That’s why when Joe Rush was looking to propel his Austin-based shops, Rush Automotive, to new heights and he knew he needed the right tools for the job. As a seasoned shop owner and entrepreneur, Joe quickly recognized the value of implementing a robust software solution. By leveraging Tekmetric, Joe and his team were able to enhance performance and delight customers with a modern experience.
Multi-Shop
How Rush Automotive's Enterprise Accelerated Their Growth with Tekmetric
In the highly competitive automotive repair industry, building a successful auto repair business requires efficiency, adaptability and determination. As the industry continues to grow, it brings a new advantage with cutting-edge technology.
October 4, 2024
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Year Established
Using Tekmetric Since
446
Average Repair Order ($)
2921
Average Car Count
46
Number of Employees
Number of Bays
Building a Growth-Oriented Business
Joe’s auto repair experience extends back to his years as a teenager, when he applied to be a lot porter at a shop in Austin, Texas. That job would be the first of many, and after nearly two decades in the industry, he took on the entrepreneurial challenge of opening his own auto repair shop: Rush Automotive.
The shop became wildly successful over the next 12 years, growing from three to 48 employees across five locations. As Rush Automotive expanded, Joe began to see that he was outgrowing his previous shop management system. After a long search for a new system, Joe met the team from Tekmetric and tested the platform. Impressed by how Tekmetric’s fluidity outshined his server-based systems, he decided to make the transition to the cloud-based, all-in-one software.
For Joe, it was worth the investment: Tekmetric completely transformed the way he managed his shop. With real-time data analysis of the entire organization, and tools to enhance productivity, it was easier than ever for Rush Automotive to offer a seamless, modern customer experience.
“Everything came down to my realization that Tekmetric is better than everything else I had used before. I feel like I finally have a shop management system that’s on the same level as my service,” he said.
Seamless Coordination and Immediate Savings
The impact of implementing Tekmetric was immediate, and Joe experienced significant improvements with each new shop he onboarded. In just his first month alone, with Tekmetric fully operating across all five locations, Joe saw his revenue increase by $9,000 overall – approximately $1,800 for each location. This success came from multiple features Joe accessed through the platform, including real-time reporting, streamlined operations and effective billing adjustments.
Tekmetric’s real-time reporting specifically has proven invaluable to Joe as a shop owner by providing updated data for Joe to review anytime. Additionally, Multi-Shop, Tekmetric’s feature for multi-location shops, supports his efforts to understand what’s happening in real-time at any of his locations. This offers him greater ability to make strategic business decisions and support customers – from anywhere.
In fact, Joe has a mobile office set up in his truck with a tablet and his phone, so he can view data from any of his locations and make calls as needed.
“As an owner, I like the ability to look at the entire organization,” he said. “So, what I really enjoy about Tekmetric is the fluidity of being able to log on, go to reports and have all five locations reported together, in real-time. I can even make changes with the press of a button, and they are reflected across the company.”
Tekmetric also offered Joe a myriad of features that transformed Rush Automotive's daily operations. With Tekmetric, he and his team could effortlessly manage appointments, streamline workflows and even track inventory. In fact, just by monitoring his parts through Tekmetric, Joe quickly realized he could save significant costs.
“I have thousands of dollars of inventory on my shelf,” he said. “With Tekmetric, I’m able to pull reports on my inventory at each shop. Then, I can easily make adjustments by reducing or cleaning up the parts I have to save on costs.”
A Paradigm Shift in Customer Support
Tekmetric also empowered Joe to seamlessly coordinate the repair process and efficiently manage his customers’ needs, even from on the road. Through intuitive features and accessibility, he can effortlessly oversee every aspect of the repair process, from diagnosing the issue to ensuring timely completion.
In one recent example, Joe recalled getting a call from a customer while he was at the airport preparing to board a flight. Through Tekmetric’s mobile app, he was able to coordinate vehicle pickup, initiate the repair process and secure necessary approvals – all before his plane departed.
Tekmetric made this level of immediate assistance possible, Joe said. “This would never have happened before. She would have had to wait for me to land, then get somewhere to remote into the old system.”
Streamlined Efficiency for a Multi-Shop Organization
Joe's experience with Tekmetric highlights the transformative power of an effective shop management system in a shop with multiple locations. From providing exceptional customer support from anywhere to streamlining operations and unlocking new levels of efficiency, Tekmetric revolutionized how Joe operates his business.
Joe can provide exceptional customer support remotely, addressing customer needs to ensure seamless support even while on the go. Moreover, the system's robust features and intuitive interface empowered Joe and his team to manage operations more effectively, from scheduling and inventory management to invoicing and reporting.
The result? A well-orchestrated and synchronized network of shops, delivering consistent, quality service to customers. With Tekmetric as the backbone of its operations, Joe gained the tools and insights he needed to optimize performance, identify areas of improvement and drive growth.
“Tekmetric saves you in ways you couldn’t even imagine,” he said. “You can’t afford not to have it.”
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Tomi Oliva, owner of SJ Automotive in Chicago, took over his family's auto repair business in 2016 and has transformed it into a thriving shop. He faced typical challenges for many shops, including inefficient workflows, difficulties in tracking key metrics, and the need for better customer communication. Tomi recognized the need for change and embraced Tekmetric, a decision that led to dramatic results.
Challenge
“I started noticing that my shop management system was really, really bad.”
SJ Automotive relied on a cumbersome system that slowed operations and hindered growth, resulting in:
- Time-consuming quote generation
- Difficulties in tracking technician productivity
- Limited visibility into shop performance metrics
- Slower customer communication
Solution
Tomi chose Tekmetric for its ability to provide real-time data, streamline shop operations, and enhance customer communication. The platform automated processes, improved financial tracking, and facilitated a transparent repair process.
Results
Doubling Car Count and Revenue
"Tekmetric is a tool in my tool bag that's helped me become profitable.”
Tomi has driven significant growth across key metrics at SJ Automotive:
- Revenue: Monthly revenue has doubled, growing from ~$20–25K to ~$40–50K.
- Average Repair Order (ARO): Increased by approximately $200 per vehicle.
- Efficiency: Estimate creation time reduced from 40 minutes to about 10 minutes.
- Car Count: SJ Automotive’s car count has doubled since switching to Tekmetric.
Data-Driven Decision Making
"I didn't even know some of these metrics before, and now they're in front of my face every time I open it."
With Tekmetric’s real-time reporting and data insights, Tomi now has a clear view of key metrics like technician hours, employee productivity, and profitability. This visibility helps identify areas for improvement and optimize overall performance. In addition, integration with SEO tools enables SJ Automotive to track marketing ROI and fine-tune campaigns for greater effectiveness.
Improved Customer Communication
"I really love the ease of communication and authorization."
SJ Automotive has improved their customer communication by streamlining estimate and authorization processes. As a result, estimates, approvals, and payments happen faster, creating a more efficient and transparent repair process and improving overall customer satisfaction.
What’s Next
Tomi is focused on continued growth. SJ Automotive's future goals include doubling their car count, opening another location, and implementing new growth strategies.
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
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
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
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
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.
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