Campus Automotive Accelerates Revenue by $300K in 6 Months

October 4, 2024

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Read time: 3 min

About Campus Automotive 

Nestled in the heart of Blacksburg, Virginia, Campus Automotive is where quality car care meets hometown service. Having taken over the shop in 2003, Matt McMurray has grown the business from its roots in towing into a full-service auto repair center. With 9 bays and more on the way, including a brand-new tire service, the shop’s not just bigger—it’s pulling in $300,000 more without needing to handle more vehicles, and that’s just 6 months after implementing Tekmetric.

Key to that success has been Matt’s right-hand man and General Manager, Johnnie Self.  Johnnie has been running the shop’s operations and provides his unique background to ensure the team is always on top of the day-to-day. Combining his experience in the Army, 15-years as a police officer, and a degree in Organizational Management, Johnnie knows how to keep things in check. He learned from the ground up – including taking classes with the Automotive Repair Institute. A jack of all trades, Johnnie quickly understood the importance of a stable foundation, in this case, a shop management system that could keep up with Matt’s ambition and triple revenue without increasing fixed costs. 

The Challenge

Campus Automotive initially relied on R.O. Writer, a point of sale system that, despite its initial appeal, fell short on updates and flexibility. This was particularly true in accounting and business overview capabilities. The limitations in accessing the system across different computers hampered Johnnie's high-level business visibility to track everything and make strategic decisions. To Johnnie, it didn't meet his standards of being user friendly.

Finding a solution

The journey to Tekmetric was a blend of frustration with the old way of doing things and the pursuit of a solution that offered more than just basic functionalities. Always looking for ways to improve, Johnnie was first introduced to Tekmetric at a Service Manager's coaching group in mid-2023. He had a conversation with his technicians and understood that the potential for seamless integration across the shop sounded like the right tool for the job. Johnnie's management style focuses on getting buy-in from his team. He wants them to have a say, and that's why after a technician recommended Tekmetric, he started investigating. It didn't take long before he looped in Shop Owner, Matt.

"Matt took one glance, called me that same night, and told me to make the switch. That was back in May of 2023. In our first 6 months, we’ve netted $300,000 more in revenue with the same amount of vehicles.”

Matt also had a friend who was using Tekmetric after transitioning from R.O. Writer and asked for a walkthrough. Since then, Tekmetric revolutionized the way Campus Automotive operated, with an all-in-one modern experience that Johnnie compared to the convenience of shopping at a superstore like Target or Walmart.

“Tekmetric changed the game for us. It’s like walking into a superstore but for car repairs—everything’s right there when you need it. Customizing work orders, ordering parts without the back-and-forth, and even adding videos to car inspections made everything smoother."

Features like custom RO labels, parts ordering, and Digital Vehicle Inspection Mapping with video additions to inspections significantly enhanced efficiency. The system's organizational capabilities and the option to have everything at one's fingertips stood out as game changers for Johnnie and his team.

Getting to a result

Implementing Tekmetric led to a transformative change in how Campus Automotive approached their business operations. The platform's automation and integrated systems not only facilitated a notable improvement in how appointments were set, but also completely improved transparency throughout the entire repair order process, particularly crucial in a college town where communication with customers—and importantly, their parents—is key. Matt’s goal of tripling revenue without increasing fixed costs became achievable, with the shop already seeing their average RO amount climb up 49% while maintaining their average vehicle count per a week.

“When your customers are college students and their parents are back at home, your shop needs transparency at every step.”

Transitioning to Tekmetric was smooth, with the entire team quickly adapting to the new system within a week. The elimination of paper-based processes and the clarity it brought to job assignments and technician accountability alone were huge for the team. Johnnie now has a “Command Center” setup with a large TV screen to display real-time shop activities that not only appealed to the younger technicians but also symbolized a modern, efficient workflow that Tekmetric enabled.

