As part of our latest ARI software update, we’ve introduced a highly requested option that gives shops more control over online payment costs: the ability to pass payment processing fees to the client. As more customers choose to pay invoices online, processing fees can quietly eat into margins. This new setting helps protect your revenue while keeping the checkout experience transparent and easy to understand. The feature is OFF by default, so nothing changes unless you decide to enable it.

How the feature works

When the “Pass Fee to Client” option is turned on, ARI (Auto Repair Software) adds a clear disclosure step during online invoice payment. Customers see this disclosure before completing the payment, so they understand that a processing fee will be applied. This approach follows common best practices for payment transparency—showing relevant details at the right moment without overwhelming the user.

The fee is only presented when a client attempts to pay an invoice online. There are no changes to in-person payments or invoices that are not paid through the online payment flow.

How to enable the feature

Because this setting directly affects your customers’ checkout experience, it’s intentionally disabled by default. To turn it on:

1. Go to Settings → Online Payments Setup

2. Make sure a payment processor is connected to ARI

3. Toggle “Pass Fee to Client” to ON

Once enabled, your clients will see a disclosure pop-up when paying invoices online, clearly explaining the added processing fee before payment is finalized. This keeps expectations clear and helps prevent confusion or disputes.

Track your savings

We made a table and an interactive calculator with an estimation of the savings you get after turning this setting on.

Easier Two-Way Texting (US, CA, Australia)

You’re busy, and so are your customers. Now, you can easily manage your text communication without switching apps.

• When a client texts back to the SMS you sent from ARI, their reply shows up right on their Client Page under a new Messages Tab.
• What this means: You now have a complete, documented conversation history for every job and client, all in one place. No more wondering where that one text went.

Groping section overhaul

We heard the call for a better way to handle those complex jobs. That’s why we completely reworked the Grouping Feature with a better layout for how you structure items on a JobCard. This upgrade makes organizing large maintenance packages, diagnostic work, or multi-stage projects simple and intuitive.

The New Layout

We reorganized the JobCard tabs to give you quick, clean access to what you need:

• Detailed: Your classic, familiar working view.
• Compact: The condensed, high-level summary.
• Grouped: This tab is now the dedicated, go-to spot for creating and managing all your organized, collapsible groups.

How Grouping Got Better

• Organize on the Fly: You can build, move, and edit all your groups directly inside the Grouped tab. Just use drag-and-drop to put items where they belong.
• Mobile Management is Easier: If you’re using a tablet or a smaller device, we added a simple dropdown menu that lets you move items within groups without having to mess with dragging things around.
• Choose Your View: We give you two ways to interact with your groups:
  • Grid View: Best for drag-and-drop when you’re building and moving groups.
  • List View: Best for sorting items inside groups, making sure the repair steps are in perfect order for the mechanic.
• It Stays Put: Once you organize your groups and items, the order is locked in. It won’t change, even if you refresh the page or step away and come back later.
• Canned Jobs are Smarter: When you drop a Canned Job (a pre-set package) onto the card, ARI now automatically creates a new, separate group for it. That’s instant, zero-effort organization.

(Note: These new sorting features work best on new Job Cards. We’ll keep tweaking the logic to make it perfect across all documents.)

JobCard & Invoicing Changes

We packed some small but powerful fixes into the JobCard to cut down on clicks, keep your records honest, and make closing out a job a breeze.

Keeping Your Data and Time Accurate

• Mileage Guard: Never miss an odometer reading again! ARI will now automatically pop up a reminder if you select a vehicle without current mileage or if the last update was over 30 days ago. It keeps your service history clean and spot-on.
• Write More Detail: The box for your labor description on the Detailed table now expands as you type. Go ahead and write everything you need—the box won’t cut you off.
• Labor Hours, No Math: We added a line for the Total Hours right at the bottom of the Detailed table. You can instantly see the total labor time for the job without adding it up yourself.

Closing the Job fast

• Auto-Complete: You told us you wanted the system to work for you, so we wired it up. The second you mark an invoice as Paid, the JobCard automatically flips to Completed. That’s one less thing you have to click!
• Personalized Emails: When you email an invoice, you now get the option to quickly add free text to the email body. Perfect for a quick “Thank you,” a reminder, or special instructions for the client.

How it compares to the old versions

Thank you for the support and feedback that made this update possible. We appreciate you taking the time to share your ideas with us. Now that this new version is out, we’re eager to hear about your experience. Keep the feedback coming so we can continue making your day-to-day work smoother

We’ve introduced numerous changes that improve the usability and intuitiveness of these sections. The update focuses on making the settings and navigation panels as convenient as possible, with the intention of enhancing navigation and data selection. Let’s go through the changes in detail and compare the old and new page layouts.

Appointments Menu Changes

The appointments page has been updated with a modern design that seamlessly matches the app’s overall look. The most significant navigation changes come from the menu structure and the new action buttons. Instead of the ‘More’ menu that contained most action buttons, you now see the date search option, the calendar selector, the info tab, the refresh button, and the settings tab on the top side of the appointments page. 

The UI is much clearer, and now it’s much easier to select and set a date for your appointment. You can easily change the calendar layout so you see the appointments by day, week, or month. The back button navigation has also improved significantly, bringing you to the right spot when you want to backtrack. The search bar enables you to scan for upcoming or past appointments quickly, and the Info tab explains how to set up your online booking page and share it with clients. Again, the plus button is used to add a new appointment. Alternatively, you can click on a calendar slot to do the same.  

Individual Appointment Changes

Here’s how the individual appointment sheet used to look and how it looks now:

We’ve applied the same design that’s in tune with the app’s aesthetic. The input fields are much easier to see and use. And you can navigate through the page much quicker. As with all ongoing appointments, please confirm it on your side after a client submits a request.

Online Booking Page Setup

Creating a unique online booking page for your business is now easier and more intuitive than ever before. We’ve moved most of the setup options that were previously in the ‘more‘ menu to the settings menu itself. The major setup page options, such as calendar settings, services offered, booking form, and appointment confirmations, appear as action buttons at the end of the page. Instead of scrolling and looking them up individually, all of them are now neatly organized in one place.

Another impactful customization option is the ability to write your headline and description that will be displayed throughout the booking page. This can be your business name, a service you are offering, or something else that’s relevant. The other big change is the newly introduced contact information customization. With it, you can display a phone, address, email, or other contact information on your online booking page. You toggle to add or remove the other fields that you want displayed, or add a custom field for notes or other special offers.

We’ve added two new toggle button options on the online booking page. One lets you disable your booking page in case you don’t want to receive new appointments there. The other will revert to the old booking page layout(not recommended unless you experience major issues).

Custom Booking Page Overview

ARI’s online booking page is now more powerful and customisable than ever. We’ve improved the layout of the booking so it renders better on mobile, desktop, and all compatible devices.

It’s much easier to choose a service, select a vehicle, or input information. You have a clear step-by-step process and path to easily complete your booking.

Conclusion

We’re confident these updates to the appointments section and online booking page will significantly make things easier to use and get around, making scheduling and managing appointments smoother than ever. We’ve focused on making it simple to figure out and quick to navigate so you can find what you need and book appointments with greater ease and efficiency. Plus, we’ve thrown in more ways to set things up just how you like them for both the appointment system and the online booking page. We believe these changes will streamline your workflow and ultimately help you serve your customers better.

This update also introduces exciting new features, including free AI Labor Guides, an AI Chatbot, and the ability to handle multiple invoice payments, all presented in a refreshed and more intuitive app design.

Let’s look at the many improvements and bug fixes that directly benefit you, the auto shop owners, mechanics, and technicians using ARI (Auto Repair Software).

Fixing What Matters: Reliability You Can Count On

We’ve put a lot of effort into squashing bugs and fine-tuning the system to ensure a stable and consistent experience. This means fewer interruptions and more reliable operations for your shop.

Here are some key areas we’ve focused on:

• Data Saving & Display: We’ve resolved numerous issues where data wasn’t saving correctly or appearing as it should. Now, your crucial information—from customer details to part inventory—is reliably stored and displayed, preventing frustrating data loss or errors.
• Smoother Workflows: We’ve ironed out many small hitches that could slow down your daily tasks. Whether you’re managing inventory, handling customer information, or creating invoices, the process is now more fluid, saving you time and reducing friction.
• Better Data Import/Export: Moving your data into or out of ARI is now more dependable. We’ve improved these features so you can easily manage records and generate comprehensive reports without any unexpected problems.

Connecting Your Tools: Enhanced Integrations

Your auto repair software needs to work seamlessly with the other tools you use every day. We’ve significantly improved how ARI connects with third-party services:

• QuickBooks, PartsTech, and Payment Processors: We’ve strengthened these vital connections. This means smoother financial syncing with QuickBooks, more reliable parts ordering from PartsTech, and hassle-free payment processing. These improvements reduce manual errors and ensure your different systems communicate effectively.

Behind the Scenes: Security and Performance Upgrades

While you might not see these changes, they’re crucial for keeping your data safe and the system running fast.

• Security and Access Controls: We’ve enhanced our security measures and refined who can access specific information and features. This protects your sensitive business data and ensures that only authorized personnel can view or modify it.
• Database Management: We’ve optimized the core of ARI to run more efficiently. Improvements in how our database handles and synchronizes data mean faster loading times and more consistent information across the entire application.

Everyday Improvements: Making Your Work Easier

Beyond the major fixes, we’ve implemented countless small enhancements that make a big difference in your daily use of ARI.

• Improved Mobile Experience: We’ve added smooth scrolling to many pages, like customer profiles and labor rates, and optimized layouts for better viewing on phones and tablets. This makes using ARI on the go much more pleasant.
• Clearer User Feedback: You’ll now see helpful confirmation messages when you save settings or perform important actions, like deleting a labor rate. This removes guesswork and gives you more confidence that your actions have been registered.
• Intuitive Navigation: Back buttons have been fixed across various sections, so you’ll always return to the page you expect. Pagers (for navigating through lists) are now more widely available, making it easier to browse large inventories or customer lists.
• Detailed Information at a Glance: Financial figures like labor rates, parts markups, and employee salaries now clearly show currency. Tax grids correctly display percentages, and discount coupons intelligently switch between showing a percentage or a flat amount. This ensures you have accurate financial visibility.
• Better Reporting: Your reports are now more precise, with improved date filtering and consistent columns for exports. We’ve also added important financial details like the “Paid Date” to various reports, giving you a clearer picture of your income and expenses.
• Streamlined Data Import: Our data import feature now includes downloadable templates for parts, clients, and vehicles. This simplifies the process of getting your existing information into ARI, saving you time and effort.
• Refined User Management: User role input is now non-editable, and checks prevent duplicate usernames, leading to a more organized user environment.
• Enhanced Diagnosis Page: This page now offers improved content, a read-only grid for stability, and better scrolling. Our new Vertex AI integration can even help mechanics and technicians generate causes, corrections, and repair instructions for common vehicle issues.
• Smarter Appointment Management: We’ve fixed issues with saving working hours and improved how appointment statuses are displayed. All links within the appointment view now work correctly on mobile devices, making scheduling and communication more reliable.

You can find the complete list of bug fixes and usability improvements in our update changelog!

This comprehensive update aims to make ARI a more reliable, efficient, and user-friendly auto repair software. We believe these changes will significantly enhance your daily operations and directly benefit your auto shop.

We encourage you to update your ARI app today to experience these improvements firsthand!

New Features

AI Labor Guides and Estimates

We are introducing the world’s first AI-powered labor guides system. Our AI Labor guides are a free alternative to other labor guides that we are constantly developing. They serve the same role as conventional labor guides and estimates, and give you systematic assistance for most repair procedures and the associated parts.

To use it, you first select a vehicle, then choose the type of repair you need to work on. You will see a detailed list of all the category’s repair procedures. Click on parts and labor to see the details about the procedure. In the expanded view, you can transfer the parts or labor items into a new invoice/job card. You can select Guides& Procedures and ask the AI chatbot for further help or details on any step of the operation.

Repair Assistant

The repair assistant is an AI chatbot designed to answer repair-related questions. It understands the context for the service based on the vehicle and repair procedure you are working on.
The repair assistant can be used in combination with the AI Labor guides or as a standalone feature to drill deep into vehicle-related questions.

For example, choose the vehicle you are working on, select Parts& Labor guides, and choose the parts and labor you are interested in. Then click on Guides and Procedures in the top-right corner. The system will give you detailed instructions for all of the jobs related to that service. When performing a repair, you can select the button Ask Question and get additional information on any step of the procedure. You will gain access to the same AI Repair Assistant but with the context for the exact procedure and step you are looking for.

Menu Configuration

To help you access the features you most often use, ARI(Auto Repair Software) now gives you the option to create your custom menu layout. You will find it on the home ribbon next to the other menu layout configurations. Previously, we’ve supported the all-feature layout, work, track, and report. With the custom layout, you can combine the features that pop up on the homescreen however you like.

To make changes there, click the ‘Custom‘ tab and select ‘Edit Layout’, then you’ll see all the features available. You can select the ones you want present or removed with the eye icon, as well as drag and drop the panels to reorder them. Once ready with the selection, hit Done to save your new menu!

