The Digital Shop® Blog
Digital vehicle inspections are becoming the standard for automotive repair shops as customers demand transparency and digital communication. This blog post will cover the importance of transitioning from paper to digital inspections and why you should choose an app-based digital inspection platform over a browser-based one.
Why Digital Vehicle Inspections
Improve Inspection Consistency
Digital inspections elevate the standard of vehicle check-ups. Unlike the variable nature of paper checklists, digital apps ensure that all inspection items receive due attention, promoting consistency. When every vehicle in your shop is comprehensively inspected, you ensure that vehicles are returned to the customer in safe driving condition and that all opportunities for upsold work are maximized.
Transparent Inspections Sell More Work
The adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" rings especially true in the auto repair business. Customer skepticism towards recommended services is a well-known challenge. Digital vehicle inspection tools effectively bridge this trust gap. By visually taking customers "under the hood" with photos and videos, shops using platforms like AutoVitals can show, rather than tell, what needs attention. These digital inspections include educational notes and videos, empowering customers to understand their vehicles' needs first-hand. Digital vehicle inspections are proven to sell 76% more work than traditional paper-based methods.
Enhanced Efficiency
In a paper-based shop, service advisors are constantly flooded with paperwork and inefficient shop and customer communication. Digital vehicle inspection apps dramatically reduce the time spent on customer interactions and work approvals. For instance, apps like AutoVitals streamline communication within the shop. Service advisors and technicians can now exchange instant messages regarding specific vehicles, eliminating time-wasting treks across the shop and long waits for responses. This efficiency not only accelerates service delivery but also improves team coordination.
Secure Data Management
The shift from physical files to cloud storage marks a significant leap in data management. With digital vehicle inspection apps, all customer information and past inspection results are securely stored in the cloud. Cloud-based data storage enables access from anywhere and provides a safety net against in-shop computer failures. This kind of data security and accessibility is a game-changer for the industry.
Why App-Based vs. Browser-Based Digital Inspections
Here are a few ways app-based digital vehicle inspections outperform browser-based digital inspections.
- Optimized Performance: App-based programs are generally developed and optimized for specific operating systems (like iOS, Android, and Windows). This optimization allows them to leverage the full potential of the device's hardware, leading to faster and more efficient performance.
- Dedicated Resources: Unlike browser-based applications that share resources with the browser itself and other open tabs or extensions, app-based programs have dedicated access to the device's resources. This results in better memory management and processing power utilization.
- Offline Functionality: Many app-based programs can operate offline or have offline features, which is not typically possible with browser-based applications. This adds to their reliability, especially in areas with poor or no internet connectivity.
- Ease of Use: Apps usually have a user interface specifically designed for the device's operating system, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive user experience. This can also contribute to faster performance.
- Fewer Compatibility Issues: Browser-based applications need to be compatible with various browsers and their versions, which can lead to performance inconsistencies. Apps, on the other hand, are usually developed with specific operating system versions in mind, reducing compatibility issues.
- Push Notifications: App-based programs can utilize push notifications more effectively than browser-based ones. This capability keeps users better engaged and informed in real time, enhancing the overall user experience.
Given that app-based digital vehicle inspections improve reliability and speed of use, we recommend you select an app-based provider.
Conclusion
There are many digital vehicle inspection providers out there, and selecting the right one for your shop is imperative. Given that app-based digital vehicle inspections improve reliability and speed of use, we recommend you select an app-based provider. After implementing digital vehicle inspections, you can expect to sell more work and increase efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Over ten years ago, AutoVitals pioneered digital vehicle inspections and remains the clear industry leader in app-based digital vehicle inspections. AutoVitals is here to help you on every step of your shop's digital transformation. Request a product demonstration to learn how easy it is to make the digital leap at www.autovitals.com/demo.