The automotive repair industry relies on numerous digital resources for daily operations, from scheduling appointments to tracking vehicles and invoicing customers. While each provides individual value to contribute to the shop’s efficiency and profitability, an often overlooked digital tool can do more for your bottom line than first meets the eye. Digital vehicle inspections help set modern auto repair shops apart from their competitors where it counts most: customer relations.
Translating traditional paper vehicle inspections to the digital world integrates efficiency into how your auto repair shop presents customers with estimates and recommendations. Repair technicians can optimize their work, and service advisors can present customers with a clean vehicle evaluation free of smudges or scribbles. With a vehicle’s history at their fingertips, service advisors can also review past declined repairs to gauge a customer’s receptiveness or stress the importance of repairs that have been put off for some time.
Beyond supporting internal processes, digital vehicle inspections establish your auto repair shop as an authority and build customer trust. Technicians can support inspections with photos and videos to demonstrate transparency and empower customers to make a more informed decision based on the evidence provided. Sharing inspection results through text or email also gives customers space to review the inspection and decide on the next steps at their leisure.
Alone, a digital vehicle inspection can boost auto repair shop efficiency, authority, and profitability. Augmenting that value with shop management system integration and critical reports allows you to monitor the effectiveness of your inspections and adapt as necessary.
A custom inspection demonstrates additional value to your customers by thoroughly reviewing their specific vehicle. Comprehensive inspection software also allows you to create templates based on your services. For example, you might perform a basic inspection with each oil change or a more in-depth inspection for high-dollar jobs.
Digital vehicle inspections exist as a single component in a larger ecosystem, all managed by shop management software. With a few clicks, a digital vehicle inspection’s contents can quickly go from estimate to repair order for processing through accounting software. As the digital inspection moves through various workflows, it can also trigger part ordering requests and any corresponding customer relationship management procedures, such as coupons and reminders.
Analyzing the performance of any new tool remains critical to fine-tuning business strategies in real time. Reporting and analytics tools provide the insight necessary to gauge the efficiency and effectiveness of your digital vehicle inspection service. Evaluating average inspection times, repair order values, or the number of viewed inspections — coupled with predictive analysis — guides your efforts to improve the value you deliver to your customers.
Conceptualizing digital vehicle inspections at play in your auto repair shop can help lay the foundation for future growth. Pair the following tools with your key strategies to jumpstart what could become one of your shop’s most valuable tools.
Equip your employees and customers with the apps necessary to download and view inspection reports. Technicians require tablets or smartphones to access and complete digital vehicle inspections. Customers then receive the corresponding report through email or text, complete with photos and videos to give them an inside look at their vehicle’s condition.
Modern vehicles integrate numerous intricate parts that require high-resolution digital photos for accurate representation. Auto repair shops can use the data gathered via diagnostic scanners to demonstrate to customers the issues they’ve uncovered. Combining these two data points maintains transparency in the repair process, a surefire way to build customer trust and loyalty.
Managing digital vehicle inspections and the corresponding multimedia resources requires a robust storage and data management protocol. Collecting such vital information in one location also provides service writers, technicians, and managers with convenient access. Customers will also appreciate the safekeeping of their personal data to protect their privacy.
Implementing digital vehicle inspections can present immediate challenges for auto repair shops, but the rewards far outweigh the initial cost. Onboarding your team and your customers requires time and understanding, but dedication to a higher standard often smooths over any hiccups. Instituting a welcoming feedback policy can also deliver a key message to your customers: we appreciate, value, and actively work to improve your experience.
Don’t lose sight of the customer’s perspective as you train your team to perform and deliver digital vehicle inspections. Establish a standard inspection procedure and equip your employees with the necessary tools to succeed. Practice inspecting customer vehicles and share your results to help technicians develop their skills based on issues they missed or overlooked.
If you’re ready to take the next step in implementing digital vehicle inspections, learn how Identifix Shop Manager can help you increase average repair amounts and offer digital vehicle inspections with every repair.
Contact us today to speak with a representative about improving your shop’s vehicle inspection process.
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