Design Changes

The latest ARI(Auto Repair Software) update features a complete app redesign. All of the menus and panels now have a consistent look and an improved layout.

Every important page, including invoice creation, client management, inventory, and company details, has been redesigned to improve the overall usability and responsiveness on all devices. By improving scrolling behavior, modifying grid layouts, and fixing tab-related bugs, we were able to fix most of the web rendering issues.

All of the buttons, text, and placeholder elements were updated to enhance the readability and visual coherence. Our commitment to a uniform look meant the addition of better back buttons, pagination, and more intelligent search tools in the navigation. We added more precise warnings, confirmations, and useful explanations to assist users better.

On top of that, we made major changes to our modals, popups, and snackbars in a way that guarantees more seamless and user-friendly interactions.

Bug Fixes& Usability Improvements

One of our priorities for this update was improving the web performance. We’ve transferred the app to a different domain and new servers to boost the speed significantly.

When it comes to third-party services, we updated a huge chunk of the codebase to ensure better compatibility with ARI and fix the existing bugs. Data exports are now more fluid, and the security access and controls have been updated to guarantee a safe environment.

We made important code and database changes and addressed many data saving, display issues, and workflow problems.

Conclusion

We got a ton done in the latest update, and your feedback keeps us moving forward. From innovative features to a 360 shift in our design approach, we are constantly trying to deliver something of true value for your auto repair business. We would be happy to hear your thoughts about the update. Leave a comment here with everything you want to say, or share the article on social media if you found it useful.

Let’s show you how to set it up.

Brand Email Domain Setup

There are numerous benefits to activating your custom email domain, such as:

• Better chances of avoiding the spam inbox
• Better recognition thanks to the company domain
• Better engagement rates
• No reliance on ARI’s servers

If you want to take advantage of these benefits, the easiest way is to set up your email address. Do that from ARI Settings -> Email Address Setup. Once there, read the instructions and input the required SMTP settings. We’ve linked a guide that will help you complete the steps. 

Once you gather and input the details from your email provider, click Connect so you can complete the setup. You will get a pop-up reminder when sending an email from ARI’s domain to consider switching to your company domain. Different email providers require different settings, so please ensure you are following the instructions.

And that’s how you set up your email domain in ARI(Auto Repair Software). Stay tuned for more updates and exciting feature releases. Your feedback as a user is always appreciated, so make sure to share your thoughts about the recent changes.

Please check if you are using the app version with the help of this guide.

Appointment field customization

In previous versions, the appointment fields on your online booking page had only default values. Now, the fields on the form can be edited according to your needs. For example, if your shop specializes in tire changing, you can delete some of the fields like the number of doors or vehicle color, and replace them with some tire specs. If you are running a heavy-duty shop, you can add new fields and remove the driven wheels field. You can also choose to make the input field mandatory or optional.

You can find all these booking form customizations in the appointments menu. To start editing – go to the appointments view and click more. Then select ‘add custom fields to booking form‘ and go over each field you like to change. If you don’t want to delete a field, you can mark it as hidden and clients won’t see it. Once ready – click Save Changes and the edits will be reflected on your booking page.

Are we on the path to making the app more practical? We’ve tried to implement the most-requested features and create a comprehensive auto repair software. If you like the app’s performance, you can leave a comment below or this article over social media.

Please follow this guide to ensure you are using the latest app version.

Vehicle Overview Page Changes

Our new vehicle menu introduces a new design based on the latest UI standards. The menu has been remade with new icons, buttons, columns, and advanced search options. The vehicle list on the page can be seen in columns or cards depending on your chosen view.

Thanks to the action buttons, it’s much more intuitive to upload a picture, detect/ decode a license plate, or scan a VIN. One of the new AI features of our auto repair software is the plate recognition option. With it – you can upload a picture of a license plate and the AI will fill in the data from it. You again have the option to toggle between the list and grid views for a better workflow.

Adding a new vehicle

We’ve enhanced the process of adding new vehicles. You can start adding a car with the + button on the vehicle menu and you will be brought to the input panel. There you can easily select the vehicle details with the new drop-downs. The drop-downs are designed to ease the input and reduce mistakes. As an alternative to the fields, you can use the M1 Vehicle Selector to pull a car out of the database. Once you put all the details you need, simply hit save to store the data.

Vehicle Details Page Changes

The upgraded look of the vehicle details page introduces a handful of new icons and buttons. At the top, we have the edit and delete options which allow you to change the vehicle details or delete them them completely. Below them, you can add or view a picture of a vehicle and the labels and car specs.

One big addition to the car info page of our auto repair software is the label button which you can use to add labels to your vehicles. The icons next to the car specs help you understand the info seamlessly. On top of that – you have action buttons that can open the NHTSA Car Details, the Car Diagnose tab, and the Service reminders if there are any.

Similarly to the client page, you have an info tab that gives you quick access to other menus such as:

• Vehicle owner
• Estimates
• Invoices
• Carfax
• ARI History
• Notes

There’s another completely new tab in this bar called ‘Deferred’. This new feature shows all declined parts and labor items for a certain vehicle. Use any of the info bar windows for a quick cross-reference or edits for your cars.

In this update, we made significant progress on the app’s design. Our goal is to improve the usability significantly and introduce a modern feel to our auto repair software. Let us know what you think about the changes with a comment below. Don’t forget to share the article over social media if you like where the app’s headed.

Make sure you are using the latest ARI version with the help of this guide.

Let’s explore the changes in detail:

Client Page Changes

The new client page has a modern layout that lets you navigate easily
and find your clients in seconds. Depending on your chosen view, you will see your client info in columns or cards on the main client page. The grid view is the default setting for a desktop PC or laptop, and the list view is the default mode for mobile devices.

We introduced new icons and rearranged some fields so you understand the information more intuitively.

Adding a new client

Adding a new client now is much more intuitive. When you click on the + button in the client view, you can start adding the client details. Most of the fields are identical to the previous version, but the fields are restructured to make the data input easier. We remade some of the action buttons such as ID Scan, Contact Import, and phoning a client to improve usability.

There are new toggle settings you can activate on individual clients. For example, you can make a client tax-exempt, apply a discount, or override the labor rate or parts markup for them. Use any of the toggle buttons to turn on and off any of the settings you like.

Client Details Page

The new layout combines all key client info in a much easier-to-understand format. You can see all the details, labels, and action buttons in one place. By clicking on the arrow button next to the details, you can dial the phone, open your email client, or open the client location on Google Maps.

We’ve added two new action buttons to each client details page. One is the Client Portal tab, where you can preview the portal or send it to your clients. The other is the Client Chat which gives you quick access to the chat in case a client has initiated it via the portal.

Each client page now has a summary of the total Invoiced amount and a breakdown of the Paid and Due sum.

A brand-new feature is the info tab which grants quick access to every menu in the app related to a certain client. You can see a client’s Vehicles, Invoices, Estimates, Statements, Notes, Messages, and even toggle any of the custom settings for them.

Client Portal Minipage

The client portal page also received a significant design change. We’ve explained how it works, listed its perks, and added the unique credentials and sharing options in the layout. Remember, clients can generate their IDs and Passwords after you grant them the initial access keys.

Thanks for sticking along. Please try the new design and tell us how you feel about it. We’ll be glad to hear your feedback.

1. Nail the Basics: Build a Solid Foundation

Start with You

First things first, you need a solid team handling your inventory. It’s tempting to trust that whatever parts show up match what you ordered, but vendors make mistakes. Get your crew trained to verify every shipment against the order and bin labels. The dealerships that invest in this kind of training save themselves a world of trouble down the road. Without good people on the ground, even the best auto repair software can’t work its magic.

Organize Like a Pro

If your parts are scattered all over the place, it’s time to tighten up. Grouping parts by vehicle make, model, and repair type is a no-brainer. Use a clear coding system so anyone can find what they need in a flash. And don’t just shove high-demand parts wherever give them a dedicated spot so they’re always ready when you are.

Use the ABC Method

Not all parts are created equal. Your “A” items with high-value, often-used parts – should be your main focus. Track them closely and set smart reorder points. Your “B” and “C” items still need attention, but don’t let them crowd out the essentials. This method keeps your stock lean and mean, without leaving you high and dry when a job comes in.

2. Store Parts with Purpose

Think Before You Stash

When a new shipment rolls in, don’t just shove it anywhere. Storing parts thoughtfully can prevent a whole lot of headaches. Always face part numbers outward, and keep things logical. This makes it easier to find what you need fast, reducing the chances of misplacing or losing items.

3. Keep Your Inventory Tight

Avoid Overstocking and Understocking

Overstocking ties up your cash and eats up space. Understocking, though, can kill a sale and tick off your customers. Use historical sales data and your auto repair software to set minimum inventory levels that reflect reality, not just wishful thinking. And always factor in supplier lead times, nothing worse than being caught short when a part’s in demand.

4. Power Up with Technology

Get Serious with Auto Repair Software

If you’re still relying on spreadsheets and guesswork, it’s time for a change. The right software can take care of the heavy lifting, from tracking inventory to reordering parts. The best systems give you real-time data, helping you avoid those nasty surprises when you’re out of stock on a critical part. Look for features like barcode scanning, supplier integration, and low-inventory alerts to keep your shop running like a dream.

Integrate for Efficiency

A shop that’s AI-integrated is efficient. Integrating AI into your auto repair software streamlines your operations and cuts down on mistakes.

Keep Everyone in the Loop

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to inventory and shop management. Make sure your team has access to real-time inventory data. With the right software, your techs can check stock levels on the fly, reducing wasted time and frustration. And keep those communication lines open, when everyone’s on the same page, mistakes are less likely to happen.

5. Put Parts Back Where They Belong

Don’t Skip the Basics

We’ve all been there, parts get used, and suddenly, they’re nowhere to be found. Make it a rule in your shop: parts go back where they came from, no exceptions. A simple, consistent process for handling returned parts can save you from many future inventory headaches.

6. Make Inventory Checks Routine

Check Early, Check Often

Regular inventory checks are your best defense against errors. Can’t check everything at once? No worries, focus on your fastest-moving and highest-dollar parts. Use your auto repair software to flag problem areas and train your crew where it counts. Staying on top of inventory like this keeps everything in line and your shop running smoothly.

7. Always Have a Back-Up Plan

Tech is Great, But…

Even the best auto repair software can hit a snag. You should be ready with a manual backup plan. Whether the power goes out or your tech decides to take the day off, having a manual process in place ensures you’re never stuck when it comes to managing your inventory.

Tame Your Inventory Beast with ARI’s Auto Repair Software

Managing your parts inventory doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right strategies and software, you can streamline your operations, keep your shelves stocked, and avoid costly delays. From organizing parts efficiently to setting smart reorder levels and using real-time tracking, the combination of good practices, auto repair software, and tools will keep your shop running smoothly. Get your inventory in gear, and watch your business thrive.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your inventory in gear and watch your shop hit new levels of efficiency with ARI now!

Ensure you are using the latest app version by following this guide.

Here’s what’s new:

Changing the color of existing appointments.

ARI now allows you to choose a different color for your appointments. To do this – open one of your appointments, scroll down to the change color section, and choose a new color for your appointment. Once ready – click save to confirm the changes. The new color should be visible right away on the calendar.

Please keep in mind that changing the color won’t change the status of your appointment.
The default colors from the color legend are still valid in case you don’t choose a new color.

Assigning a Technician to an Appointment.

You can now assign one of your technicians to different appointments. It happens the following way:

• Open the Appointment
• Click the ‘More‘ menu
• Select ‘Assign Technician‘
• Choose one from your list of Employees
• Click Save

Adding Appointments to Personal Calendar on the Web App

Previously a mobile-only feature, we now support adding appointment events from ARI to your calendar. To do this – go to any active appointment and click ‘Add to Calendar’. Choose one of the options below and this will sync the appointment with the calendar app you are using.

Support for custom working times

Aside from standard working hours like 9:00 – 18:00, ARI now supports custom working times ( 8:45 AM – 6:12 PM.) If you want to set up yours – go to your appointments page in ARI. Then go to the more menu(top-right corner) and click on ‘Set up your working hours’. From there you can choose whatever works best for you and save the changes.

Is there anything you would recommend moving forward with the updates? Do you find the new features useful? Please share your thoughts below.

Get the latest software version with the help of this guide.

Let’s break down each of the significant changes.

Possibility to Add Pictures for Each Checklist Item

Vehicle Inspections in ARI now allow you to add a picture for each checklist item on a vehicle you are servicing. This is crucial for clients who require more information about their car’s condition and your intended services. There’s a separate column for the pictures where you can add them. You can add a picture from your gallery or camera.

The images are later visible both on the inspection preview and the online form you share with clients. You add pictures to a checklist category too. If you want to delete a picture – simply click on it and select ‘OK‘ once you see the deletion pop-up.

*Visual feature guide

When clicked – the checklist item images will open in a new tab. You can zoom in later by pinching the page and seeing the picture in greater detail.

An Option to Show and Hide the Pictures

The main inspection template now has a button that allows you to show or hide the pictures from the checklist items, vehicle, and damage reports. It allows for a cleaner printing of the whole checklist when needed.

