Action Steps
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Share information with other auto repair software users

Blogs are increasingly becoming the media of choice for many small business owners looking for quick and efficient means to communicate with other like-minded professionals. Find an Internet blog that provides trustworthy information and attracts reliable posting participants. Talk to other local automotive repair shops and dealerships in your networking groups to find out what they are doing that may be new or innovative.

I recommend: Sign up for emails and webinars from Dealer Socket, a provider of automotive industry software. Automotive Profit offers professionals a number of blogs and other informative links for you to share information and learn about the latest automotive management software and how others are using it.

Read up on changes in automotive solutions

News about automotive repair software continues to dominate many of the automotive publications available online and in hard copy print versions. While you may get regular email alerts and newsletters from your trade association, it's a good idea to stay on top of the industry as a whole so that you can know about changes that affect the industry.

I recommend: SAE International offers members discounts on books and publications that will help you stay up to date on the automotive repair software market. Stay abreast of emerging automotive applications through the variety of papers and information provided to the auto industry by Sovereign Publications.

Receive car software email alerts

While most business owners are trying to clear out their in-boxes to save time, you should allow at least one information provider to get into your email with alerts and newsletter about new automotive software companies and their latest news. You shouldn't miss out on vital automotive industry software information just because you want to avoid spam.

I recommend: Sign up for one of the blogs or email letters available from EDA Geek. Subscribe to Car Body Design, an online informational tool for the automotive industry that includes regular updates about vehicle software.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can always start a new stream of communication on public and social networks such as Monster and Facebook where you look for others who want to blog about auto industry software to get other perspectives.

1. What needs will you fulfill with automotive applications?
2. What level of technical support do you anticipate needing?
3. Is there an available software program that will meet your needs or will you need something custom built?
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use automotive repair software to diagnose and fix problems

Auto repair software will help to diagnose the problem when a customer brings in a car. Software programs will take out the guesswork.

I recommend: EASE provides a scan tool to help locate car problems. AutoTap is another diagnostic scanner. Both of these automotive solutions are easy to use.

Use the bundled software programs available from automotive software companies

Some automotive software providers offer all of the software you need to run your auto repair shop, including diagnostic and automotive management software.

I recommend: Smart Auto Shop offers solutions that take care of all aspects in your auto repair business. Protractor's suite of products will also help you to take care of your business.

Have automotive software custom designed to fit your needs

If the automotive industry software solutions currently available on the market do not satisfy your company's needs, you can have an application built specifically for your company. This allows you to design a program that has all of the features that your company will use, eliminating any of the features you don't need.

I recommend: Silex3 offers customer software development. You can also search for a freelance software developer at Guru.com.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When having software custom designed for your company, make sure that you have mapped out all of the things that you want it to do before speaking with a programmer.
• •  Seek out a company that provides free 24-hour technical support in case you have any issues when running the software.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Integrate automotive industry software into your systems

The user-friendly options available in auto industry software make using car software easy and accessible for any business now. Small, medium and large companies can eliminate the need for extensive paper trails and the long management meetings in favor of desktop software that can operate within your entire workflow processes.

I recommend: Try a free demo of the automotive repair software by Trackum. Use the company technicians for backup and for training assistance too. Use the repair shop software from Shop Controller to spend less time in the office with paperwork and more time serving customers and getting involved in your business.

Go online for automobile software for sales and accounts

For many of the newer online programs you don't even have to download any special software to your systems if you choose to engage web-based automotive software companies. These operations typically allow you a trial period, which you should take advantage of as well. With many of the auto body shop software programs, you can even let the providers host your site so little is required of your IT team to implement the system.

I recommend: Car dealerships can use the Internet-based hosted automotive industry software offered by Sales Boom. Use the free trial online to see if the programs will be best for your company. Use HiTech Financial Computer Services for web-hosted invoicing and account management. Use a free trial download from the website before you buy.

Get your team using automotive repair software

Once you've opened up the possibilities of running your business with the assistance of automotive solutions, you need to get your team onboard with the programs. Instead of calling on consultants to handle projects, your managers should be able to use their own desktops to display reports and manage projects.

I recommend: Use diagnostic software tools produced by Ease Diagnostics, an award-winning software designer that specializes in automotive diagnostic software. Try using software from Digimoto for your diagnostic upgrades.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before choosing which automotive software companies you're going to use, let your employees try the free demos that most companies offer. Their feedback will be invaluable and get them to buy0in to the changes you'll institute.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Towing software

Towing software helps auto shops and towing companies track customer calls and dispatches, and creates reports about a company's operations.

I recommend: Go to OnScene Solutions to learn the basics of a comprehensive towing software suite like its OnScene.

Vehicle maintenance software

Vehicle maintenance software is an invaluable tool for all automotive repair shops. Vehicle maintenance software typically aids in the organization of customer records according to vehicle type, maintenance requirements, vehicle event logs and more.

I recommend: CARCare clearly outlines the basic features of its vehicle maintenance software application of the same name.

Service reminder software

Service reminder software takes the guesswork out of remembering the vehicle maintenance schedules of different customers. Most service reminder applications track customer maintenance schedules and automatically print mailable cards and thank you notes that keep customers coming back.

I recommend: Read all about RKom's service reminder and customer follow up software.

Fleet maintenance software

Fleet maintenance software is much like vehicle maintenance software, except it handles the needs of large fleets of vehicles, such as taxis, limos or even buses. Fleet maintenance software typically tracks fleet inventories, preventive and repair maintenance, vehicle history, fuel and parts.

I recommend: Go to Innovative Maintenance Systems to get an in-depth description of what to expect from a fleet maintenance software system.

Car dealer software

Running a car dealership requires the organization of inventory and paperwork. Car dealer software can streamline the organization by providing tools to help manage inventory, track payments and pending deals, list inventory online, provide instant loan approvals and print contracts and forms.

I recommend: Look at Dealer Desktop from Nowcom Corporation to get a good idea of what to expect from a car dealer software application.

Used car lot software

Used car lot software helps lot owners keep track of lot financing, customer balances, company expenses and sales statistics with the tools to create daily and monthly reports.

I recommend: 4Dealership clearly explains what its used car lot software, Lot Financing Program, is capable of.