Working with a business coaching group like ATI, Repair Shop of Tomorrow, The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence, or the Transformers Institute is an important step to running a more profitable auto repair shop.  However, even with a rock-solid business coach, many shops struggle to turn the strategy they learn with their coach into action - that’s where AutoVitals comes in. From execution to tracking progress, we help you stay aligned with your coach's goals every step of the way. AutoVitals CEO, Jon Belmonte, and Manager, Marketing and Lead Generation, Lauren Thunen, recently spoke about how AutoVitals helps shops implement coaching best practices. 

• Turning Strategy Into Action
• Tracking the KPIs That Matter Most
• Bringing Visibility to the Entire Team
• Supporting Process Change Without Chaos
• Creating a Feedback Loop with Data
• Sustaining Long-Term Growth Beyond the Coach

Turning Strategy Into Action

Business coaches often recommend standardizing processes, improving visibility, and tracking performance. AutoVitals turns those goals into reality. 

Setting Customer Expectations

One of the most important best practices for improving ARO is setting clear expectations with the customer during vehicle drop-off. AutoVitals helps shops measure how well this is happening by tracking how long customers engage with their Digital Vehicle Inspection (DVI) reports. As Lauren explained, “As soon as a digital vehicle inspection is sent to a customer, we measure how long the customer actually looks at the digital vehicle inspection report. This is a great measure of whether the service advisor followed the drop-off script and set expectations with the customer.” This level of visibility helps owners coach their advisors and directly tie communication habits to revenue results.

Improving Advisor and Technician Communication

Miscommunication between service advisors and technicians can be a silent drain on shop profit. AutoVitals reduces this friction with built-in team and vehicle-specific chat, allowing techs to send direct, trackable updates to advisors without leaving their bay. Lauren noted, “They can send a message in the vehicle-specific chat. So the service advisor immediately knows what vehicle this is about, where the update is, and everything is documented and timestamped.” By removing physical barriers and ensuring clarity, shops can operate more smoothly and efficiently.

Achieving 100% Technician Efficiency

Tracking technician efficiency is essential to shop profitability, but it's nearly impossible to do manually. AutoVitals automates this process through integrated time and job clocking in the technician app. With this data, shop owners can make smarter dispatching decisions and ensure every hour on the floor is productive.

Maintaining Steady Car Count

Even when business is booming, smart shops market ahead to avoid seasonal slowdowns. AutoVitals supports this by automating service reminders based on inspection history, helping customers stay on track with their vehicle maintenance. “Your customers are automatically going to get a service reminder via text or email that shows them everything that they deferred or declined,” Lauren explained. These proactive, targeted messages help fill bays consistently without requiring extra effort from busy staff.

Raising your Labor Rate

Many shops undervalue their labor due to fear of losing customers, but the right tools can justify higher prices through better experiences. AutoVitals delivers value to customers through tools like DVIs, automated status updates, and transparent communication, making it easier for shops to justify a higher labor rate. As Lauren shared, “If you have a rock-solid customer experience and your customers love your business, it is okay to be more expensive than the shop down the street because customers are more likely to pick a shop that has great customer service.” In other words, premium pricing is supported by premium transparency and care.

Team Transparency

Team alignment improves when everyone can see the same data and work toward shared goals. AutoVitals fosters this with shop-wide visibility into performance metrics and individual accountability. “By focusing on the data, it really takes the emotion out of the management,” said Jon Belmonte. When coaching conversations are grounded in objective data, teams are more open, collaborative, and motivated to improve.

Tracking the KPIs That Matter Most

Every coaching strategy depends on data. AutoVitals tracks the KPIs that matter for shop growth, like average repair order, technician productivity, and customer retention. You'll have real-time insights to back up decisions and measure results from day one. "There are 40-plus KPIs that are available in the AutoVitals Business Control Panel," Belmonte shared, reinforcing how coaches and shop owners can focus on measurable outcomes. 

Bringing Visibility to the Entire Team

Success doesn't happen in a silo. AutoVitals gives your entire team, from advisors to technicians to managers, a shared view of what's happening in the shop. Our customizable workflow screen displays live vehicle status, technician assignments, and job progress in real-time. Instead of chasing updates or relying on whiteboards, your team knows exactly what's next. Lauren emphasized the platform's real-time transparency for service advisors, adding, "They can clearly see it from their home screen. They don't need to walk to the back of the shop. They don't need to even ask a question." This clarity keeps everyone aligned and ensures your coach's recommended processes become daily habits.

Supporting Process Change Without Chaos

Change doesn't need to be tough. With the right tools, training, and support, your team can adapt quickly. AutoVitals makes it manageable. Guided Mode walks technicians step-by-step through the inspection process to ensure consistency. Internal Chat and Smart Markers keep communication smooth without interrupting workflow. Our built-in training tools and intuitive design help your team adopt new processes faster and stick with them longer. And with support from AutoVitals' dedicated customer success team, you'll have the guidance you need to implement the changes your business coach recommends. Jon highlighted that every shop owner is assigned their own dedicated advisor, “And so that means you're talking to Shelby for the next three years. They're an advisor. They're invested in the success of the shop."

Creating a Feedback Loop with Data

Your coach brings the strategy. AutoVitals gives you the feedback to make it actionable. With built-in reports on technician productivity, job approval rates, customer retention, and more, you can easily track progress against your goals. Use AutoVitals data to balance technician workloads, improve customer follow-ups, and connect inspection habits to revenue. Instead of guessing, you'll walk into coaching sessions with the numbers that matter so that you and your coach can focus on what's driving growth and where to fine-tune. Jon advocated for focusing on data to take the emotion out of providing feedback and setting goals so that the whole team can get behind the coaching plan and see great results. Lauren emphasized this point by showing real shop insights: "So this is actually real shop data. When a customer looks at the digital inspection report for less than 100 seconds, ARO is typically in the $500 range. Over 400 seconds, ARO is in the $1,000 range."

Sustaining Long-Term Growth Beyond the Coach

A good coach helps you get to the next level. AutoVitals helps you stay there. With built-in marketing, CRM, and reporting tools, you can continue growing even after your coaching program ends. The systems you build with AutoVitals will keep your shop accountable and on track for long-term success. Jon concluded the session by reinforcing the power of partnership, when you combine coaching with “tools like AutoVitals, it becomes even that much more executable and you end up getting even more of the results that you're looking for."