The same show/ hide function is also present in the online inspection. On click each checklist picture is opened in a new tab. The client can interact with the online inspection and open it in the client portal.

What do you think about the new feature changes? Are we on the right track of introducing the most-requested features to date? Please share your thoughts below.

Update your app to the latest version with the help of this guide.

Let’s dive into the changes.

Identifying Parts Details from a Picture

When uploading an image of a vehicle part, ARI’s AI can help identify the part details based on that image. To do this – open the Inventory section from the main menu and go to Parts. Then click on the plus button to add a new part or start editing an existing one. Then click the more menu, upload a picture, or take one with your camera. Once ready – select ‘Identify Part from Image’. The AI will attempt to get all the relevant details that you can later transfer to the current Part. If you don’t want to transfer the details back – simply click cancel.

Attach PDF to Expenses and Extract Data with AI

A feature that works similarly to data extraction from a picture. This time – the supported format is different. If you need to upload a bigger PDF file and extract the data from it as an expense – here’s how to do it. Go to Accounting -> Expenses and create a new expense. Select ‘Attach file’ and upload yours. Then select ‘Extract data from the file’. After the details are ready – you can either transfer them back to the expense or choose to cancel.
You can also open the PDF file or delete it using the button ‘View/Delete Attachment.’

Do you have any suggestions for features you want to see in the next updates? Please share your thoughts so we can start developing them in time.

Ensure you are using the latest app version by following this guide.

Create a Purchase Order from the Job Card or an Invoice/Estimate

To make ordering even more accessible – we added an option to create a purchase order straight from Invoice and Job Cards. To access this feature – open an Invoice/ Job Card or begin editing one. Then click the More Menu -> Create a Purchase order. You will be redirected to the purchase page where you can add parts from Inventory, do it manually, or via PartsTech. Once you fill in the details – the record will be saved as a Purchase Order in Accounting.

Better Sorting, Filtering, and Customization Options

Thanks to the grid view, you can filter your Invoices by different parameters. With this update, we added a VIN column to the grid as well as the Cost and Labor Type fields. We’ve improved the search condition rules so you can find items easily.

To improve customization – we removed the default parts from the grid dropdown when adding parts to invoices. If needed you can bring them back as default in ARI Settings -> Account Management -> Toggle button. 

There’s also an option to expose due, ordered, and scheduled dates in the invoice (Template Settings -> Select from the checklist.)

Changing Job Cards into other types

We added the option to turn Estimates back into Invoices as well as the option to make an Invoice from Job Cards. These options are found on the individual Job Cards/ Invoices and are type-dependent.

Do you like the changes? Please let us know what we can add or change for future updates!

It’s safe to say that most people nowadays depend on technology but when it comes to younger generations, it’s not just dependence, it’s a way of life. This is why operating with auto repair software is a must for every shop. However, there’s more to it, and below, you can find some effective strategies to understand and retain younger mechanics in your shop.

Paying Extra Attention to Younger Mechanics

The gap between supply and demand is widening because more and more seasoned mechanics retire and there are fewer and fewer people entering the field. Here’s how this pays off in the future:

1. Keeping the Business Rolling: As old-timers hang their wrenches to retirement, the younger ones will become the backbone of the industry.
2. Riding the Tech Wave: Young people are more likely to bring fresh perspectives. Also, being all about the latest tech makes them easily adaptable to such. This may come in handy someday!
3. Driving Growth and Cool Ideas: Young talent can drive innovation and growth within your shop, keeping it competitive and relevant.

Generational Challenges

Skill Gaps and Training Needs

A lot of young people entering tech schools lack a mechanical background which is unusual for previous generations who grew up working on cars and machinery. Today’s youth often have their first hands-on experience in tech school.

While this is not necessarily bad, quite a few tech schools provide outdated training requiring shops to invest in further training. With no previous mechanical background, facing the industry this young and inexperienced may be a turn-off. Also, outdated training can be a turn-off by itself as youngsters are used to modern and computerized systems.

Work-Life Balance Expectations

Younger generations prioritize a healthy work-life balance, seeking a job environment that respects their time and offers flexibility. This is quite the opposite compared to many auto shop’s expectations of long working hours and weekend shifts.

To avoid conflict, it’s best to find the middle ground and ensure you have enough employees to cover several shifts with a fair number of hours. Speaking of working hours, establishing a decent mechanic labor rate may be tricky and definitely a factor, so do your research and make an informed decision.

How to Keep Young Mechanics Happy & Engaged?

Create a Supportive Training Environment

1. 1. Finding a Common Language: People who are just starting to dip their toes in the auto business may find it difficult to communicate with older mechanics. When training younger technicians, make sure they don’t get overwhelmed and try to find a way for them to relate to your experience, not just bore them.
   2. Persistent Mentoring: Let the younger guns see you as a mentor even when the training is over. They should feel comfortable asking you questions when the training is over. A culture of learning and cooperation is promoted by tackling problems as a team and promoting group problem-solving.

Inspire and Motivate

1. Set Goals: Understand every team member’s interests. Employee commitment and job happiness are increased when their roles align with their hobbies.
2. Offer Career Growth:  Youngsters often forget future growth and only “need a job” but having something to offer on the table may turn into a permanent life decision. Specialization in particular repairs, transitioning into service advisory roles, or even owning the business are just some ideas to talk about with younger technicians.

Friendly & Positive Environment

1. Maintain a Good Work-Life Balance: Younger mechanics wouldn’t struggle as much if they were left with some free time after working hours. Instead of packing them with too many hours and tight shifts, give them a flexible schedule.
2. Keep the Team Happy: Work on building a team-oriented culture where everyone feels valued. Recognition of hard work and contributions can go a long way in maintaining morale and loyalty.

How Auto Repair Software Can Help

Having auto repair software that is well-integrated into your business is already a factor that younger mechanics would consider a plus. ARI is one of the most affordable, yet fully functioning automotive software out there.

Add Multiple User Roles with ARI

With ARI you can add multiple users and assign them specific roles. For example, if you’ve just hired someone, you can only give them access to the Job Cards feature, ensuring they focus on their duties without accessing other sensitive information.

Seamless OBD2 Scans

Young technicians have a lot of expectations when it comes to technology and ARI couldn’t make things easier when it comes to OBD2 scans. All you need is a phone/tablet and an OBD2 dongle that’s based on ELM327. It’s the seamless experience and convenience that gets most young people nowadays.

Additional ARI Features to Help You Manage Your Team:

Yes, it’s important to keep the young mechanics engaged but do not forget you have other people to manage. ARI has got you covered and you can see some of its other managing features below.

• Job Cards & Work Orders: You can assign tasks, track times, and manage job approvals from any mobile device.
• Time Tracking: ARI offers clock-in and clock-out features to track employee activity.
• Labor Guides: As mentioned above, you should settle on fair payment, and ARI gives you access to detailed labor guides and estimates.

Retaining younger mechanics in your auto shop requires a combination of effective training, motivational strategies, a supportive work environment, and great auto repair software like ARI. Investing in modern technology and young technicians means you’re investing in the future of your auto shop.

If you believe financial transparency has a place in your business model, stay with us to explore how to promote it in your auto repair shop.

What Is Financial Transparency?

There is no catch to it, it means what it sounds like, namely – being transparent about your shop’s finances. This includes earnings, expenses, and investments. Sharing this with your employees builds trust and shows integrity.

What about salaries you may ask? Well, the best approach here is to be transparent about them also, because if you’re not willing to be that transparent, your best shot is to put the sum of all salaries under “expenses.” From an employee’s perspective (who obviously knows their salary), it will only be a matter of a few deductions to figure out how much the others are getting.

So, with that out of the way, let’s set an example.

If your team understands your auto shop’s financial health, they’ll appreciate decisions like hiring new people or adjusting salaries. How would this help? Well, it’s part of seeing the big picture. Combine this transparency with retention strategies, for example, and you’ll get a motivated and trusted workforce.

Benefits of Financial Transparency

If you’re reading this, you probably have an idea of the possible benefits of being financially transparent with your team. Let’s list all of them:

Increased Trust and Credibility

Financial transparency is beneficial for building trust with employees but also, if you have investors and stakeholders, being transparent is a great way to demonstrate honesty and integrity. You can state that on your website/listing for your customers to find out which also

Enhanced Employee Morale and Engagement

When you provide such valuable information, employees feel like they belong, making them more engaged in your shop. Understanding the shop’s financial performance makes them feel more valued, fostering a sense of control, and ownership even.

Streamlined Decision-Making & Accountability

Giving your team access to financial data will help everyone make informed decisions, improving your shop’s long-term strategic planning. Being financially transparent helps employees take better ownership of their roles knowing the financial context.

How to Implement Financial Transparency in Your Shop

So, you’ve made an informative decision that financial transparency is something you’d try but still wondering where to start and how to do it properly? Let’s break down the process:

Define Goals & Boundaries

Let’s go back to the question about being transparent about salaries. Whatever your decision is, you should set clear goals and boundaries for what financial information will be shared and who can access it. Nobody is fully transparent and neither should you.

Implement Regular Financial Reporting

You should establish a routine reporting schedule to share financial data consistently and on time. A monthly report is a common choice but feel free to adjust depending on how much business you get.

Adopt an Accounting Auto Shop Software

Investing in software that can provide real-time data access and financial reporting is crucial. ARI’s auto shop accounting feature is just one of its many. You, as well as everyone from the team, can create purchase orders, track your expenses, and monitor the profits.

Provide Financial Literacy Training

Now, it’s one thing to give opportunity for better decision-making but people who make those decisions should know how to make them in the most beneficial for your shop way. This is why providing training or at least spending the time to talk about budgeting, reporting, risk management, and investment tactics is just as important as being transparent.

Foster Clear Communication

Just like establishing regular reporting, creating communication channels for sharing information among everyone from the team is crucial. From daily or weekly meetings to informative emails, why not have interactive webinars?

Encourage Open Dialogue

When it comes to meetings, you should ensure everyone from the team is comfortable enough to share thoughts and discuss anything from financial matters to ideas that could benefit the shop.

Transparency isn’t just a business routine; it’s a vital strategy for the success of your auto shop.

ARI’s Auto Repair Software

As mentioned above, ARI can help with its accounting feature but you should know that it’s a lot more than that. ARI is an auto repair software used by thousands of shop owners and mechanics worldwide, offering a complete set of features such as client and vehicle management, estimates and invoices, marketing, and time tracking – to name a few. ARI’s ease of use guarantees a seamless experience and it’s definitely a great tool to help you promote financial transparency but has the potential to do a lot more.

Establishing financial transparency in your auto shop is a big step in building trust and responsibility in your team. What’s tricky about transparency is finding the right boundaries and setting the right atmosphere. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, you should consider everything from above. ARI’s auto repair software is a great start and its features would help not only being financially transparent but also being a more productive shop in general.

Remember to follow this guide and ensure you are using the app’s latest version.

Let’s dive into the changes!

Feature Updates

• Payments Improvements – Introducing Bulk Payments, Deposit Requests, Tips and Direct Payments via Client Portal
• Improved Item Grouping Functionality
• Approve/ Deny entire Item groups on an Estimate
• Better ways to add/ edit Parts& Labor on an Invoice – Table Mode, List Mode, Grouped View
• AI Detection and Data Extraction for documents (vehicle specs from an image | client info from driver’s license | expenses from receipts | tire sidewall scanning)
• Reports Improvements – Table view for reports, Sales Tax View
• Home page redesign
• PaidDate and status change date
• open JO then go to More/Change Status to see the latest status change date -> PaidDate automatically shows on the Invoice when the status changes to Paid
• Separate disclaimer for Invoice and Estimates (add in Profile/Disclaimers)
• Vendors page enhancements – Add new and Edit are now separate pages | option to view Expenses/Purchases for the vendor
• Include an inspection URL to an invoice after the inspection is attached (ARI and Online Invoice)
• save grid column settings (three dots/columns/hide show column)
• Inspection checklist templates Improvements – reordering option by drag-and-drop
• Employee Improvements – record Salary and rate per hour | prefill the rate when creating payslips in Accounting/Expenses | option to import Labor from Jobcard to Accounting/Expenses
• Sign-up page redesign

Bug Fixes

• Remove an alert when the notification is not allowed
• Duplicate clients when creating from appointment is fixed
• Hide financials when creating a Job Card page when the role does not allow it
• Labor prefill rate when adding to Inventory
• Hide hours on inventory/Services when fixed rate
• Only users with View access can open the Vehicles page
• Remove voided, refunded, and written-off invoices from dashboard/ due invoices
• When coming from the Job Card creation page, the checklist template does not persist on the Inspection page

Miscellaneous

• Hide Team comments on the Client Portal
• Remove SMS, email, and call buttons on the Job Card page and add that functionality as text links
• Redesigned Estimate/Invoice buttons on the Job Card page to highlight the current type of document
• Client imports now support the company name
• Warning if Miles in > Miles Out on the JobCard page
• transfer fixed labor to Canned Services
• print carfax reports
• autoincrement purchase Number
• When duplicate invoices – remove the signature
• detect landline phone numbers when sending SMS and prevent sending without taking credits
• auto-resize pics>5 MB instead of showing an error
• time tracking redesign
• search clients by company name
• link to Vehicle from the JobCard page
• JobCards/ WorkFlow – option to Archive JO (three dots menu)
• Add 8000 as a mileage step option for service reminders
• JobCard autosave will stay on the same page as opposed to redirecting to the preview

Thank you for your continuous support in making this update possible. We’ve made most of the changes thanks to your direct feedback. If you have any suggestions – please let us know so we can keep moving in the right direction.

