PHILADELPHIA — Bolt On Technology L.LC. has struck a deal with Protractor Software Inc. to allow it to integrate its digital vehicle inspections software with the Protractor shop management software platforms.
Through its collaboration with Protractor Software, Bolt On said it can now integrate its cloud-based NextGear product with the Protractor platform on any web-enabled mobile device.
Shop managers who use Protractor software can use NextGear with no long-term contract, no additional hardware and no steep learning curve, according to Bolt On.
NextGear capabilities available within the Protractor platform include:
- Customizable and unlimited digital vehicle inspection (DVI) capabilities, giving customers vehicle condition photographs and videos and Bolt On's signature red/yellow/green-light vehicle health reports.
- Two-way text messaging with customers to provide status updates and request approvals via text message; send detailed DVIs for faster scanning and comprehension; and include videos and photos in the messages so customers can see exactly what the techs are recommending and why.
- Advance appointment scheduling for return appointments and other routine maintenance in advance; track mileage, past appointment history and oil type to create a prediction of when the vehicle will be due for service again; and increase future business and confirmed appointments.
- Workflow Manager to view and track the status of any vehicle in the shop; integrate the appointment calendar for scheduling; assign work to technicians and track their time; and customize Workflow Manager for an at-a-glance assessment of the day's jobs.
- Mobile payment and financing options that allow the user to pull customer and work order information from Protractor and text invoices directly to customers, allowing them to pay for services from their smartphone using Text to Pay technology. Shops can also offer customers primary and secondary financing options.
- Customer and business reporting to streamline day-to-day tasks and provide a thorough look at critical business and financial data; create personalized invoices; include recommendations for next visits along with coupons to encourage repeat business; and modify and create inspections with a drag-and-drop interface.
"Protractor and Bolt On share the goal of helping shops grow and succeed with cutting-edge technology," Mike Risich, founder and CEO of Bolt On, said.
"Shops using this leading management system can enjoy everything NextGear offers trouble-free, improving the customer relationship, resulting in more sales, higher AROs and steady traffic in the repair bay. And Bolt On shops can now seamlessly take advantage of one of the top programs in the industry."
Bolt On said data show that digital vehicle inspections can increase AROs by nearly 40% when vehicle owners can see and more fully understand the nature of the repair. DVIs enable shops to photograph a vehicle's condition, track the repair process, build customer profiles and communicate inspection summaries and images via text message.
To date, Bolt On shops have sent over 60 million repair photos to customers' cell phones, the company said.
NextGear is available for a monthly fee of $199. There's no annual subscription or long-term commitment, so shops can pay month-to-month, Bolt On said.
