ASHEBORO, N.C. — Software developer Freedomsoft L.L.C. has struck a deal with digital auto service marketplace provider Openbay Inc. to integrate Openbay's Otis artificial intelligence-powered online chat platform with its TireShop garage-bay management platform.
Features of the combined solution include:
• Services mapped to garage bays for single- and multiple-location businesses;
• "Frictionless" integration of the two systems;
• Smarter scheduling that matches available schedule times with customer needs; and
• Instant booking and confirmation 24/7 without manual intervention.
TireShop customers will have the option to use OpenBay Otis as an add-on service, Freedomsoft said. The customer would pay for the service through OpenBay directly.
From within a chat window on an automotive service website, online visitors can view available time slots for their service needs and then book and receive an appointment confirmation instantly, Freedomsoft said.
Confirmation is delivered automatically — no matter the time of day or day of week. The combined solution offers vehicle owners an end-to-end self-service experience while enabling automotive service businesses to fill service bays based on available capacity.
Freedomsoft claims to have over 100 customers using TireShop.
One customer who offered a testimonial was Bob Lane, general manager of Direct Tire & Auto Service of Watertown, Mass.
"We made significant changes in our customer service process due to COVID-19," Mr. Lane said. "In addition to protecting customers and employees and accepting vehicle drop-offs only, we deployed the Openbay Otis-Freedomsoft solution to allow our customers to view available times we can service their vehicle and self-book an appointment to service their vehicle.
"Our service bays are designed to handle certain types of services. Now, from within a chat window, a customer selects a service and available time slots are presented based on the service selected," he said.
"It's a complete self-service solution convenient for our customers and visitors to our website and keeps our business running efficiently during these times. We see bookings happen automatically, inside and outside of business hours."
Asheboro-based Freedomsoft is a family-owned software development company founded in 2001. Its TireShop platform is designed to manage tire, automotive repair and quick-lube shops.
Cambridge, Mass.-based Openbay has been providing Saas-based digital marketplace solutions for automotive repair and services since 2013. It launched the Otis virtual automotive service adviser in 2019.
Freedomsoft is the third auto service software developer to add the Otis system to its system. Others are: Tireweb Marketing Pty. Ltd.; and ASA Automotive Systems;
In addition, National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA) recently struck a deal with Openbay to offer Openbay's suite of marketplace and software services — including Otis — to NAPA AutoCare Center owners nationwide..