We are extending our AI capabilities to assist you in handling everyday tasks concerning client documents. We’ve introduced many powerful tools that save time by gathering and prefilling data into your documents. Let’s break each of them down.
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*This is a developing feature that may occasionally produce incorrect results.

Identifying Vehicle Specs from an Image

ARI now lets you pull and transfer data for vehicles based on an image input. You can do this by uploading a picture when you add a new car. After a successful upload – you will see the ‘Identify Vehicle from Image’ button. Upon clicking it, the AI will scan the image and give you the make, year, model, and engine type specs that you can later transfer to the page.

Choose OK to fill in the data, or hit cancel if you don’t want to transfer the info.

 

Client info from driver’s license, ID, and other documents

When creating a new client in ARI – you can get data straight from their ID, driver’s license, or other personal document. To do this – go to the client’s section and select the + button to add a new client. Then choose ‘Scan ID‘ and upload/ take a picture of the document and add it. The AI will check the document and pull any relevant data.

 

After the scan is complete – you can select ‘OK’ to transfer the data or ‘Cancel’ to stop the process.

 

Extract Data from receipts

ARI now has the option to add a picture of a receipt and extract the data to an expense.

You will find this option in the Accounting menu -> Expenses view. Start by creating a new expense with the + button. Then choose ‘Attach or scan receipt or invoice‘, upload your picture or take one with your device, and hit ‘Extract data from Image.‘

 

Hit OK to complete the transfer – or Cancel to discard the changes.

 

Tire sidewall scanning

The tire sidewall scan is used to get the tire info from a picture instead of checking and writing it manually. The AI does all the work for you.

To use this feature – go to Inventory -> Tires -> Add a Tire. Then hit Scan Tire, grab your camera, and take a picture or upload a saved photo of the tire. The AI will scan it and you can choose if you want to transfer the data to your Tire inventory or cancel the process.

 

We’ve updated the parts and labor functionality with a couple of new modes. The idea is to make adding multiple parts and labor items easier and more intuitive in every situation.

How does it work?

Grouped View

You will enter the Grouped View by default once you create a parts& labor group and save it. When try to add new parts and labor here – you will go to the detailed item view. After you add the item – it will go to the bottom of the list and remain ungrouped unless you change its status by selecting reorder & group.

Your workflow gets a ton easier with the features from our latest update. We are introducing approving and denying recommended items for groups.

Creating Item Groups

Recommending Grouped Items

Interacting with Estimates – Client POV

When your customers receive a digital estimate – they will be notified that recommended items exist and prompted to take action. They will also see a header notification that leads to the client portal where they can pay their invoice or handle their business.

Upon clicking the “R” button next to the invoice item – they can either approve or deny the recommended item. After they do this – you will see this updated on the invoice/ job card itself.

ARI’s most recent update brings you the most-requested features to date. We are happy to introduce Deposit Requests, Bulk Payments for Invoices, and Tipping.

Let’s dive into the new features!

Creating a deposit request in ARI

Requesting a deposit in ARI is quite simple. You first need to create an invoice or start editing an existing one. Then select “Request a Deposit” from the menu at the bottom. Once you are there – you can set the deposit amount, and reason for the deposit request and monitor the deposit’s status.

Once you are ready with your request – just hit save to finalize the changes. The deposit request will appear immediately on the client’s Invoices and Client Portal, and they can pay it from there. You will see the deposit status change after clients take action. If you don’t require a deposit anymore, you can always delete the deposit request in the future.

• You need an active online payment processor so your clients can pay the deposits. If there isn’t one active – they won’t be able to initiate the payment. Check out this video to learn how to activate a default online payment processor in ARI.

   

Making Deposit Payments as an ARI Client

As mentioned previously, your clients will see any deposit requests after you create them. Your clients can then pay the deposit from the client portal. You first need to grant them access and ensure they receive the right credentials. Follow this guide to set up the client portal access for your customers.
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Assuming you’ve granted them access and you’ve made a deposit request from the app – customers will see this reflected on their invoices. When you share a link with the invoice – they will see a “Deposit Required” notification. Upon clicking on “make the payment” they will be redirected to the client portal where they can send the advance payment.
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If they are to open the client portal straight from the regular link you give them – they’ll end up on the main page. From there they should select Make a Payment -> Make a Deposit and select the right one. Clients will see the notes you left on the request and write notes themselves. They can also give tips for the advance payment.
As soon as clients pay the deposit – you will see the status change on the invoice.
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Every time clients have an unpaid invoice or deposit – they will see a notification on the client portal dashboard. They can follow the link and will go to the same payment action page.
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Paying Invoices in Full(Bulk Payments in ARI)

Bulk payments allow your clients to pay multiple Invoices at once. Customers will see all the invoices gathered until now and choose which they want to pay in full.
To pay multiple invoices at once – first, open the client portal. Then go to Make a Payment -> Pay Invoices in Full and you’ll see the bulk payments section.
After that, select the invoices you want to pay, leave a note and a tip if you’d like, and continue towards making the payment.

Sending Direct Payments

Alternatively – clients can now issue direct payments without creating an invoice. You can handle such payments if needed or if there’s an emergency. You can think of it as a new channel for receiving partial payments. If there’s a service you performed and your client had to pay later – you can request such payment and ask your client to note the previous Invoice number as a reference. Tips are also available here. To leave a tip – choose one of the default amounts or input a custom one from the menu.

We just introduced Business Assets and Recurring and Additional Fees. And updated the Labor Guides design for quick access from the homepage.
Let’s break them down one by one.

Recurring and Additional Fees Support

With recurring fees, you can add small taxes or special fees to all of your invoices. You can choose between a percentage or a flat amount. And decide whether to make them taxable or not. All recurring charges will apply to new invoices unless you delete or change the amount.

Here’s how to set them up:

Profile -> Recurring Charges-> Add new record -> Save changes

Quicker Labor guides access

If you’ve activated your Labor Guides in ARI – you’ll have an easier time working with them. We combined all features into a single section. With it, you use the Vehicle Selector, Labor Guides, Parts, Fluids, Wireframes, and Repair Procedures in one place.

You’ll find each of them in the Labor Guides section on the main menu.

Business Assets support

If you have special tools, equipment, or other valuable assets, be sure to place them in the right spot. You can use the business assets section to do so.

Follow these steps to use the feature:

Inventory -> Business Assets -> Add new -> Save changes

We are in the process of developing exciting new features.

Please tell us what you think about the latest update in the comments, and share the article on social media if you find value in it.

We are presenting AI Annotations for Vehicle Inspections. Giving you the convenience of quickly detecting potential damage done to a vehicle. Instead of drawing and describing the issue – the AI will tell you what’s wrong with the vehicle – be it a dent, a scratch, a deformation, a crack, or something else.

Let’s show you how to use the feature in real-time.

Using AI Annotations in ARI

The AI Annotation provides additional context to your Vehicle Inspections. When the inspection checklist and pictures are not enough – you can use the AI to simplify damage reporting. Just upload a picture, and the AI will detect and list any potential damages. Those are transferred as notes next to the image for your reference.

Here are the steps to use it:

Inspections -> Create/ Open an Inspection -> Pictures -> Automatic Annotations

*Each AI Annotation use costs 10 ARI Credits!
*This is a developing AI feature. Results might not always be 100% accurate.

We are working to implement more AI tools to help you manage your auto repair workflow. AI for auto repair is here to stay, and we need your feedback to improve the app.

Please tell us what you think about the feature in the comments, and share the article on social media if you found it helpful!

Please read this guide to get the app’s latest version.

This week, we will give you a short overview of the Client Portal. A way for your clients to see their entire business with you. It is used for everything from tracking Invoices, Payments, and Inspections to live chatting with you.

See the complete guide below and learn how to share the client portal with your customers.

Client Portal Guide

Client Portal Key Features

With the portal, your clients get a complete summary of their Invoices, Appointments, and other business items. The data is relevant to one client at a time – and they need login keys to access it. You control what they see as the data is taken directly from ARI. That means the portal automatically updates after making any edits to the client profile, invoices, inspections, vehicles, or other relevant info.

Here’s how to give access to your clients:

Open a Client -> Client Portal -> Send via Email | Send via Text | Copy to clipboard

To preview it yourself before sending it – simply hit preview.

You can grant or stop access to the portal anytime via the toggle button on the client portal page.

Clients can open the help center and start a conversation with you. You will receive an in-app notification if you are working in ARI. Or get a push notification with the app in the background if you allow it from the device settings.

*Quick Demo

User Sessions in Activity Logs

User Sessions are a way to highlight employee activity while they are working on the same ARI file as you. In other words – you will see if someone from the team is editing an Invoice or Inspection in the app.

User Sessions are available for all multi-user accounts. To add your staff as an ARI User, you must create a User Role and a User Access. Do that from:

Profile -> User Roles -> + Button
Profile -> Users -> + Button

When viewing a user session – you will see the user’s Name, Role, and Presence. The feature is active whenever you edit:

• Invoices
• Job Cards/ Estimates
• Payments
• Vehicle Inspections

To access the User session panel:

Open Activity Logs -> User Sessions

*in-app illustration

Keep your app up to date – follow this guide to ensure you can access the latest features.

For your work comfort – we added a Fixed Labor Rates | Profit Margins Selector and a Multiple-Delete Option for a hassle-free editing and labor configuration process. Let’s show you how to use them in the app and get more work done. (*Visual guides below)

Fixed Labor Rates | Profit Margin

We fulfilled your requests and added an option to change your Per Hour Labor Rates to Fixed Labor Rates. Before you start, it’s good to know and have access to some standard Labor Times for some auto repair activities. Here are the steps to access the Fixed Rates/ Profit Margin feature.

From the main menu – go to Profile -> Labor Markup. There you will see a toggle button that enables/ disables the Fixed Labor Rates. 

Click it and adjust the slider to get the required amount. Once done – click save, and you will see the corresponding value as profit each time you add a Labor Item to your Invoices.

You can toggle the button off if you need to work with different Labor Rates and Types again.

Multiple Delete Option

The Multiple Deletion Option is Part of our menu redesign, which provides further editing options. With Multiple Deletes – you can select an entire list from a page and delete every item. You will see it in the menus:

• Job Cards
• Clients
• Vehicles
• Invoices
• Inspections
• Tires

To use it – open any of the menus and click “More“. Then choose Multiple Deletes, check the upper-most tickbox on the page, and click Delete Selected items to proceed.

Once activating Multiple Deletion – the setting can’t be reverted.

Stay tuned for more new updates and changes feature changes in ARI. We will attach visual user guides for you to learn using the product faster.

Comment below with feedback about Fixed Labor Rates and Multiple Deletes, and share the article on social media if you find it helpful.

To begin things – we introduced Web SMS Editing and a new Discount Coupons Template to make engaging and retaining clients much easier for you. Let’s show you how to use the features and create value for your business. (*Please check the visual guides below)

SMS Editing in the Web App

ARI’s Web SMS Editing now allows you to send personalized messages or add crucial details about your Invoice, Inspection, or Appointment with clients. They can be used for Marketing Activities, Customer Support, Client Outreach, and much more.

To edit an SMS – open an existing Invoice, and select Share -> Send via SMS. You will see the default SMS template, which you can edit and send to clients depending on the situation. After finishing the edits – select Send to complete the operation.

SMS editing Options will appear in the following menus.

– Invoices
– Inspections
– Online Appointments
– Service Reminders

The process is the same – each section only has a different SMS template.

Discount Coupons Rework

ARI Discount Coupons were updated with a professional look and an option to attach them directly to Job Cards/ Invoices! You can create one from the Profile Menu and see how it looks. Finish the coupon creation by adding coupon codes and a monetary value/ percentage depending on your needs.

To attach a Coupon to an Invoice – open an active Job Card/ Invoice and select “More.“. Then click “Attach Discount Coupon“  and choose one of your active promotions. A special discount will be applied after you save the progress on your Invoice/ Job Card.

Stay tuned for more overall improvements and changes in ARI. We will provide user guides for most of the crucial features in this update.

Comment below with feedback about Web SMS Editing and Discount Coupons, and share the article on social media if you find it helpful.

Please keep your app up-to-date with the help of this guide.

New Features

One of your most-requested features was Automated Appointment Reminders for your clients. It’s one of the many improvements that came with the update. Here we will show you how to use it and extract value for your business.

Automated Reminders for Online Appointments

ARI now provides the convenience of automatically reminding clients about their appointments with you!  You can send Automatic Reminders to customers in your shop via email or SMS. To do that – open the Appointments calendar and create an Appointment for one of your clients. Head to the bottom yellow section “Automatic Reminders for Clients.“.  Then choose whether you want to send them an SMS or an email before they come to your shop.

