Software Features Comparison
Chart
Company/column 1 =
_____________________________
Company/column 2 =
_____________________________
Ease of use
1 2
___ ___ Organized. Shop Management System (SMS) should be extremely well organized.
___ ___ Simple. Everything should be obvious and easy to locate, without unnecessary redundancy.
___ ___ Integrated. No
use reinventing the wheel! Advanced software integrates with
___ ___ Search/Sort/Filter. Intelligent methods of finding information save time and makes it all easier for you to be highly productive.
Estimating and invoicing functions
1 2
___ ___ Integrated scheduling with customizable views and useful printouts.
___ ___ Unlimited predefined labor items. All new entries can be saved and integrated with labor guide.
___ ___ Unlimited length descriptions, notes.
___ ___ Linked packages of labor + parts, with optional subtotaling by job available (i.e. job costing).
___ ___ Automatic markup, guaranteed margin.
___ ___ Remembers all parts and labor entered for future reuse.
___ ___ Splits jobs among multiple technicians.
___ ___ Integrated time clock.
___ ___ Integrated inventory control and purchasing.
___ ___ Automatic purchase orders for parts purchased ‘on the fly’.
___ ___ Profitability analysis, including charts or graphs.
___ ___ Tax reporting, as required by governmental agencies.
___ ___ Estimate Revision reporting, as required by governmental agencies (e.g. California BAR).
___ ___ Additional fees for hazardous waste and shop supplies.
___ ___ Discounts.
___ ___ Links to external electronic parts and labor catalogs that I use: ___________.
___ ___ Includes complete make/model/engine database.
___ ___ Reuse any line item from any invoice, by single click transfer to current R.O.
___ ___ Save refused work for future callback together with a reminder scheduling method.
___ ___ Quickly preview entire estimate/invoice on screen, exactly as printed.
Reports
1 2
___ ___ Complete customer/vehicle history is easily available.
___ ___ Can create my own customized reports.
___ ___ If I can’t create my own reports, the SMS vendor will create them for me.
___ ___ Exports all reports to MS-Excel.
___ ___ Quickly preview all reports on screen, exactly as printed.
Customer Retention Management (CRM) functions
1 2
___ ___ SMS easily generates reminders, postcards, and follow-up letters.
___ ___ SMS automatically calculates reminder date for any service or part, based on either days since last service or actual miles driven, whichever comes first.
___ ___ Automatic carry-over of recommended service from previous visit to current R.O.
___ ___ Automatic export to DemandForce, CustomerLink or other preferred CRM agent.
Accounting functions
1 2
___ ___ Integrated accounting functions I need in my role as service writer or shop manager : (explain) ____________.
___ ___ Easy integration with the accounting software I already use: (explain) ________________________________.
Operating System/Other
1 2
___ ___ Multi-user version is available, reliable and cost is: $______ .
___ ___ Underlying Database Manager is ‘industrial strength’.
___ ___ Imports data to other SMS programs:__________________ .
___ ___ Exports data to other SMS programs:__________________ .
Training/Support/Price
1 2
___ ___ Is adequate training available? Important:. This depends a great deal on ease of use! (see top of the list above)
___ ___ Dedicated support professional is assigned to my account.
___ ___ Training videos available.
___ ___ Toll free number.
___ ___ Remote assistance is available. Whenever you need help, a support technician can demonstrate a solution by using your keyboard and monitor from a remote support center location.
___ ___ Separate or additional charge for support, other important services?
___ ___ Price is reasonable and affordable.
The Company
This
type of comparison is not as easily measured as the items listed above, but
seeing as
1.
shop
management software can make or break your business,
2.
the
people behind the software can be as important as the software itself, and
3.
the
relationship between you and the company that provides this software is likely
to be a long one (hopefully), therefore...
You owe
it to yourself to consider these questions about the company you will be
dealing with as well:
o What is their mindset? Is it like yours… corporate or small independent business?
o How long has the company been around?
o
How long
have key people been with the company?
o Is the company stable? What would happen if they go out of business? Would your data be accessible?
o What proportion of staff are in technical development, tech support, sales and marketing, management?
o Does the company have other competing interests? For example...
§ Is the management software primarily an opportunity for them to sell auto parts or other products?
§ Collect your information?
§ Sell other (online) services?
o Who exactly are the people and what kind of people are they? For example….
§
Are they friendly and courteous?
§
Are they knowledgable?
§
Are they available, and willing to give of their time?
§ Are they straightforward, open and honest?
§ Are they the kind of people you will enjoy working with in the years to come?
§
Are they genuinely interested
in your success, or mostly just their own??
Notes: (list your own additional questions
below)