Many forward-thinking garages rely on business management software to oversee their day-to-day operations in the shop.
And as business owners begin to achieve a certain level of success, it’s inevitable that they’ll want to take a step back and, with any luck, let the business take care of itself.
After all, what’s the sense of pouring your heart and soul into a company if you can’t enjoy the fruits of your labor?
In a sense, automotive repair software is like cruise control for your company. By automating many of the business processes you’d otherwise have to do manually, it gives you the flexibility to utilize your time in other ways:
- Divert your efforts toward new aspects of your business
- Spend less time at the shop be with your family
- Pursue entirely new business ventures
Here’s how business management software can help keep your shop running smoothly, even when you’re not there.
Empower Your Employees
Some employees require constant direction in order to remain productive. Automotive repair software (which is sometimes referred to as dealer management software) comes with a detailed scheduling module that enables staff to:
- Prioritize their service appointments
- Notify customers when work is complete
- Remind customers when they’re due for service
As an owner, you benefit by being able to track your employees’ productivity to ensure they’re still meeting benchmarks when you’re not around. Best of all, you don’t have to be sitting in front of your office desk to do this. As long as you have an Internet connection and a suitable device—typically a desktop, laptop, or even a smartphone—you can monitor your business from pretty much anywhere.
Track Stock with Inventory Control Software
If you’re the one who constantly has to order parts and supplies to keep things running, inventory control software can be a real time saver. It lets you establish optimum stock levels, so you’re never left scrambling for parts.
Your employees will also find this system easy to use, as they can search for inventory in a number of ways:
- Supplier name and/or part number
- Product description
- Main and subcategories
- Serial number
Keep Your Customers Happy
Customer loyalty is important in the automotive repair industry. If you do the job right and prove your trustworthiness, they’ll keep coming back. And while word-of-mouth advertising is awesome, you can augment this with some clever marketing tactics.
One of the easiest ways to achieve this is through targeted email marketing campaigns. It’s easy to send them a note to:
- Remind them of an upcoming service
- Ask for feedback once the service is complete
- Offer in-store promotions and announcements
For more on this subject, read: What Makes Business Management Software the Right Fix for Repair Shops?
For business management software that’s customized for the auto repair industry, talk to a Windward Software sales associate. Our System Five program features an auto repair software module designed to help owners overcome industry-specific challenges. 
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