselves in for appointments, or drop-in service. Customers can update their vehicle and contact information, select services based on pending and popular services, or opt for weather-related service checks (windshield wiper inspection during rain, for instance).

Shops have told us they're able to capture customers' email addresses much easier than when their service advisor asks for them. Owners have also told us they're seeing more accuracy of information. Oh, and did I mention the info the customer adds automatically transmits to the shop management system?

If you're interested, click here, or call us to learn more: 610-400-1019

 

 

so the only way is to go to the appt and edit it manually correct? I just wanted to know if there was some other sort of automation to edit for the right text.

Hi M-Spec,

It might be easier if you reach out to our support team for assistance. The easiest way may be online support. You can connect from here: http://boltontechnology.com/support-team/

Mike, when lube sticker pro creates a future appointment is there a way to differentiate what text to include or do all of the appointments say "Automated Oil Change"

Hi M-Spec,

The recommendation text from Lube Sticker Pro is editable, but there is only one template for the text message reminder. Does that help?

What software are you guys using for scheduling repairs in your shop and how much does it cost?

Hello,

An option for scheduling appointments is BOLT ON TECHNOLOGY's Lube Sticker Pro software. The module fully integrates with leading shop management systems, including Mitchell1, NAPA TRACS, R.O. Writer and Tasco. The software predicts, based on driving history, when a customer should return for various services, including LOF, tire rotations, coolant flushes, etc. The monthly subscription fee for Lube Sticker, by itself, is $29.99 per month. When bundled with complementary software tools Message Manager (text message reminders) and Report Pro (customizes invoices with more than 100 features; and compiles various reports), Pro Pack costs $99.99 per month.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions, or feel free to call us at 610-400-1019. You can read more about Pro Pack here: http://www.autoshopowner.com/blog/7/entry-90-pro-pack-updates-offer-more-customization/