AutoVitals kicked off the new year with a webinar outlining its 2026 vision and product roadmap—a transparent, feature-rich overview of what's ahead for independent repair shops using the platform. The session brought together CEO Jon Belmonte, COO Jennifer Thronson, and key members of the leadership, product, and technology teams to break down upcoming innovations and how they'll help your shop succeed. In this recap, we’ll walk through both the major themes and specific innovations from the team behind AutoVitals’ most transformative roadmap to date.
CEO Jon Belmonte opened the session by recognizing the shifts in the automotive repair industry—from EVs and shared mobility to staffing shortages.
"There are all kinds of things that could be challenging for the industry in general. You've got the move towards electric vehicles, which obviously reduces the amount of mechanical repairs that are required. And for some folks, there's a lot less wear and tear on vehicles. You've got shared mobility. This technological advancement means more people are taking Ubers, and eventually you'll have shared mobility with self-driving and automated tools."
Belmonte made clear that AutoVitals is focused on helping shops stay ahead of these challenges by using advanced technology to streamline operations and improve profitability.
"The good news is there's a ton of other technology advancements that are, in my opinion, far outweighing some of the potential headwinds that you are facing or you might be facing in the future."
AutoVitals knows that a shop's point-of-sale system isn’t enough anymore, and that’s where tools like workflow automation, customer relationship management, and advanced digital vehicle inspections come into play.
"What we're finding also is that most shops have also decided that they are going to layer in what we call a shop success solution or customer engagement tools, workflow automation, and digital marketing tools."
For 2026, AutoVitals is committed to rolling out “impactful but easy to use technology solutions” that will enable your shop to achieve the success you deserve.
"2026, I have to say, is going to blow away any year that we've had in recent memory in terms of innovation and cool new features."
COO Jennifer Thronson provided a data-driven look at last year’s impact:
"There were 49 million impressions on our client's shop websites, and that created seven million in revenue from those website visitors."
“Our shops also sent 2.9 million inspections through AutoVitals to their customers, ultimately leading to 3.1 billion in revenue generated by AutoVital's shops.”
Beyond the numbers, 2025 was a year of steady improvement across the platform. Key enhancements were delivered in:
Customer communication – with new CRM messaging templates, landing pages, improved customization options, and updated workflow status notifications.
Inspection sheets and results – new customizations on inspection sheet builder and visual updates to inspection reports.
Product usability – such as better in-platform search and easier access to contact AutoVitals support.
Integration performance – with faster repair order integration and appointment sync for Tekmetric POS users.
Platform stability and security – through backend improvements designed to keep systems secure and reliable.
These upgrades helped lay a strong foundation for the major innovations arriving in 2026.
AutoVitals’ 2026 product strategy centers on three key pillars:
These focus areas reflect direct input from shop owners and service teams who work in the platform every day. Rather than overwhelming users with a flood of shiny features, AutoVitals is prioritizing high-impact, high-utility capabilities that are carefully thought out and well tested before launch.
Jon introduced Otto, an upcoming A.I. chatbot designed to help shop owners access insights from their data without needing to dig through reports or ask their dedicated Customer Success Advisor. Otto is a fully integrated AI assistant that understands your data, best practices, and shop goals. It acts like a business coach and data analyst. You can type direct questions about your data, and it will suggest possible paths you can take with that data. For example, you could ask Otto: “How has my ARO changed over the past six months?” Otto might reply with a chart, followed by options like “Would you like to break this down by technician?” or “Would you like to compare this to your top-performing period last year?” Otto is also built for collaboration. You’ll be able to loop in team members and your AutoVitals Customer Success Advisor into the same thread.
Ally Prach, Product Manager, shared two new features that make DVIs smarter and more impactful.
1. AI-Powered Notes Rewrite: converts technician notes into customer-facing descriptions.Both tools aim to improve consistency and communication, with service advisors able to see real-time updates and managers receiving alerts if quality standards aren’t met.
Jenna Treat, Senior Product Manager, introduced what may be the biggest product overhaul in years: a rebuilt AutoVitals CRM.
"So this is not an update or an enhancement. It's a fresh start."
The new system will allow:
Shops with multiple locations or brands will be able to manage all their communications in one place. Launch is targeted for Q4 2026.
A modern, fast-loading website is essential to convert online traffic into real appointments. Robert Allen, Director of Product Management, shared the plan for new website templates and AI-powered content tools designed to improve conversion rates and search performance.
"A template isn't just about a pretty-looking website. It's the foundation for how your business, your shop, shows up online."
With new templates, AI-optimized content, and conversion-focused UX, the website offering in 2026 will help shops generate more traffic and convert more visitors.
Cole Salamone, Director of Product Integrations, shared several important upgrades that will make AutoVitals more responsive and compatible with leading shop management systems in 2026.
One major enhancement is a complete overhaul of the integration with NAPA TRACS, targeted for Q2:
"The biggest change when you create or update something in TRACS, it will appear in AutoVitals within just a couple of seconds.”
AutoVitals also rolled out a new YES Prime by PACE integration, which supports real-time, two-way data flow with the Pace shop management system:
"Work orders, technician assignments, vehicle data all flow seamlessly between AutoVitals and YES Prime, keeping both systems aligned, removing manual data entry."
This integration has already been successfully implemented by a shop group with over 20 locations, demonstrating its scalability and reliability.
Additional improvements are coming to RO Writer, Mitchell1, and MaxxTraxx later in the year:
"We're committed to making our integrations work seamlessly regardless of which platform you choose to run your business."
Jon closed out the session with a direct message:
"Really excited for 2026. It's going to be a hugely kickbutt year and for all of us, for you as clients and partners and for us as a company."
As 2026 unfolds, AutoVitals is focused on building solutions that solve real-world shop problems. From AI to CRM, from DVIs to integrations, every update is built with shops in mind. There’s a lot to be excited about—so stay connected, share your feedback, and get ready for a big year ahead.