When one thinks of how to organize work in the workshop well, one immediately thinks of space management, instrumentation and equipment. Certainly having an orderly environment is an important element in reducing inefficiencies and saving employees time, but it is not enough for the success of vehicle maintenance companies.
Technology that is now widespread, the high rate of competition in the car service industry, and ever-increasing demands from customers mean that the success of a workshop first comes from revisiting processes and workflows.
So where to start in order to better organize your work and be more competitive?
Choosing a management program for the garage is definitely the place to start.
Good software should not only automate daily tasks, such as managing the agenda or communicating with customers, but should be the tool through which you digitize your business and consequently improve its results.
This goes through 3 FUNDAMENTAL MOMENTS:
1. DATA COLLECTION.
It is very important Keeping track of all information relevant to their business, such as e.g., the date of the overhaul or the thickness of the treads, figuring from the outset How these can then be used. What is not recorded immediately or is uploaded incorrectly may no longer be recoverable.
For those who do not chew numbers it can be difficult to know a priori what their needs will be in the area of analytics. This is where good workshop management comes in, providing a data collection system designed to ensure that the information can be easily accessed in the future.
2. PLANNING OF ACTIVITIES AND WORKFLOWS
Especially during the most chaotic times, such as can be the seasonal tire change period for tire shops for example, it is strategic to schedule the days’ activities in advance for oneself and one’s co-workers, so that everyone can work well and the chances of error are reduced.
In the daily grind of being able to stop and organize the days is not easy. Using a professional management system saves time that can be allocated to work planning. How? By speeding up routine tasks, such as receiving appointments online, but also by allowing the software to delegate the performance of specific actions, such as enforcing business terms or alerting customers about vehicle-related deadlines.
3. ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY’S PERFORMANCE
For a workshop to be successful, it is not enough to fill the appointment book. Wasting time on routine activities,buying items at too high a price, and many other factors could in fact completely bring down the company’s margins or lead to the loss of possible turnover. For example, you might not realize that you have run out of a certain spare part, thus having to order it quickly without having time to identify the best price offered on the market.
Having access to a complete and always up-to-date snapshot of the organization of work and the progress of your workshop allows you to identify needs and critical issues in advance and intervene in good time. A good management system ensures that you are always in control of what is happening on the shop floor, both from the point of view of operations and of the company’s economic and financial performance. (Find out why Business Intelligence is critical to keeping tabs on your company’s performance. Click here)
Returning to the example in the previous point, the proper use of management software makes it possible to know in advance which items are needed for scheduled operations by checking their stock availability in a timely manner.
YAP MMB is more than software intended for mechanics, tire dealers and owners of overhaul centers. It is a platform that combines TECHNOLOGY AND METHOD contributing in a concrete way to the DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION of car service companies and their SUCCESS.