You can use the Automated Appointments after clients book a service from your Online Appointments page. Once the appointment is confirmed – open it and tick the boxes so clients receive an email/SMS 24 hours before their scheduled visit!

Stay tuned for the upcoming changes in ARI. We will provide user guides for most of the crucial features in this update.

Comment below with feedback about Automated Appointment Reminders, and share the article on social media if you found it helpful.

As an auto repair company manager or owner, you know that consistent income levels depend on the amount of new and returning clients in your repair shop. And here, Upselling strategies are among the most efficient methods that come to your aid. Upselling can be done significantly easier when auto repair software assists you. Upselling gives consumers an extra service or product that improves or complements their purchase. When done correctly, upselling boosts profit margins and improves client happiness and loyalty.

This article will discuss three top-up selling strategies for car repair firms that can improve revenue and client retention. Thus, read on to find out more.

Service and Parts Bundle

Offering service bundles and part packages is one of the most efficient strategies to boost sales through upselling. For example, if a client comes to have a change the oil, you may offer a complementary package containing an additional checkup. You can raise your profits by selling these service bundles at a higher price compared to the regular oil change price individually.

Grouping components and services may assist clients in seeing the benefit of getting what they need all at once instead of separately. Auto repair firms can advertise service bundles and parts packages at their store, on their website, and in their bills to effectively promote them.

Discount Coupons

Provide discount vouchers for additional services or repairs as another successful upselling strategy. You can boost the chance of returning customers and create long-term client loyalty by giving customers a concrete reason to revisit your store. For example, a car repair business may provide a discount of 10% off an alignment with the purchase of brand-new tires. This encourages consumers to examine their vehicle’s alignment in addition to buying new tires.

You can offer discount coupons in a variety of ways. Distribute them using various media outlets, such as direct mail, social networking sites, and email marketing campaigns. ARI even has the option to distribute campaigns via SMS. The following works best when you have a way of segmenting your most engaged clients.

Discount Cards/Membership Cards

Discount or membership cards are another excellent way to drive upsells and promote repeat customers. When clients use these cards to make a second purchase of parts or services offered by the company, they receive special discounts or benefits. Membership cards help the business generate a steady income while building client loyalty.

Conclusion

The implementation of upselling strategies requires effective advertising and communication. Auto repair firms may enhance their chances of earning more sales by prominently advertising upsell offers in the store, online, and through print materials. Finally, the key to effective upselling is understanding the customers’ situation and offering something more valuable than they expect.

The latest ARI(Auto Repair Software) update brings enhanced customization options to improve the communication between you and your clients. Now the Invoicing, Inspection, Service Reminder and Appointment Confirmation email templates are editable within the app. You can swiftly change the default company logo so yours shows on top! Moreover, you can edit the disclaimers, headings, text fields, fonts, colors, and shortcodes to display additional company information from your ARI profile! Use the feature wisely to create the best possible experience for your customers.

Super convenient for your clients

Build an impactful message that will resonate with your clients. You are no longer restricted to the default email template and can add unique flavor and content to each message you send. You can include additional Client, Vehicle, and Invoicing data in your email templates according to your needs. Get feedback on what’s important to your customer and include it in the Service Reminder or Vehicle Inspection message.

What’s more – you can use our services, and we will help with content creation and generating the best template we can offer.

The importance of looking professional

Now more than ever, it’s become crucial to distinguish yourself from other businesses to gain credibility and trust. One effective way of doing this is by improving the look of your email templates. Your customers will benefit if the information on their Invoices and Inspections is more accessible and relevant to them. And the most significant upside is that it’s as simple as ABC.

How to customize your email templates

You have one of the following options when customizing email templates. 

1. Editing the Invoice/ Estimate template
2. Editing the Vehicle Inspections template
3. Editing the Service Reminder Template
4. Editing the Appointment Confirmation template

Let’s start with a simple example. Open an existing Invoice and click the “Share/ Send/ Download” button. Select “Send via email” to preview your template. Then choose “Customize” in the top left corner. Open the Invoice template and start making the required changes. You could reset to the default template if you don’t like your progress. Once ready – click “Save Template” and return to the previous page to start sending to clients! 

Try changing the info displayed on the templates by selecting a different shortcode from the menu. Here is a list of shortcodes you can use:

Client Info

• ${client.Name} 
• ${client.Address} 
• ${client.Phone} 
• ${client.email} 
• ${client.City} 
• ${client.State} 
• ${client.ZIP}
• ${client.CompanyName}

Vehicle Info

• ${vehicle.type} 
• ${vehicle.vin} 
• ${vehicle.regNum} 
• ${vehicle.make} 
• ${vehicle.model} 
• ${vehicle.year} 
• ${vehicle.milage} 

Invoice Info

• ${selectedItem.Status} 
• ${selectedItem.TypeOfForm} 
• ${selectedItem.Date} 
• ${selectedItem.BalanceDue} 

This article is a continuation of the topic of Professional Client Email Templates. Have a look at it if you are just getting started with creating your first email. If you have any comments or suggestions about the feature – please share them in the comments below! We would appreciate it a lot.

ARI now has the option to display your custom online bookings page to clients after they get a service reminder. This way – the process is much simpler. You can benefit a lot, especially if sending service reminders about an incoming service is your priority.

What’s new?

• QR Code added to our service reminder stickers
• QR Code interactions for your clients and you as a shop/ mechanic
• An option to create Invoices from the Service Reminders view
• Improved usability and page interactions

QR Code functionality

QR Codes make it easy for your clients to book an appointment for their next service and for your mechanics to view the details associated with that service reminder.

Start by creating a new Service Reminder for a client. Then add a QR code from the menu and send it/ print it so your client can see it. Your client can scan the QR code and book his next appointment at your shop. When a vehicle is in your shop – the mechanic can scan the QR code and open the Service Reminder. From there, he creates a new Invoice using the current reminder data!

You can toggle back and forth between displaying the QR code on your Service Reminder stickers with the QR button on the top right side of the page.

Creating a new Invoice from Service Reminders

You can do that by an existing Service Reminder. Then click the “More” button and select “Create Invoice.” This way, you grab the data from the reminder and transfer it over to the Invoice.

We hope this updated tutorial was helpful. Leave a comment or share on social media if you think that way!

As part of our most recent update, we are providing ARI(Auto Repair Software) users with the capacity to represent their businesses in the best light possible. The app now supports a collection of templates used to send e-mails for Invoices, Estimates, Vehicle Inspections, or Service Reminders directly to your clients. In previous versions – those used to be plain text e-mails with limited customization options.

These client e-mails also contain a link to your customized Online Booking Page, making it easy for them to connect with you and schedule their next appointment for your shop.

The info in those e-mails is pre-filled and comes from your ARI Vehicles, Inventory, and Client libraries. Before you send an e-mail to a client – you can preview how it will look in their inbox and address any issues if necessary.

Now – look at how they will appear to your clients in the app.

Invoice/ Estimates Template

You can use them to notify clients that their invoice is ready and needs to be paid. They will see the pay now option after they open the web invoice. Additionally, they can follow the online appointment link and book the next service in your shop.

Template items:

• a VIN
• vehicle make and model
• client name
• balance due
• basic company info such as logo and company name
• web invoice link
• online booking link

Vehicle Inspection Templates 

Let clients know what’s the overall condition of their vehicles. Send them a complete vehicle inspection and let them book an appointment quickly if something needs to be fixed urgently.

Template items:

• vehicle year
• vehicle make and model
• client name
• basic company info such as logo and company name
• online booking link

Service Reminder Template

This e-mail contains all the essential information that informs people when and what type of service needs to be done on their vehicle. Then it’s followed up with an online booking link, so your clients don’t forget to schedule their next appointment and miss the deadline.

Template items:

• vehicle year
• vehicle make and model
• client name
• basic company info such as logo and company name
• online booking link
• service type
• date/ miles service due

Our idea moving forward is to give you further customization options that will make your messages stand out in a big way. We are open to feedback regarding the templates and want to make them as usable.

ARI’s newest update brings you another utility feature – a shortcuts sidebar. The navbar lets you access different feature panels conveniently. It’s also scalable, and you can move it around and have enough space to perform your tasks freely. Additionally, you can edit each item in the menu according to your preference and needs.

How Does It Work?

To open the shortcuts menu – click on the blue hamburger icon from the main menu. Once open – you will see different ARI feature views like Job Cards, Accounting, Service reminders, and more. You can switch between the main menu of each feature effortlessly. Keep in mind that any changes made to a feature view will be discarded if you switch to a different panel without clicking the save button for your additions/ edits.

The shortcut menu stays open even if you click away. To close it – select the “X” button on top.

Pro Tips

The navbar renders differently on different screen sizes. To get the most out of it – choose a suitable place for it while working. Do this by dragging and dropping the hamburger icon in a fitting place.

The most common way of using the shortcuts sidebar is to switch between your commonly used features. To create a better workflow – you can customize the entire sidebar. You can do that after you open the sidebar and click on the settings icon on the top. There you can add or remove different feature items. 

You can include all 18 feature views or just 1-2 that you use regularly. If you don’t like the customizations – you can reset to the default state. 

Conclusion

That’s the feature recap for this week. Expect more exciting updates to our auto repair software soon, and follow our social media channels to get the latest info. Leave a comment if you liked the content.

Previously this option was only accessible through the mobile apps on IoS and Android. If you prefer using the mobile app – get it from the App Store or Google Play. Now we are increasing service flexibility by providing more send options. We aim to enhance our auto repair software and other features in the future.

How to send text messages from the web application?

• To send an SMS this way – create a new invoice or a job card. Or open an existing one. 
• Go to “Invoice” and select Print/Share/ Download. 
• Choose the “Send via SMS” icon to complete the action.
• Click OK to confirm the action.

See the illustrative screenshot for a better sense of how it looks in the app.

What are the benefits?

1. Better accessibility
2. More ways to reach your customers
3. Easy to use

Customers often have a lot going on in their lives, which is why they leave their vehicles at the auto repair shop and go about their routine. It is your responsibility to brief them on their car and ensure that they are always kept up to date. Here are some of the ways that you can use to effectively inform clients about their vehicles.

Ways to Inform Clients About Vehicle Repair Effectively

Remember that maintaining clear and effective communication with the customer will always work to your benefit in the long run. We know it can be incredibly challenging to communicate and notify them about the vehicle’s every change. Still, since doing so is essential, we have compiled a list of a few pointers that can assist you with the process.

Preferred Communication Medium

Most of the time, mechanics don’t provide the customer with the appropriate communication medium or the other way around. Therefore, you must use the mode of communication preferred by a customer if you are working on their vehicle. For example, you could send an email or a text message, but there is no point if the receiver isn’t using the device regularly.

Therefore, having an effective communication system should be your priority. You might utilize various communication channels, such as social media, texts, phone calls, and many more. However, before you do, you research which medium is commonly used by the customer.

Utilize Reminder Service

You must communicate with the customer after or before every task. Proper communication and car maintenance or repair reminders can help your business and customer relationships. You can use various auto repair software with service reminder features to keep track of your customers’ vehicles and update them on their vehicle maintenance.

Provide Real-Time Update

The best approach to keep your clients pleased is to provide them with real-time updates on the status of the repairs or maintenance performed on their vehicles. You have effectively ensured that the client is satisfied with the work they entrusted you with when you have provided a real-time update. You can either send them a digital message or SMS with the help of auto repair software. Or simply call to inform them about the situation.

Provide Proper Presentation

Keeping clients updated on the status of their vehicles is the first step of the process. You must ensure they also grasp your message easily. So it’s a good practice to use graphical elements and different formats to grab the customers’ attention and guarantee they understand the procedure. Sometimes adding a single graphic or making small formatting changes leads to an outstanding presentation.

What Features Can You Use to Remind Vehicle to Clients Effectively

Today, many different features can be used to assist in the process of reminding customers about their vehicles. For example, something as simple as a reminder sticker feature placed on a crucial spot reminds people their vehicle needs to be repaired or serviced.

Aside from physical stickers – you can message people when it’s near time for an oil change or when they need any maintenance. In addition, the usage of a variety of software applications is now widespread for online booking, appointment scheduling, and repair status updates and notifications. The following is a list of some features that ARI(auto repair software) has brought to the table for you so that you may efficiently remind customers regarding their vehicles:

•       Detailed Reminders
•       Repair Data Chart
•       Reminder Stickers
•       Reminder Presentation 

You can use those and many more features to build more effective communication with your clients. Post a comment or share the article on social media if you feel it helped your work in some regard. 

Feature Overview

With the latest ARI(Auto Repair Sofware) update – we are introducing one of the most requested and exciting features to date – labor guides and labor rates. ARI users can now access the complete auto-repair database of Mitchell 1 ProDemand and use it to create invoices and job cards on the go.

If you already have a paid ProDemand account – you can use all ProDemand benefits inside ARI free of charge. As a new user – you can sign up for Mitchell 1 at any time and get one of the most accurate and comprehensive data in the auto repair industry.

