How to Automate Your Repair Shop to Run Without You

Does your repair shop run the same when you’re not present?

While repair shop owners don’t work 24/7, they usually have to manually oversee most of the operations. Step out for a few hours, and you lose control over repair jobs and have a pile of questions from customers upon return.

Clearly, that’s not how running a repair shop should feel like. The owner should not be at the center of every process, and the system should be able to run without them. So, if your goal is to grow your business, especially to new franchises, you need to tap into automation solutions. For that, you need to be able to move from an always-on approach to a hands-off system. 

Here, we discuss how you can automate your repair business and trust it to run without you. 

Why Repair Shop Owners Always Have to Be Present

In most cases, repair shop owners lead the way in terms of technical know-how and business vision. As the owners, they are most concerned about customer relationships and building loyalty. So it’s no surprise that you end up being the one to provide repair quotes and oversee repairs from diagnostics to final delivery.

It doesn’t feel like a big problem when you’re a startup, but when the repair volume increases, you’re going to feel it. That’s when running a one-man show doesn’t work anymore, and you run into bottlenecks. You’re always firefighting and exhausted from manually managing every aspect of your repair business. 

If you’ve ever canceled a family dinner to chase a late part delivery or stayed up till midnight reconciling inventory, you know what we’re talking about. 

So, don’t you want a system that takes care of itself when you want to take a day off?

Why You Should Be Able to Take a Day Off

Apart from being self-sustainable, a business that relies solely on the owner also faces other risks. For instance, you are busy dealing with repairs, parts sourcing, marketing, and even hiring new staff. Even if you successfully manage all of that alone, you are missing growth opportunities and don’t utilize new strategies like upselling to generate extra revenue. Moreover, you are also unable to see clearly where your business is heading. 

This is why you need a definitive, comprehensive repair shop management software that not only automates but also provides you with the necessary tools to create the right business strategy. Think of it like this: Your inventory management is completely taken care of by the software. It will know when certain spare parts are running low in stock and will let you know when to order.

Also, your software is integrated with the top parts suppliers, meaning you don’t have to think – you can just order in a few clicks and then take the day off.

The Benefits of Letting Go

When you create a self-operating repair shop, you can be sure of long-term success. But that’s not the only advantage. While having peace of mind and the ability to sit back and relax, you will get:

• More time to work on the business and innovate instead of working in it.
• Hire better technicians and move/expand your services to new locations.
• The ability to handle emergencies before they lead to disasters.

Creating a Systematic Approach

Just like any other business, your repair shop can only be run successfully if it follows a certain set of rules. So your first step is to create a solid SOP for your repair shop. This way, you can ensure that your team knows exactly what to do and how to do it. Whether it’s checking in a device or closing out an invoice, you can rest assured that the process will be carried out correctly. 

Training Your Repair Shop Staff

While tools like repair shop software come in handy, it’s still up to you to train the people involved. Your team should not only be trained but also empowered to make the right decisions in your absence. 

You need to build trust by employing not only the right people but also the right software. Using RepairDesk, you can assign and track the jobs of each repair technician, which allows you to monitor their performance. As a result, you can have more accountability and clarity to enable your team to operate efficiently with or without you.

Incorporate the Right Repair Shop Software

While manual operations leave room for error, investing in automation tools allows you to be more efficient and accurate. You can eliminate repetitive tasks and keep the shop running efficiently even if you’re off-site.

From automated check-ins and real-time repair status updates to customer notifications and invoice generation, RepairDesk has got you covered. You can oversee each operation from workflows to inventory and have real-time visibility without making your employees feel that they are being micromanaged.

Streamline Customer Communication

One of the biggest risks of stepping away from your repair shop is losing control of customer conversations. But with the right tools, you can ensure that communication remains smooth and professional. 

With RepairDesk’s Unified Inbox, your team can manage all customer interactions from one platform. You don’t have to worry about checking SMS and emails from different devices anymore. You can also set up automatic notifications for repair updates or payment reminders. 

Taking Your Hands off the Controls

Stepping away from your business doesn’t have to mean giving up control. Instead, you can now build your repair shop ecosystem to be self-sustainable. All it takes is investing in a comprehensive repair shop management software and setting a set of rules. Before you know it, you’ll have automated a whole bunch of tasks with RepairDesk, and your business will run smoothly while you take your weekend off.