ALLDATA enables the shop’s crew to pull up repair plans and schematics, as well as information about any special tools needed to complete a job.
“It just helps with the guessing game,” Starr said. “This car’s gotta be safe, and the only way to know is to print out the repair plan, go over it with the technicians and take in-process pictures along the way to make sure everything is done according to that plan.”
If one of the shop’s technicians runs into a problem, ALLDATA has master technicians on call through its Tech-Assist hotline service who can connect remotely to look at the vehicle, to either immediately identify the issue and how to fix it or do more research and call back with the solution. “Instead of my technician having to do that research, he can go work on another car,” Starr said.
“The support is outstanding,” Starr added. “Being able to just pick up the phone and call another master tech who specializes in Subarus or Mercedes-Benz or whatever vehicle is priceless.”
Technicians can also make a “Library Request” if they can’t find repair information for a particular vehicle, which sometimes happens on older or more rare models. ALLDATA quickly finds the answer and returns it.
ALLDATA also syncs with the shop’s QuickBooks software to upload estimate invoices directly, freeing up an employee who used to type in invoices to instead help customers, and keeps track of the shop’s inventory, alerting it when it’s running low on frequently-used supplies.
“It just simplifies our whole operation,” Starr said. “It helps us try to make repairing a vehicle more affordable for our customers.”
Starr said he also appreciates how proactive ALLDATA is.
“They’re always telling me about new things they’re working on,” he said. “I can tell them about pain points and they’re already working on it. They are always looking ahead, asking how can we make our system better and more efficient.”
Starr said he thinks of his vendors as strategic partners. The right ones can help the shop be more successful.
“ALLDATA is definitely one of those companies I rely on to help us be successful,” Starr said.
ALLDATA
916-478-3255
Company Contact: James Loveridge
Marketing Manager (916) 478-3255
james.loveridge@alldata.com
www.alldata.com
Facebook: @yourALLDATAteam
Twitter: @ALLDATA
Instagram: @youralldatateam
LinkedIn: @alldata_2
YouTube: @YourALLDATATeam
To read more auto body shop profiles in the October 2023 Shop and Product Showcase, click here.
Abby Andrews