Whether you’re in charge of an independent repair shop or handling internal repairs as a fleet manager, going digital with the best tech and software will help you do your job with less friction and more efficiency than ever before.
Of course, that’s assuming you can find the right solution for your organization. The wrong solution might not live up to all your hopes and dreams.
There’s a lot to consider, and we’re here to break down the basics. Here are six factors that could make or break the fleet repair solutions you have your eye on.
1. Core Features
If you pick well, your fleet repair solution can arm your team with powerful features that improve overall efficiency and profit around the shop. From shop logistics to administrative details, some tools shoulder a lot of extra work so you don’t have to.
This could include all sorts of stuff, like:
- Inventory management
- Service order workflow
- Customer communication
- Reporting
- Integrated accounting
- Estimates and invoices
As an end-to-end repair shop management software, Fullbay includes all these and more. Our industry-leading features are built in the cloud, too—meaning we can help you run a more efficient business from anywhere.
2. User-Friendliness
We shouldn’t even have to say it, but a fleet repair solution should actually be a solution. And solutions don’t create new problems for your organization.
Your fleet repair solution should be intuitive and user-friendly, with labor-saving automation features and minimal load times. It should make your life easier, not harder.
The best fleet repair programs out there have nothing to hide, meaning you shouldn’t find it hard to see what they offer before opening your wallet. Look for businesses that are willing to give you a tour of the software so you can peek under the hood, see the features firsthand, and decide if it’ll help operations in your shop.
If they offer demos like this, it means they’re proud of what they offer and have nothing to hide.
3. Integrations
If you’re already using a few different software tools in your shop, integrations are a must. It’s crucial to ensure your new program works as smoothly as possible with your existing setup, especially industry-specific companies like MOTOR, FleetNet America, and Interstate Billing Services. That way, you’ll avoid headaches while keeping the learning curve to a minimum.
If the integrations you need from a fleet repair solution aren’t available by default, some solutions like Fullbay offer an open API. With the right resources, your team could build your own.
4. Pricing
While it’s not the most fun aspect of buying new software, making sure your fleet repair program will fit into your budget is crucial. That means going over your financials and asking yourself pricing-related questions like:
- What is this program’s target market? If a piece of software is intended for auto repair shops, it might not fit the needs of your heavy-duty repair shop.
- Can this solution scale along with your business? As your repair shop grows, a solid fleet repair solution will keep pace with your business’s expanding needs. In fact, by improving your processes, the right tool might make it even easier to grow your business.
- Will long-term contracts be an issue? If you’re not 100% ready to commit to a new fleet repair program, it’s best to look for a solution that doesn’t require a lengthy contract upfront.
5. Customer Service
A slick design and exciting features won’t matter if you can’t actually use your new fleet repair solution. Because of that, it’s critical that your program offers both tech support and training, along with reasonable support hours for both of these services.
At this point, you’re probably expecting to read something like, “Fullbay offers unmatched customer service to its valued clients.” That’s not wrong, but here’s the thing: anyone can say something like that. Your best bet is to find a company that can back its customer service claims up with positive reviews and testimonials—like Fullbay, for example!
6. Industry Expertise
Fleet repair software is designed to perform a variety of tasks, and you might see more generic solutions that offer similar features. There’s no shortage of apps to help a business handle accounting, send invoices, or manage inventory, for example. General-purpose solutions can offer these features to every industry under the sun.
Which is all well and good, but the flexibility of these general-purpose solutions comes at a cost. Programs like these aren’t tailored to the needs of fleet repair companies, meaning they might not have the full range of functionality you’re looking for.
Meanwhile, software created by industry experts means specialized solutions—made specifically with heavy-duty repair shops in mind. Fullbay works directly with independent shops and fleet managers to build the features you need most. Plus, along with customer support, Fullbay offers tons of tips to help your shop boost efficiency and revenue.
Get It All With Fullbay
With the sheer amount of information available online, buying anything can feel overwhelming—especially a significant, game-changing purchase like a fleet repair solution. But if you look for something that checks all the boxes we just discussed, you’ll be off to a solid start.
Yup, we’ll say it: Fullbay checks all these boxes, along with tons of other boxes we didn’t even get into. We were literally made for this. See for yourself and check out a free demo today!
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