Essential for daily business operations, software is used for everything from searching for parts and matching tires and wheels to invoicing customers and balancing the books, Good software can integrate a dealer’s operation from the sales counter to the back office – and every place in between. In a few short years, businesses have become equipped with revolutionary technology such as mobile applications, social media, e-commerce and data clouds that can store and deliver an encyclopedia of information and choices. While all the options can seem overwhelming, software developers are making it easier than ever to find the right software tools and technology for your business. Here are a few of the latest developments.
Activant/Epicor
Hundreds of tire dealers are now using Epicor’s Integrated Service Estimator (ISE) software to increase vehicle parts and service revenue and gross margin, according to the company. ISE enables users to quickly capture all of the parts and labor information needed to estimate and complete virtually any common automotive repair, and provides seamless access to supplier pricing, OE-recommended service intervals, an aftermarket flat-rate labor guide, repair jobs database, parts interchange, and VIN decoder. The maker added all parts, labor and pricing information are then automatically imported to the user’s estimates, work orders and invoices.
activant.epicor.com
Aftersoft
Aftersoft provides point-of-sale, retread and e-commerce software to retail, wholesale and commercial tire dealers and retreaders. According to the company, some of the largest and most successful tire dealers in North America use its VAST Enterprise POS. OpenWebs is a B2B and B2C e-commerce platform that connects tire dealers and repair shops to consumers and business trading partners. Additionally, VAST ItemBroker allows dealers to shop online for parts, showing multiple vendor costs and availability from one screen. Aftersoft added that part orders can be placed from the customer work order and a purchase order is automatically generated and sent to accounts payable.
aftersoftna.com
ASA Automotive Systems
ASA Automotive Systems said its TireMaster family of software products is comprised of a series of interfaced modules that can be tailored to meet the point-of-sale, inventory management, order processing, accounting, marketing and e-commerce needs of any size retail, commercial, wholesale or retread tire or auto repair business. The TireMaster family of software is completely adaptable, whether a shop is a single-store operation, a franchisee or a multi-store corporation. ASA added it also provides reliable hardware, training and database setup services.
asaautomotive.com
AutoWare Technologies
AutoWare Technologies recently launched the updated NextWheels Online e-commerce program: jegs.com. Customers can now buy custom wheels and tires directly through the NextWheels online program, after they have visually previewed exactly how the wheels and tires will look on their vehicle. According to the company, with a simple click of the “check price and availability” button, the program will guide users through the selection of the wheels and tires. The wheels and tires are then added directly to the software’s shopping cart feature.
jegs.com
50 Below
50 Below has launched ProSites, with two e-commerce software options for independent dealers to participate in the growing online marketplace. The first integration with ATD’s tirebuyer.com e-commerce site provides dealers with a turnkey solution for competitive online pricing, optimized consumer experience and fulfillment from ATD inventory delivered to a dealer’s locations, 50 Below said. The second, Real-Time Pricing, allows the dealer to manage pricing and integrate with the ATDOnline platform. Both solutions provide an opportunity for dealers to capitalize on their current website traffic, capture online shoppers and close the sale, the maker added.
atd.50below.com
MaddenCo
MaddenCo said it provides integrated software systems to the independent tire dealer and truck stop service center markets. The company’s integrated software packages bundle point-of-sale, warehousing, inventory, bar coding, retreading, accounts receivable and payable, and general ledger availability, as well as electronic interfaces to many of the industry’s leading rubber vendors. Whether your business is a single store or a multi-location operation, MaddenCo said it can provide the software and expertise needed to take your operation to the next level.
maddenco.com
Mitchell 1
ProDemand is the next generation of repair information software from Mitchell 1. According to the company, the new product will improve the way automotive technicians service vehicles. ProDemand presents service repair information in a concise, easy-to-understand format, providing all of the descriptions, procedures, specifications, diagrams and tire fitment data that technicians need to complete the job. Returning all of the relevant findings quickly saves time because technicians don’t have to conduct multiple look-ups to find what they need, the maker added.
prosdemandit.com
Net Driven
According to Net Driven, in 2007 a few independent automotive dealers realized their customers were shopping online, but none had an effective way to market to Internet shoppers. The dealers decided to build their own solution to fill this need and lease it at affordable prices, thus Net Driven was born. Today, Net Driven is a leading provider of websites and Internet marketing solutions to the tire and auto repair markets, the company said. Focusing only on automotive businesses, it is the company’s mission to help its clients acquire new customers and keep existing customers using the Internet.
netdriven.com
TABS
Total Auto Business Solutions announced the upcoming release of TireVault.net. According to the company, TireVault.net is an integrated e-commerce and website software system. Inventory and invoice history are available for both wholesale and retail websites, and orders are synchronized seamlessly with the AutoBiz Shop Management System. Thousands of available skins and modules allow for complete customization. Easy and intuitive setup puts shop managers in control.
tabsautobiz.com
Tasco
Tasco Corp. has unveiled a migration plan for the company’s TireWorks customers. The conversion to TireWorks HD will provide sophisticated features for addressing business challenges faced by tire and auto service providers, the company said. The conversion plan addresses three major goals: economic feasibility, ease and speed of implementation, and the most appealing benefit – payoff. TireWorks HD includes features to convert more inquiries into captured business, increase customer invoice values and margins, and ensure customer retention, the maker added.
tascosoftware.com
TCS
TCS now offers a tire and wheel Facebook app that allows consumers to get a quote or even buy a tire or wheel from a dealer’s Facebook page. According to TCS, this new Facebook tire and wheel search capability is the latest step in allowing consumers to get product quotes wherever they are on the web. The Facebook tire search platform, built in tandem with tire, wheel and service websites provided by TCS, delivers a dealer’s inventory to Facebook’s more than 800 million active users. The app allows a dealer to specify what tire and wheel products are displayed when a user searches by vehicle, size or brand. tcstire.com
WECnology
WECnology’s Cloud Computing for point-of-sale, inventory and accounting has multiple features to access and manage business software. According to the company, features include automatic data back-up and security for protection, access to your business software anywhere and anytime, and quick and convenient software updates that are automatically done while your business is sleeping.
wecnology.com