“We meet every morning around our command center 15 minutes before we open shop. It keeps us on the same page and lets us look through every single R.O. with advisors and technicians. If any of us are even 1 minute late, we dock a half-pay’s day.  That includes myself.  We go through it all and we address all the questions as a group to stay on the same page.  It makes a difference.”

The takeaway

Campus Automotive’s experience with Tekmetric is a testament to its ease of use and the significant positive impact it has on shop operations. His advice to other shop managers and owners is clear: Tekmetric makes everything "EXTREMELY easy for everyone involved."

“The biggest change that we made last year that got us to this point is Tekmetric.  It allowed us to be more organized on a daily basis – it’s up in front of me all the time, even right now!”

Year Established

Using Tekmetric Since

↑ 45%

Average Repair Order ($)

9

Average Car Count

12

Number of Employees

Number of Bays

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For nearly a decade, Tony Perez, owner of Euro Car Doctors in Orange County, California, has been committed to delivering premium auto care. But as business grew, outdated software made it harder to keep up, and customers started to feel the impact. 

Challenge

"We'd have 10 appointments for the day, and by 11 a.m., only two quotes were out. We still had eight to go.”

Tony’s team was bogged down by:

  • Estimates that took 4-5 hours to complete
  • Inefficient workflows between techs and service writers
  • A backlog of appointments that led to delays and customer frustrations 

Solution

“We needed something that could keep up with our intake and let us grow without being bottlenecked.”

Tony knew his customers deserved better - faster service, clearer communication, and less time waiting. After exploring his options, he chose Tekmetric for its ability to streamline operations and deliver a more efficient, transparent experience from check-in to estimate.

Learn about Euro Car Doctors' customer experience:

Results

Car at a bay in a repair shop and technician working on the trunk

Increased Efficiency and Productivity:

Creating estimates now takes less than 90 minutes, down from 4–5 hours. That means more vehicles in the shop and more satisfied customers driving away.

Increase in Average Repair Order (ARO):

Faster quoting and comprehensive digital vehicle inspections means customers see everything their car needs right away. The result? An increase in average repair order to $900 and more confident decisions from customers. 

"Our numbers were through the roof because I was able to quote more items on those tickets that the car needed."  

Improved Customer Satisfaction:

Each customer receives a detailed quote informing them about the services needed and associated costs, empowering them to make confident decisions. Transparent, timely communication has built trust with customers and it shows in the reviews with a 4.8 star rating on Google.

"We tell the customer what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Everything we see gets quoted to be fully honest and transparent with our customers."  

Expansion to a Second Location:

Improved operations allowed Tony to open a second shop, without sacrificing quality.

“As we grow, we won’t open the next store until the last one runs on autopilot.”

What’s Next

Auto repair shop owner with a happy customer

Euro Car Doctors isn’t slowing down. As each shop reaches capacity, Tony plans to expand, driven by his commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, with Tekmetric helping power the growth behind the scenes.

In late 2020, Jim Kellas bought TL Auto Repair, in Union City, California. The location was strong, but the shop’s systems were holding it back—outdated software, lack of key integrations, and inefficient processes all contributed to a poor customer experience. 

Determined to find a solution, Jim explored various shop management systems before switching to Tekmetric. After making the switch, the impact was transformative for TL Auto Repair.

“Stop looking at the other ones. You're done searching.”  

Challenge

Before switching systems, TL Auto Repair faced:

  • Frequent software downtime disrupting operations
  • Lack of integrations with key tools, creating manual work
  • Limited visibility into performance metrics

Solution

After exploring several options, Jim chose Tekmetric for its seamless integrations, reliable performance, and features that made it easier to connect with customers. With Tekmetric, TL Auto Repair streamlined operations, improved communication, and set the foundation for future growth.

Results

Service Advisors at their desks

Streamlined Operations That Drive Revenue

Integrations with tools like Affirm through Tekmetric’s Payments and adding Marketing solutions helped TL Auto Repair simplify workflows and boost sales. Offering financing made higher-ticket repairs more accessible for customers, leading to over $2 million in revenue.

