Digital vehicle inspections (DVIs) are central to providing a 21st-century experience to your customers. Just as streaming revolutionized the entertainment industry, digital communication has drastically transformed all consumer service industries. Within auto repair, DVIs enable shops to upgrade their business to the next level. While shifting from paper to digital records can seem daunting in…
With an ever-changing customer experience in the retail market that was thrown into a storm during Covid, we’ve learned what we need to do to change and how to put it together. There were many grocery delivery companies pre-Covid that made convenience a high priority, but most customers didn’t flock to retail outlets solely for…
Compared to labor, selling parts in the automotive industry is straightforward because it’s logical. During repairs, we often find a vehicle that needs a part replaced, we order the part from one of our vendors, we enter what we paid for it into our parts matrix, the system tells us what to sell it for,…
On August 9th, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the CHIPS Act which will provide subsidies to companies that make semiconductor chips in order to meet the demand for these chips and bring more manufacturing of them into the U.S. The automotive industry has been one of the hardest hit by global chip shortages causing dramatic…
“Paying extra to fly first-class is a waste of money!” This is what I said back in 2008 as I boarded my flight headed to St. Louis. My seat was in row 4, and the first-class section was rows 1-3. We were all going to the same destination, and the state of the economy was…
The demands of the automotive repair industry have been difficult for as long as I can remember. Put profitability, marketing, and customer experience aside, and you’re left with the core of our business — automotive repair. Any technician can tell you that the premature assumption of a repair being easy-to-do, can quickly ruin your day…
You’ve hired this person to help at your auto repair shop’s front counter — now what? Whether you just hired your first service advisor or are replacing a service manager who was with you for years, service advisor training may be a great way to accelerate the learning process and make sure this person has…
Are you keeping up with the times? Shop owners have seen a slew of hardships in the last twelve to eighteen months related to rising costs. All the stories we hear of rising housing costs, groceries, fuel, and other items are bound to have a ripple effect on our industry. If you haven’t reevaluated where…
Your competition doesn’t want you to read this post. Keep reading, and you’ll understand why. I recently called three automotive repair shops at random and asked, “I’m new to the area and looking for a good shop. I want to do business with you, but my wife wants to use your competitor. What makes your…
“Look, ma! I’m interneting!” Plenty of marketing companies can help improve your shop’s online presence. We all know why they would solicit us, but why would we reach out to them? Maybe you feel you’re not the best person to step into the digital world, too far behind in other realms of the business, or…