For the most part, lube shops are not chaotic. However, a lack of proper systems can cause mix-ups, such as double-booked technicians, while customers wait in line. Lube shops offer time-sensitive services, such as oil changes, that require workflow management. And every second counts in a lube shop. Every 30 minutes, a vehicle should be in and out for the oil change. But what if service gets delayed due to messy handwritten service tickets? Or a disconnected point-of-sale system?
It means you are in dire need of software that offers a tech upgrade and brings a complete transformation for your business. Whether it’s about managing wait times or upgrading tracking service history, this software is tremendously helpful in streamlining regular operations.
In this blog, we will closely explore the reasons why lube shops should not ignore their need for an oil change software and how it retains customers.
Oil change software is a necessity for lube shops because…
Customers expect highly from auto shops and lube bays they visit regularly. The market is said to reach $10.6 billion, and as the volume increases, so do the customers’ expectations. As a lube shop owner or manager, here’s what you can expect by implementing software:
1. Streamline service flow
Lube shops are always on the lookout to offer the services in the best way possible. That’s why automating service intake is a good place to start if you’re looking to speed things up. With the help of an all-in-one system like oil change software, you can generate digital work orders and reduce the load of manual data entry. Not only does it eliminate the bottlenecks from handwritten tasks, but it also stores all past work orders on a single dashboard that you can access at any time.
With this dashboard, you will be able to;
- Manage multiple bays in real-time
- Maintain technicians’ workloads
- Streamline the average oil change cycle
- Track services like tire pressure, fluid checks, etc.
2. Improve ticket value with upselling
Lube shop services can be slow at times, which means there’s a window of opportunity to bring in more revenue. Usually, the lack of revenue is not because of a lack of customers, but because businesses are missing the opportunities to upsell other services.
But with oil change software, you can offer relevant upgrades like synthetic oil changes or air filter replacements. You can upsell the add-ons based on their past service history, OEM recommendations, seasonal trends, and mileage thresholds.
Per ticket, you will be able to focus on the missed revenue opportunities and build trust with customers interested in proactive value-based services.
3. Long-term relationships with customers
Customer profiles contain all information about them, like their service history, contact details, and payment records. This way, you can send automated service reminders to your customers, encourage them with loyalty programs, offer personalized discounts, and even provide a free complete vehicle service log.
The goal behind these efforts is to build a long-term relationship with your existing customers.
4. Reduce admin burden
Human errors are likely to happen. A fast lube shop cannot compromise on these errors. What if the inventory payment goes wrong? Or an extra digit was added in the invoice? Oil change software consolidates the most basic admin tasks and combines them into a single interface.
It allows you, the manager, to generate invoices and service reports, track and reorder fluids, oil filters, and other necessary parts. Technicians can log their hours so payroll is easily manageable. Data can also be synced with accounting tools like QuickBooks.
This way, you do not need multiple tools. Third-party tools can be integrated with your oil change software.
5. Improve online presence
Most customers these days conduct online searches with keywords like “oil change near me”. In such cases, they are trying to locate businesses near their neighborhood. It’s a good opportunity for you to build a website that allows you to book lube shop services online.
To drive convenience to the customers, you can integrate the software with the website for bookings and accept online appointments. You can also collect service reviews and display them on the website. Customers can be offered contactless payments too.
Building a digital platform that offers your customers the ease of booking services for oil changes in just a few clicks tends to increase their loyalty.
In the end
To level up your lube shop business, you need to get rid of manual scheduling and the basic POS system. It just won’t cut it. Your customer expectations will shift with time, so you need to be able to meet their demands by improving your operational processes with online tools. These tools will ultimately become your business’s assets to run your shop smoothly and more efficiently.