How to connect your ProDemand account to ARI?

To get started – open the “Settings” menu and select Labor Guides. Then read the instructions
and enter your credentials from your original ProDemand account. You can also watch the explainer
video linked in the description. Once you are connected – you can start operating with the ProDemand labor estimates, guides, times, and rates.

Creating Invoices with Mitchell 1 ProDemand

The ProDemand interface and features fully integrate into ARI. To access them – create a new Invoice or edit an existing one. Open the Job Cards, Estimate, or Invoice menus. Then select a vehicle or create a new one(year/make/model are mandatory). Click the Labor Guides button to open the ProDemand window.

Once the ProDemand window is open – you can search and add Parts&Labor, Maintenance, and Fluids items from the respective tabs. You can add or remove items depending on your needs. For each item – you will see the description on the left side. Once you gather the info you need – click the transfer button. This function will move all selected Parts, Labor, and Notes onto your Invoices/ Estimates.

Vehicle selector from Mitchell 1 ProDemand

You can browse and handle vehicle data with the Vehicle Selector functionality. To start – open the Vehicles menu and create a new vehicle. Then press the “Open Vehicle Selector” button. There you can search for cars, SUVs, and trucks included in the interactive list. After you find the one you need for your job – click “Use this vehicle,” and the data will appear in your ARI Vehicles section. We recommend using the vehicle selector for your Job Cards to get the most accurate Labor Guides.

Fleet management is a very significant and essential aspect of most transportation companies. It refers to everything that needs to be completed to ensure the fleet continues to operate smoothly and without any problems. A fleet manager is responsible for ensuring the supervision of all aspects of fleet activities and making decisions regarding the routing, selling, and buying of vehicles and all other aspects of fleet management. However, managing all of these factors can become a burden for fleet managers. But luckily – fleet managers can employ ARI(Auto Repair Software) to make things simpler for them.

What Problems do Fleet Managers Solve?

The fleet management teams confront various difficulties. Fleet managers must develop plans for planning, directing, coordinating, controlling, and overseeing everything related to fleet vehicle replacements and disposals. The problems fleet managers are responsible for solving are as follows:

• Time management on the administrative tasks
• Fuel use and cost tracking 
• Vehicle maintenance cost
• Proper communication with drivers 
• Safe driving habits
• Geographically separated team management 
• Asset utilization 
• Drowning in a lot of data
• Integration between fleet data and existing software system 
• Misuse of fleet assets 

The fleet managers must solve the above issues using fleet management software to produce notifications and real-time alerts regarding problematic driving practices and many other problems.

How to Improve Your Fleet Management Performance?

Improving fleet management performance is an essential objective for the company. Fleet managers must understand the industry and strategies to collaborate with the team to enhance fleet management to boost efficiency. They can also benefit from using different fleet management software. Here are some of the ways you could increase fleet management performance.

• Implement Software: Fleet management software is one of the most effective ways to enhance your management systems. These applications will assist fleet managers in becoming more effective and creative in handling diverse tasks.

• Automate Workflow: Using an automated, digitized workflow system will aid in optimizing fleet performance and improving time management for the fleet manager since an automated workflow has a meager chance of error. 

• Lower Maintenance Cost: As a fleet manager, your priority should be to reduce maintenance costs, which may rapidly build up over time. The idea is to be preventive rather than reactive. Make use of several methods that can help you reduce maintenance costs.
• Ensure Safety: This is the most overlooked section. You must ensure the fleet’s and its drivers’ safety. As a fleet manager, you must be well-versed in safety aspects. Proper safety features can avoid future maintenance and adjustments.

How can ARI Help You?

Many fleet managers have found ARI unexpectedly valuable for handling fleet management tasks. It is because it includes necessary features required by any fleet manager. Some examples are as follows.

VIN Decoder/Scanner

Fleet management has become more straightforward with the introduction of ARI and fleet management software. Features such as the VIN decoder and scanner assist fleet managers in keeping track of the vehicle’s entrance. This approach is highly beneficial within the fleet management process.

Reports and Stats

This ARI system also has a report and statistics capability that significantly assists the fleet manager in tracking any financial movement inside the business. This feature may simplify your work with distinct labels, descriptions, and statistics. In addition, this feature allows the fleet manager to monitor financial information, inventory records, and personnel reports, allowing you to keep an eye on everything going on without needing anyone else.

Inventory and Part Management

This feature will provide you with a thorough overview of the inventory. The fleet management feature uses unique data entry tools to ensure first-class inventory and auto parts management. This approach makes work considerably more straightforward for a fleet manager by precisely showing all of the company’s inventory.

Why don’t you try it and see for yourself? As a fleet manager – your feedback will be invaluable. Make sure to comment and share on social media if you find the content engaging.

*images are illustrative

Monitoring the development of an auto repair shop is one of the essential things shop owners can do to improve customer service quality and develop their business. However, several additional considerations are taken into account to maintain quality, which can be time-consuming. Therefore, the most effective strategy is to use KPIs that assist shop owners and mechanics in keeping a record of the critical components.

Top 6 Best KPIs for an Auto Repair Shop

There are various KPIs available for use in business, and it may be challenging to choose suitable KPIs that will contribute to a company’s growth. Therefore, we have provided you with a list of the top 6 best KPIs which can be an excellent tool for your auto repair shop analytics.

Utilization Rate

This procedure is essential in any business because it calculates the ratio between the number of vehicles that an auto business manufactures over some time and the number of cars that the company might be able to produce with the most efficient use of its labor and time over a similar time. Being a shop owner and keeping track will allow you to establish benchmarks and become more cost-effective as you save money while offering high-quality service.

Efficient Labor Rate

Utilizing this indication will assist you in calculating the direct revenue that you are generating every hour. It is possible to determine an effective labor rate by dividing the total money generated from labor by the total number of labor hours recorded. When you do so, you can identify any form of disparity and swiftly fix it. An efficient labor rate indicates that the business is generating money effectively.

Net Profit Margin

Net Profit is probably one of the most important factors to monitor. This indicator will inform shop owners of their projections and the state of the business in the future. A significant difference between the actual revenue and the net profit margins signals a problem you must address quickly. Shop owners and mechanics can protect themselves from suffering a substantial financial setback in the future by doing so. You could also use an auto repair app for advanced reports and data breakdown.

Customer Retention

A happy customer is always a return customer. If you have loyal customers, you must ensure that you prioritize these customers first. Good auto repair software will assist you in determining which customers to focus on based on many factors. You can view customer data based on average repair costs, total repairs, average repairs per year, and many more. This way, you can improve each customer’s service quality.

Inventory Turn

This procedure will give you a thorough understanding of your auto repair shop inventory. Inventory turn is a key performance indicator (KPI) that indicates the percentage of empty inventory, which assists the firm in determining if it has taken on too much inventory or too less. It also shows how long it might take to sell out—allowing you to be more competent.

Downtime

Downtime is every auto shop owner’s greatest fear. Downtime is typically quite costly and can be very extreme at times. Auto repair shops are perhaps the most expensive place for downtime. Downtime in certain areas might cost between $20,000 and $50,000 per minute. Make use of auto repair shop management software to prevent more issues. It will assist you in assessing the information more accurately, allowing you to improve your average downtime.

Final Takeaway

Maintaining a record of the KPIs as a shop owner can significantly assist you when making decisions based on your business. Keeping track of everything can help you identify the areas where you need to improve. Therefore, utilizing these KPIs to improve your auto repair shop is highly recommended.

Why Are Vehicle Inspections Necessary?

Vehicle inspections are a significant factor in determining the overall health of a vehicle. The best way to protect the safety and durability of the vehicle is to put it on regular vehicle inspections. Many automobiles have unseen damage on the inside that may go undetected for a long time. Damage to the inside of the vehicle might put the safety of the vehicle in jeopardy to a substantial degree. 

The majority of accidents that occur in the present era are the result of either human error or mechanical failure of the vehicle. Therefore, doing an appropriate vehicle inspection can provide a great deal of information about the vehicle. It’s a mechanic’s responsibility to present the info to the owner in a decent manner.

When is it Optimal to Make Vehicle Inspections?

The exact answer is “it depends.” Multiple factors come into play such as weather, mileage, car part quality, and car year make. Clients will usually come to you and get car inspections at least once every season or year to ensure the vehicles’ safety and long-term sustainability. As a mechanic, you’ll notice that many clients come to you while considering a used car from an auto dealership.

Taking regular inspection of the vehicle for granted might be quite problematic. If one of the car’s numerous mechanical parts suddenly stopped working, likely, you wouldn’t notice immediately, which would make things much more difficult for the vehicle. 

Therefore, it’s crucial to know the significance of vehicle inspections. The inspection of several vehicles can be done in one of today’s numerous convenient methods. One effective strategy is to enroll in a comprehensive auto repair software program that assists with the procedure.

What About (ARI’s)Auto Repair Software Vehicle Inspection Feature?

The optimal management of an auto repair shop requires a lot of attention. In addition, if you don’t have suitable tools and instructions, getting a car inspected could be a total hassle. Therefore, software designed to help you with vehicle inspections might be of significant service. Its extensive list, which includes more than 30 criteria, will guarantee a detailed look into the vehicle. Our auto repair software also has some handy features, such as the ability to make your checklist, which assists mechanics in creating custom checklists.

The checklist is provided in a complete suite along with a chart that is quite comprehensive and is sorted into three different statuses: good, fair, and poor. With this tool, mechanics and technicians can rapidly write down the problems their customers are experiencing. Here are some of the most notable benefits provided by our auto repair software:

• Customizable Inspection Checklists
• Multiple Damage Report Templates
• Option to Attach Pictures With Damaged Parts/ Vehicles
• Company Info Visualisation
• Preview and Send via SMS/ PDF files

Did you think our article was helpful? We would appreciate your feedback or sharing on social media if you think we made the advice accessible.

Inventory management has become one of the most effective tools to increase your business’s efficiency. Over the years, many companies have emphasized the technologies and tools used for inventory management. 

Inventory management has never been more engaging than it is now, thanks to the introduction of cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated computerized systems. The objective of inventory management is to ensure that the predetermined objective is maintained to provide for continuous operation.

What Is Auto Repair Inventory Management?

An auto repair inventory management system is a process that integrates all of the essential parts of operating an auto shop, hence improving the operations of the company. In an auto shop, there are possibly hundreds of replacement parts and services accessible, and the company must manage them properly.

The management of inventories enables an organization to protect its planned method of production. The procedure may involve a discussion of refueling, asset management, the cost of transportation, projections of future inventory costs, and more.

Benefits of Using Auto Repair Inventory Management Systems

An auto repair inventory management software is a comprehensive solution that allows company owners to automate routine, time-consuming, and strategic tasks with less effort. The implementation of software-based solutions into inventory management has resulted in a new and distinct set of benefits. Let’s look at some of the advantages of using auto repair software to manage inventory for auto repair shops.

• It saves time and effort
• Identifies possible issues at an early stage
• Comprehensive solutions
• Highly convenient 
• Tracks and reports customer activity
• Better communication systems

Best Auto Inventory Management Improvement Tips

Are you experiencing issues such as poor sales, a lack of appropriate inventory, or a lack of proper standards? It is likely due to the absence of adequate mechanisms for inventory management. The management of an organization’s inventory is crucially important. Therefore, we have decided that the best way to help you optimize your inventory management is to share some valuable tips with you.

Implement High-End Software

The role of technology in our lives and businesses is essential. It is highly recommended to use the best available inventory management software. With the help of such auto repair software, you can manage your database, monitor customer reports, and be more productive in your everyday operations. Thus, increasing your sales and profits.

Reduce Employee Turnover

Employee turnover may have a detrimental impact on your overall business. Hiring and training staff might harm the organization regularly. Maintaining a large team can be highly expensive. As a result, reducing employee turnover and utilizing software is preferable.

Stay Aware of Operations

People tend to neglect the concept that they should regularly examine their operations. They provide the option to the employee or to the auto repair software to make the decision. It is of the highest importance that you constantly examine the inventory and its management at least once in a while.

Final Verdict

We are aware that successfully operating a business requires attention to detail, but one thing that may benefit your company in the long term is making sure that it has effective inventory management. In addition, managing an auto repair company is already a challenging choice; nevertheless, you may improve your results by using inventory management software and following the recommendations provided.

The main points we will discuss in the article are:

• What are the fundamental changes to the online bookings page, and how does it compare to the previous version
• How you can set up your online bookings page
• How to configure your work hours and list your services
• What customization and editing options you have
• How to share the online booking page with your customers
• More information about the version update

Your customers can now enjoy a completely different online booking experience. ARI- Auto Repair Software‘s latest update allows your clients to see your work hours, available repair slots, and provided services. The design is simplified, and it lets people make appointments at your shop with a few button clicks. Here’s a visual comparison to put things into context:

How to set up your online appointments page?

Before using the online appointments functionality – you will need to confirm your e-mail from the “Appointments“ menu. Once you do that – our system will register that your e-mail is confirmed, and you should start receiving booking notifications there.