“I was able to integrate with so many other programs. I'm able to know revenue-wise it's been a boom because I'm able to tie everything together.”

More Efficiency, Less Overhead

Running on a reliable, browser-based system saved time and cut hardware costs. Staff work faster, from anywhere, using devices like Chromebooks. 

"The time savings have been substantial, allowing for increased efficiency"

A Better Experience for Every Customer

Text message updates, digital vehicle inspections, and contactless invoicing and payments create a more transparent and convenient experience for their customers. This has earned them trust, repeat business, and a 4.7-star rating on Google. 

"Customers love getting text message updates, online inspection reports, and the option for contactless service - it keeps them coming back." 

What’s Next

Cars on lifts getting worked on

With a proven model and the right technology support in place, Jim plans to expand and is in the process of acquiring new shops. He is applying the same focus on operational efficiency and customer experience that turned TL Auto Repair into a thriving business.

In 2020, Jeremy and Holly Hansen purchased Mission Auto KC, an old-school shop with no desire to grow or adapt to new customers. From day one, they faced operational challenges—outdated systems, manual processes and a lack of visibility into key business metrics. Most importantly, they struggled to deliver the level of customer service they envisioned. 

Determined to find a solution, Holly researched various shop management systems and after careful evaluation, made the switch to Tekmetric in July 2021. The impact was immediate and transformative.

Challenge

Before Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC relied on outdated methods—pen-and-paper invoicing, limited reporting, and inefficient customer communication. This led to:

  • Slow invoicing and difficulty tracking finances
  • Inconsistent customer updates, causing frustration and lost business
  • Limited reporting capabilities, making it hard to identify areas for growth
  • Revenue stagnation, with monthly sales hovering around $40,000 to $50,000

Solution 

After evaluating multiple options, Holly chose Tekmetric because it provided real-time shop insights, streamlined operations, and better customer engagement. With Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC automated processes, improved financial tracking, and provided customers with a transparent repair experience—all essential to driving growth.

Results

Technician working on a car

Revenue Growth: Doubling Monthly Sales

With Tekmetric optimizing operations, Mission Auto KC experienced a dramatic financial transformation, doubling its monthly revenue from $40,000–$50,000 to $90,000. By streamlining workflows, improving job tracking, and enabling faster repair approvals, the shop significantly increased productivity, allowing them to complete more jobs per day. These improvements not only boosted revenue but also led to a 20% increase in gross profit, as better pricing accuracy and operational efficiency maximized profitability.

“Our typical [revenue before Tekmetric] was $40,000 to $50,000. Then $90,000 became our norm right away. So the top number did double.”

Data-Driven Financial Management

With automated reporting and real-time financial tracking, Holly gained complete visibility into the shop’s performance, allowing for daily revenue tracking, expense management, and more accurate accounting.

“QuickBooks is what I use for our accounting, and it’s up to date every day because I come in the following morning, enter my end-of-day report, enter all my expenses, and I know where I'm at.”

Faster Turnaround and Improved Customer Experience

Tekmetric’s text and photo-sharing features allowed for faster, clearer communication with customers, improving trust and increasing repeat business. Customers could see photos of repairs in progress, eliminating doubts and streamlining approvals.

“Customers love it. They love transparency. I'm not just saying your filter is dirty—you see a picture of your filter.”

What’s Next

Technician working at a computer bay

Fueled by their commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence, Mission Auto KC is setting ambitious goals for the future. As demand continues to grow, they plan to expand their team, increase efficiency, and strengthen customer relationships to reach $2 million in annual revenue. By prioritizing transparency, quality work, and trust, they are building a loyal customer base that keeps coming back. What started as a struggling shop has now become a thriving, data-driven business, poised for long-term success and continued expansion.