As a business owner of an auto repair shop, it might be easy to overlook minor mistakes until they start adding up big time. Maybe it was a decimal error in invoices, or you missed a deadline on a customer’s vehicle? Such issues might seem minor at first, but they do have a ripple effect on your business in the long run that won’t be as easy to ignore.
The automotive industry is multifaceted, focusing on a broad spectrum of technology, automation, and services. While manual tasks seem the right choice at the break-even point, with time, you start to see the hassle. You might give a second chance to the technician to diagnose an issue in the car’s engine, which turns out to be as simple as a tire replacement. But you can’t risk your revenue stream and customers’ expectations if such common issues keep rising.
Today, we will look into detail how these manual processes play a major role in your business’s growth.
When you think about manual processes, you are thinking about a human carrying on a task on their own, such as sending an email or scheduling an appointment in the calendar. While manual tasks are essential in daily routine, with time they give birth to operational inefficiencies like:
Usually, manual processes consist of repetitive tasks. It can be something as simple as copying and pasting data from the manual book to the online spreadsheet. Because such tasks, such as double entry, take valuable time, it easily becomes redundant.
It becomes harder to keep track of the paperwork, and cross-referencing the data is not as easy as you thought it would be. Using advanced technology, such as the implementation of auto repair software, can help with repetitive work so that employees can actually spend time working on more important tasks.
No matter how well-seasoned a technician or receptionist you have, they can make mistakes. According to a study, the manual transcription error rate was 4%. Inconsistencies in the workflow snowball into bigger issues eventually.
For instance, the worker responsible for recording inventory levels at the warehouse could write the wrong number in the forms or miscount the available stock. If that data is entered into the system, it would not indicate the correct information.
However, tracking the inventory is easier if you use QR codes or add barcodes to each item stocked. Later, that item can be tracked while you sit behind the desk in just a matter of a few clicks.
Overall, the productivity level of employees reduces over time when performing even the basic tasks. One can easily lose motivation to complete simple tasks that are of value to your auto shop. Instead, such time can be utilized on training sessions with time to ensure that workers are not drained from repetitive tasks.
It’s important for managers to ensure that their workers are not overworked or underworked. Rotating the schedules via modern software can help increase productivity. Allowing workers to shuffle their tasks helps them to diversify their skill set.
While computers can accomplish a manual task more efficiently, there’s still a chance errors can occur. For instance, if focusing on the invoices manually, you need to double-check every entry and receipt to ensure there’s no miscalculation or missed detail. Otherwise, it can result in overcharging, underpaying the employees, or even make customers furious once they see the receipt.
This is where many shops are switching towards modern solutions that reduce the risk of invoicing errors and payment discrepancies. To take the pressure off their front-desk teams, business owners have implemented invoicing software for auto repair shops to ensure accurate billing, consistent record-keeping, and build trust with customers.
Does extra time hurt the bottom line, especially when customers are coming in slowly? Yes, it probably will. A skilled technician might be sitting idle because of a low influx of customers during a certain period. Hiring a skilled technician means you need to utilize their expertise for the reason they were hired.
A worker can be prone to making documenting errors almost on every occasion, which means you are paying them to fix errors rather than them doing their work right. It all adds up to the labor cost. You can easily avoid overhanging staff if you can monitor their work routine with the new software implementation.
To move ahead of the competition, many service businesses are now moving towards new technological advancements to automate their processes. Using auto repair software, digital inspection tools, augmented reality, and other advanced options, you can replace tedious manual processes with automated ones. A well-automated structure helps service businesses like your auto repair shop to outgrow daily challenges and focus more on recurring revenue by adapting to market trends.
