In today’s world the complexity of running a shop is huge challenge for the shop owner and the right tools are essential for efficiency and profitability. You can replace a set of spark plugs with a set of vice grips or you can use the right size socket and ratchet. Either way, the job will get done, but having the proper tool will decide how long the job will take, if the job will be done right, and what profitability that job has. When you use the wrong tool, the job will take longer, won’t be done right, and your bottom line won’t make much or any money. The same holds true to running a shop with the right management software.
It is important today to have a management software that looks deep into the ebb and flow of the repair orders. The progressive shop owner needs the ability to measure, log, and make adjustments to fine tune their operation. The documentation on the repair order needs to be collected and analyzed for various aspects like technician productivity, categories of repair, trends of come-backs, and the loyalty of the customer – just to name a few.
The best management systems on the market act like a diagnostic scope for the shop owner. The software needs to extract the raw data and evaluate the information to identify the cause of an operational symptom that may not be obvious. All shop owners want to improve something in their business, but it all begins with taking the time to analyze the details, which is the longest part of the process and requires an ongoing commitment. Shop owners have told me that with hand written invoices, the information is there, but time constraints and other commitments often keep the owner from getting around to the task of sifting through piles of paper to explore the inner core of the shop operations. When you go digital, your business can reach new heights. Production and operations are simplified, standardized, and delivered with a good management software program. With these tools, systems can be implemented into your daily and weekly workflow. Systems and processes help any organization reach the next level. The best companies in the world who started small put systems in place to grow and keep on track.
There are additional positive considerations in choosing a shop management system. The world is now connected in an electronic village and having your system play a part on the internet has extraordinary advantages. The ability to connect with your vendors is a mainstream concept as parts are ordered and placed right into the invoice or into inventory. New advances in management system options even provide the ability to reach out to your customers using common technology such as text messaging and email – being in touch with your customer base is critical to success. The primary responsibility of the shop owner is to work on the business by using the right tools to keep the shop running properly. Today’s management software programs help the savvy shop owner keep up with the fast paced world we now live in, providing them with the time efficient tools to properly log, measure, and adjust to maintain the operations of the shop. If time is money, where your time going?
By Chuck Zerambo, Founder & CEO, Zerambo Automotive Consulting, zeramboautomotive.com