After you are ready – you can start configuring your working hours. The way to do that is from the “Appointments“ view when you click on “More” and go to the “Setup working hours” page. From there, you can add your work schedule, holidays, and how many appointments you can take in a timeframe. Additionally, you can choose to enable half-hour appointments or block short-notice appointments.

Listing your services and customizing form fields

You can list your services from the “Appointments“ view by clicking on “More“ and selecting “List your services“. On this page, you can enter the services you want to display in your online booking form. Once you complete your list – click on “Save changes“ to complete the record.

You can write descriptions for each of them, and choose a service duration and a total price.

From the section “Add custom fields to your booking form“ you can choose what information your clients need to enter in your booking form. There you will see the default and custom fields that have a mandatory and an optional state.

A box with a tick means the option is optional. If the box is empty – the option is mandatory. The fields “client.name“, “client.phone“, and “vehicle.make” are not editable in our auto repair software.

Additional editing options in our auto repair software

You can make changes to the e-mail your clients receive after a confirmed booking in the “Edit appointment confirmation e-mail“ section. Besides, you can choose to automatically confirm all new appointments when you receive one from your clients.

You can also switch back to the old calendar view if you need time to adjust to the new design. Moreover, it’s possible to create appointments straight from the calendar in the “Appointments“ view. But you will need all relevant customer and vehicle details. Additionally, you have the option to change the appointment hours by dragging the calendar event or double-clicking to edit it.

*whenever you see a small red triangle on the top right of a section – this means there are some unsaved changes.

Sharing the booking form with your customers

Once you finish customizing your booking form – it’s time to send it to your clients. Open “Appointments“ -> “Get a link to the online booking page“ and see what the form looks like. Then copy the link, and share it via text, e-mail, or social media. Or print it and place it so your clients can see it.

You can also scan a QR code that opens up the online booking form or embed an HTML snippet on your website that leads to it.

We advise you to test the booking form before sending it to your customers and check if it includes all the details and services you want people to see.

What does the customer’s online booking journey look like?

We made sure the customer experience for your clients will be as intuitive as possible. The first thing they see is your company name, logo, and booking calendar. After they choose a time, date, and service for their vehicle – they need to give you some vehicle info and appointment details to continue. The last step is to provide you with contact details so you can confirm the booking and they can receive an e-mail notification.

ARI (Auto Repair Software) V.9.9.7 is active – take a look at the other updates

The online booking calendar redesign is part of our recent app update.

Please check if you are running the latest version of our software by following this guide

Aside from the changes to the Appointments section – here are the other important changes and bug fixes:

• • Inspection ID auto increments when a new inspection is added.
  • Inventory is updated whenever you delete a part from an existing invoice.
  • Printing long invoices on multiple pages.
  • Attaching Inspections to Job Cards.
  • Creating Job Cards and Estimates from the Appointments menu.

After many years of hard work and constant updates – we’ve developed a lot of useful features in our auto repair app.

Naturally, some of them can go unnoticed, and you might not make use of those productivity and time management tools in our software.

That’s why we wanted to remind you about a few improvements we made in the recent app updates.

The list below consists of features that help organize different tasks and monitor the performance of your auto repair business.

ARI Business Data Dashboard

This functionality allows you to bring almost all important business information in one place. That helps you track business results. On that basis, you can make assumptions about the performance and analyze how customers interact with your business.

The performance dashboard is easy to navigate and you can access it straight from the main menu.

Recommended Services

Your expertise as a mechanic or a shop owner can be invaluable in some situations. With the recommended services feature, you can take advantage of that and make different service recommendations whenever you find it appropriate.

This way you can upsell some of your services or give advice that will be appreciated by your customers. To access this feature – open an existing job card from the Job Cards view, click on a labor item, and mark a service as recommended.

Damage Reports

Identifying damaged areas on a vehicle makes your work easier. ARI’s damage reports let you place red dots to indicate where the damage is. This feature has 5 basic vehicle templates you can choose from – Sedan, SUV, Trailer, etc. Additionally, you can upload your damage report template while working on a specific vehicle.

You can open a damage report from the Inspections view whenever you have an active inspection open.

Automatic Service Reminders

ARI has the option to send automatic service reminders to your clients whenever their service is due.

To set that up successfully, you need to see if your client has a valid e-mail address and mark the “Send Automatic Reminders“ checkbox. You can access that feature from the “Service Reminders“ view

What else you can get from ARI?

Each ARI feature you utilize can boost your productivity in multiple ways.

If you want to manage your finances more efficiently – you can use our advanced accounting options, payment tracking, and reliable online payments or POS terminal payments infrastructure.

If you want to see overall improvements in your technical work – try using our service history feature, vehicle inspections, VIN decoder, and vehicle diagnostics options.

And if you want to develop an effective business – you can use our reports feature, assign user roles to your staff, check the business data dashboard, and let customers book your services online.

In this article, we will talk about more interesting adjustments within ARI.

Follow this guide to make sure you are using the latest version of the app.

Also, see our previous articles to learn what other changes we made to our auto repair software.

Clients – source info

ARI now lets you include source information for each of your customers(e.g Social Media, Referral, Google). This can serve as an important feedback point because it helps you understand how customers discover your business and which segments are most valuable to you.

You can add the source from the “Clients” menu as you are adding or editing any customer details. Once you open the edit view – click on “Other” from where you can fill in the relevant information under “source”. After you finish, click on “done editing” to save your progress.

You can also search by source in the “Clients” view where you will see each customer that corresponds to your query. All you have to do is use the search box.

Additionally, you can get the source information when you open “Reports”, click on “Client Reports” and export the data.

See what it looks like:

Inventory/ Parts

ARI now provides the option to mark different car parts as suitable for a specific vehicle. To access that option – go to the “Inventory” view and select “Parts”. After you choose to create or edit a part – click on “More options” and fill in the appropriate details. To complete the action – click on “Save” in the top right corner.

You can also use the search option in the “Parts” menu to bring up different parts that are suitable for a specific vehicle.

Each time you are editing or creating a new invoice – you can add an inventory item from the current invoice view. Upon doing that the item will be auto-appended in the “Inventory” view as well.

You can see examples below:

Web invoicing changes

We made a few interesting changes to the web invoicing template of our auto repair software. One of them is the option to translate your invoice documents with the help of Google Translate.

Another is the possibility to display multiple address lines in your business profile. The web invoice logo size was also adjusted and it now depends on your invoice settings.

An interesting convenience is the possibility to hide the price of your parts in each web invoice. You can choose to do so in the invoice settings and the changes will be reflected in the documents. If you want to see how to access these invoice settings – follow this guide https://ari.app/2021/06/auto-repair-invoice-templates-settings/

Whenever a web invoice is not found, the link is invalid or something else is broken –  you will see a displayed error.

Here’s how it looks:

Payments 

For easier access to information and better filtering options ARI now supports the grid view for the “Payments” menu on all desktop devices. To access it you need to be inside the view and click on the “grid view” button. Learn more about the benefits of grid views in this article.

Aside from that – ARI now has a POS terminal integration, which allows you to process in-person payments with ease. Learn more about it on our dedicated page.

Appointments 

Interesting usability plus is the new option to create invoices from the “Appointments” menu. This can happen after you open the view, open an existing appointment, and click on the “More” button. After that, you should see the “Create Invoice” text and you can generate an invoice if you need to.

To help your task management – ARI now allows you to add existing appointments straight into your calendar. This option is available only on the mobile app and you can access it by doing the following. Open the “Appointments” view, select an actual appointment and choose the “add to calendar “option at the bottom.

See the examples below:

Service Reminders 

One development to our service reminders menu is the possibility to upload the mileage info from your vehicle details. In the same service reminders view, you can also choose the next service due to mileage with the help of a combo box with standard service intervals.

Accessing this menu happens after you open a vehicle in the “Vehicles” view. After that – click on “More” and choose service reminders. Once you open the reminder and start editing it – you will see the “Next Service Due after” text, which opens the combo box.

Also, our service reminder stickers are sized at 2 inches to match the industry standard.

Find examples below.

ARI settings

One of the new changes is ARI’s “Settings” menu redesign. Some of the icons have been changed so our auto repair software has a cleaner UI.

We also added the PGK (Papua New Guinea Kina) currency as an option. You can find it by using the search box or by selecting it in the currency list. The way to do that is from the “Settings” menu under “Currency”.

The other important addition in the settings menu is our “POS Terminal Setup” section where you can find tons of relevant information about the topic.

Here is a list of some recent bug fixes:

– Parts ID dropdown deletes the id after completion (fixed)

– SMS not working on iOS (fixed)

– no Warnings for leaving the page without saving (fixed)

– bad image resize (fixed)

– alignment issues (fixed)

– speed/lag (improved)

– invoice # not present in reports (fixed)

Thank you for reading and tuning into all our latest updates.

Please share the article if you think the content is useful. And write us a comment if you have any suggestions on how we can improve our auto repair software.

This article will cover another batch of useful developments within ARI.

If you are still using an older version – check out this article and make sure your app is up to date. 

Also, see our latest blog post if you want to learn about other important changes in our app. 

Inspections – adding damage report templates

A big part of ARI V 9.9 is the improvement of the “Inspections” functionality. Starting with the option to add your damage inspection template. In previous versions, you were able to choose from 5 common vehicle blueprints(car, SUV, pickup, motorcycle, and a rear truck section) and mark where a vehicle is damaged. To extend usability it’s now possible for people to add their vehicle blueprint. This template variety allows mechanics to diagnose problems easily and efficiently. 

The way to access these damage report templates is from the “Inspections” view. Whenever you are creating or editing an inspection in the view – go to the “Damage Report” section. Once you are there – you should see the standard car blueprint. If you wish to change that click on “templates” (in the top right corner), then use the “add template” button, which allows you to upload up to 5 damage report templates of your own. 

In case you made a mistake or don’t need the old templates – you can always delete them through the “delete template” in our auto repair software. 

Checklist page reordering

Providing better list readability and easier navigation are among our top priorities. Our auto repair software now allows you to change the order of your checklist items and categories.

This again is a functionality accessible from the “Inspections” view. Changing the order of items and categories is possible while you are editing or creating a new checklist. After you have an inspection open – go to “Checklist” and click on the “Reorder” button. That allows you to move things around until you reach an optimal order. Once you are done – click on “Done Reordering” to complete the action and save your progress.

Don’t forget that you can also add and delete different items or categories in the checklist view.

Company info adjustment

An important change to the inspections template is the new position of the company details. 

Unlike previous versions where the company details were placed below the first big section – now you will see them next to the Vehicle details on the top right side of the page. With this change, we aim to provide a cleaner look and to display the most relevant information on top. Double-check your inspections to see if your company details are displayed properly and edit out the information if necessary. 

Here is a comparison to put things into perspective.

Some of these features might be tricky to find so please make sure everything runs smoothly. 

Write us an e-mail or a comment if it’s difficult for you to navigate around our auto repair software or use some of the features.

The newest version of our auto repair software is here, and it brings multiple improvements. If you want to stay on top of our latest features – make sure your app is up to date by following this guide.

So, here are the most important changes to our software.   

Invoice/ Job Cards – Mark as Paid

Marking invoices as paid can now happen much easier.

You can access this option whenever you are on the Job cards or Invoice views and you have an amount due for a service. Once the view is open and you click on the “More” section, you will see the “Mark as paid” button on the bottom right side. 

Upon clicking the button system will notify you that a cash payment record will be created and the amount due will be removed. Afterward, you should see the completed record in the payments section.

Here’s how it works:

Duplicating invoices 

A big convenience plus is the new “Duplicate Invoice” functionality.

That gives you the option to make a copy of the details in a previously created Invoice or a Job Card. The newly generated job card will have a different ID and the old vehicle parts and labor details won’t translate onto it.

You can access that both from the Job Cards and the Invoices view. The path is the same – after clicking on the “More” section you should see a “Create Duplicate” button.

Here’s how it looks in our app:

User roles

Our auto repair software now allows you to limit the visibility of vehicle parts or labor prices from different employees in your organization.

This happens in the “Profile” menu where you go onto “User Roles”. From there you can select “invoices” or “jobcards” and you can choose the exact details you wish to share with your staff. 

Learn more about user roles and profile setup here.

Deleting vehicle parts images

Sometimes you need to edit out or delete an image that illustrates your inventory parts. Now you can do that within the Invoice view after you add an image. 

You just need to go to the Parts option, click on “More options” and click on the delete image button.

Vendors and warehouse inputs added

Adding this information to your vehicle parts can be quite useful. Now you can write where you bought a part from(vendor) and the place of storage (warehouse) of your inventory items.

You can access this option in the Job cards or Invoice views. Once you are in the view – go to “Parts” and click the “More options” button. There you will see a blank row where you can fill in all the necessary information.

Check out our car parts integration and order what you need.

More information about the updated features in our auto repair software is coming with the next blog posts.

Vehicle inspection tasks are the building block to any reputable auto repair business. Before you start working on a car, it just makes sense to first do an inspection first. Depending on the car issue reported by the owner, the inspection can differ from a simple oil check to a full-blown 50-point inspection process.

In this blog post, we’ll show you how to create a car inspection in just 3 steps using the ARI software!

Step 1: Select/Add a Client

Although inspections can be done by choosing just a vehicle, we strongly recommend that you also keep track of your client info. This could turn out to be very useful later on when you want to check all inspections you’ve done for a specific customer or how much money a customer has spent on your shop for the past years for eg.

Log into ARI and click on the Inspections button. On the next page, you will see all the car inspections you have created so far (or a blank page if you’ve never created an inspection yet). Click on the PLUS button to start a new inspection. After that, tap on the Client name and choose an existing customer or add a new one right away

Step 2: Select/Add a Vehicle

Unlike clients, selecting a vehicle is mandatory in order to create an inspection in ARI. So go ahead and click on the Vehicle button and then select an existing record or create a new one. Once the vehicle record is added or selected, you can start working on the inspection itself.

Step 3: Fill In the Checklist

This is the part when the real work of a mechanic actually begins. In order to fill in the checklist, the technician needs to assess the vehicle’s condition such as driving experience, exterior inspection, electrical system, under the hood, bumper to bumper, interior inspection, and many other items.

Rearrange Your Check Items

If you wish to change the order of the items in the checklist, just drag and drop the entire row from the arrow icons. You can also add comments and notes to each item in the Details section of the table. Finally, you can delete the items you don’t need.

Customize your checklist template

You can also add more items to the checklist if needed or change the template or create your own template altogether. ARI comes with several built-in vehicle inspection templates:

• 50-Point Inspection
• Level 1 inspection
• Pre-Sale Inspection
• Heavy-Duty Inspection
• Motorcycle Inspection

Create a Damage Report (Optional)

If you are doing an inspection for a vehicle that has been involved in an accident, then it’s important to mark the areas of the car that have suffered damages. This can be very useful for damage claims or other insurance purposes, later on, so make sure you do it if possible!

Add a Picture (Optional)

ARI allows you to add pictures to your vehicle inspection report. This can be very useful in cases where damage is noticed and so a picture will allow the owner to see the damage themselves before deciding how to proceed with the repairs.

Save and Share/Print

Finally, now that your inspection is complete, go ahead and Save it. After that, you will have the possibility to send it to the client via email or print it. You can also edit any additional info that goes on the report, including your own comments.

In conclusion, we strongly recommend that you use the Inspection feature of ARI as often as possible as it gives your business that credibility and professional appeal that any business should possess in order to succeed!

As of ARI V9.8+, you are now able to create email marketing campaigns that you can then send to your entire client list. The sending service will be provided by ARI so we can ensure high delivery rates. For each successfully sent email, we will subtract 1 credit from your account. Try the new functionality in ARI by clicking the Marketing icon!

Is Email Marketing Still Effective for Auto Repair Businesses?

Although not as effective as classic marketing, email marketing remains the most cost-effective way to attract new leads for your auto repair business in 2021.  On average, every dollar you spend on email campaigns converts into an estimated $42. The best part is that it takes very little time to set up and send emails, especially if you use ARI’s new Marketing function.

What Kind of Emails Should You Send?

There are several types of email campaigns every auto repair business should send to their clients in order to ensure a successful campaign.

Welcome Emails

Keep these brief and to the point. The whole idea behind a welcome email is to thank your auto repair client for sharing their emails with you. Tell them what they can expect from you in the future (eg. occasional discounts, promotions, etc.) and ask them to save your phone number in their contacts in case they need emergency services!

Connect Emails

These emails should also be kept short and to the point. The main goal is to invite your clients to bookmark your website or visit your social media. This is also a great opportunity to share with them your online booking link where they can easily book an appointment with you.

To get your online booking link, search for your business in our auto repair shops directory and then add the link to your email campaign. If you can’t find your business in our directory, then make sure you open your ARI app, navigate to Appointments, go to More, and click on Online Booking Link to find your unique link.

Promotions

Are you running any seasonal promotions for your auto repair business? Maybe you’d like to offer some discounts to particular clients? All this can be easily achieved with an email marketing campaign.

Furthermore, you can use ARI’s Coupons feature where you can create discount coupons and assign them a code. You can then attach that code to your emails. Once the client presents this code, you can insert it into the Discounts section on the Invoice page and the system will automatically apply the discount.

Email Marketing Tips for Auto Repair Shops

Although these tips apply to any type of email marketing campaign, they are specifically important when dealing with auto repair clients. In general, people don’t expect emails from their mechanic, so you need to make sure your messages aren’t too intrusive or spammy, or else they will never read them.

• Keep it simple: There is no need to write stuffy emails that noone reads. Go straight to the point and convey your message clearly and rapidly. The most successful email campaigns contain less than 100 words of text!
• Never Spam: Most email services such as Google, Yahoo, AOL use smart filters to determine if your email is SPAM or not. If they mark your content as spammy, then your email will end up in the SPAM folder or will not be delivered in the first place. To avoid this, make sure you always sign your emails and never use spammy words such as “money”, “saving”, “free”, etc.
• Always Use Your Valid Email Address: The best way to ensure the successful delivery of your email campaign is to use your company’s email address, especially if you already had a previous email exchange on that address with your clients. If you use the wrong email address, then there’s a very good chance your emails will end up in SPAM or never be delivered in the first place. Also, keep in mind that some of your clients may want to reply to your emails, so it makes sense to use an active email address.

How to Send Email Campaigns?

There are many tools out there that auto repair business owners can use to send marketing emails in bulk. Here are some of the most common ones!

• MailChimp Great for big businesses but can be quite expensive.
• SendGrid Very powerful but requires technical knowledge to set up
• ARI (Auto Repair Software) Designed specifically for Auto Repair Businesses with smooth integration and affordable prices for email marketing.

How To Send An Email Campaign With ARI

Log into the ARI app and then click the Marketing button. On this page, you will see all the email campaigns you’ve sent so far. Since this is the first time you create an email campaign, you will see no records yet. Click on the Plus button to create a new campaign and start filling out the required info

• TO: Select the list of email addresses you want to send your campaign to. The system will automatically import all your clients who already have an email address recorded. You can also Add New Records in case you want to add more emails. Once you’re ready, select the list and click the Save Changes button. You should see a message saying how many Valid Email Addresses have been selected.
• FROM: This is the email address that your clients will see when receiving your emails. It is also the address they will reply to. It is very important that you use a valid address here so that clients know who they receive emails from. The system will automatically append your email address in the From field.
• Campaign Name: This is for your reference only.
• Email Title: Make sure you use a short and engaging email title so that clients are intrigued to open up your email and read your message
• Email Body: Feel free to use the editor tools in order to format your message in a way that looks professional and up to your business standards. Remember to keep your message short and to the point. Focus on one thing only and sign your email so that clients know who’s emailing them.

Once you’re ready, click the Send Now button to start the sending process. We use ARI’s internal sending servers in order to increase delivery chances. You can also save your campaign for later.

Credits

ARI’s email Marketing is a paid feature that works on credits. Basically, you need to purchase credits in order to send your campaign. Each paid plan comes with a certain number of credits included but if you need more, you can easily buy from the app. Just click on the Remaining Credits button, select the number of credits you want to purchase, and then proceed to payment. The credits will be added automatically to your account after a successful transaction.

As of ARI V9.8+ you can now get all the important info about your auto repair business in one view, the ARI Dashboard. This can help you manage your business easily and also keep a very close eye on your business’ growth.

Make sure you first update your ARI app to the latest version

Here are some of the most important sections of the Dashboard

Monthly Invoices and Estimates count

In this graph, you can see all the Invoices and Estimates you have created for the past 7 months. This can give you a quick overview of how your auto repair business is growing and also show you the strongest months as well as the weakest ones.

Clients and Vehicles

In this section, you can see all the existing and new clients and vehicles you have added to your account.  The data goes back 7 months in order to give you a good look of how your business is growing.

Invoice Values

In this graph, you can see the total and paid values of all invoices created in the past 7 months. Please note that the data uses the Total values of your invoices, not the Due value. This is a great way to check how your business finances look like on a month-by-month basis.

Payments by Month and Type

In this graph, you can see all the payments processed by month and by type. This data comes from the Payments module, not from your invoices.

Purchases, Expenses, Profit

This section shows 3 of the most valuable data sets for any auto repair business. On the upper-left corner, we have the Purchases value followed by the Expenses and then the Profit values recorded for your shop. All this data comes from your Accounting module. You can also filter all these individually by this month, last month, last 30 days, last 90 days, and all.

Due Invoices

Here you can see a list of all the due invoices under your account. Please note that the data contains all invoices that have a due value bigger than zero. In other words, even if an invoice is marked as paid, if the Due is still >0, it will show in this list. You can also Open an invoice straight from this view.

Upcoming Appointments

Just like the name suggests, this view shows all the upcoming appointments for your auto repair shop. You can filter them by Today, Tomorrow, Next 7 days, Next 30 days, and All. You can also open the booking record directly from this view in case you want to change its status or edit the info.

Upcoming Service Reminders

In this list, you can find all the service reminders that are about to become due. The info provided contains the client name, vehicle make and model as well as the due date. Once again, you can easily open the record straight from the view.

Out-of-Stock Parts

Here you can easily see the parts that are out of stock from your inventory. You should know that the data filters all parts that have a negative stock Qty value.

Recent Payments

This is a list of the last 9 recent payments that you have recorded in your Payments module. You can easily open any of the records to see details or change the status. This is a crucial feature that any auto repair software should possess.

Running Clocks

In this list, you can see all the employees who have clocked in and their clocks are still running. This is the perfect place to get a good view of who is working in your shop and what car and service exactly. You can also use this data later on when calculating your auto repair labor rates.

Workflow Status

Here you can see all your JobCards classified by their status: Created, Work In Progress, Completed. You can also see the total values accumulated for each category.

New Plus Button for Fast Creation

Use the Plus button on the Dashboard page to easily create new Clients, Vehicles, Invoices, Appointments, and Inspections.

What data do you need?

Let us know what else we can add to this Dashboard so we make it even more useful for you and your auto repair business. We want ARI to be the #1 auto repair software in the field, and we can do that only with your help.

As of ARI V9.7.0 you can get a report of how each part has been used where. This is extremely useful in cases when you want to find out on which vehicle one of your parts ended up on. It can also help you figure out how successful a part is compared with others.

How to Access It?

Go to Inventory, Parts and open any of your existing items. On the upper-right corner, click the More button. Then select the Track Part History option. At this point, you should see a list of all the invoices where this particular part has been used on. You can also see the vehicle info and how many same parts have been used on the same vehicle.

Available Info

You can see all the info you’d normally have on your Invoices. Check the screenshot below for how such table will look like.

We hope you find this new future useful. Let us know if there is anything else we can add to it.

This was one of the most requested features from our clients, and we’re happy to say we made it happen in ARI version V9.7.0. From now on, you can easily pull a report of all parts and services you’ve done on any of your vehicles.

How to access it?

• After you log in, go to the Vehicles section and then choose any of your existing vehicles.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Get Service History from ARI” button.

If there are any invoices for this vehicle, then a popup will appear with a list of all the invoices. You can then inspect the report and even open an invoice right from inside the popup.

What’s included in the Report?

The report simply exposes all the Invoices you created for that vehicle. However, it also pulls out more data about the invoice contents.

Parts Installed

You will see all the parts added to the respective invoice

Services performed

You can also see the labor items you have added to each of the invoices for that particular vehicle

ODO

The mileage of the vehicle at the time the service was performed. Please note that you need to input the miles at the time of invoice creation after you select the vehicle.

Export Report

You can simply press the Export to Excel button to download the vehicle history report on your PC. This could be extremely useful when clients want a report on what exactly has been done on a vehicle over the past year.

We hope you enjoy this new feature. If you want us to see more of these, let is know!

As of ARI V9.7.0 we have added some new functionality to our Accounting module in the Expenses section. Here’s what’s new

Employee Salary (PaySlips)

You can now generate employee payslips based on their worked hours. You can then email or print those payslips and hand them to your staff.

Create Expense

To create a payslip, you first need to head to the Accounting module and then create a new Expense.

Import Working Times

Under the Expense Type choose Employee Salary. After that, go ahead and select an Employee. By now you should see a new button that says “Import Employee Labor Times from Times Tracking” click on it

You should now see a table with all the jobs assigned to this employee according to the Time Tracking module. Mark the items you want to include in the payslip and then click Import. Expand the Items section so you can see the newly added item.

You can add more items to the list by using the Add Item button. You can also add qty and rate. The line total will be calculated automatically, but you can still edit it if need to. Hit Save Changes when you’re done with the items list.

Send or Print PaySlip

Once you’ve added all the items and adjusted the amounts, simply click the PaySlip button to preview the form. You can print it or send it via email to your employee.

Make sure you Save your expense record when you’re done!

Expense Items

Aside from logging employee salaries, you can use the Expense function for many other purposes. For example, you can log in the rent, electricity expenses, transportation, maintenance, and many other types of expenses that your auto repair business may incur.

In order to create a detailed expense record, you can now add multiple items using the Items table. Simply expand the Items section and click the Add New Item button. Full in the required info and then click Save Changes. You can add as many items as you want. Every time you click Save Changes, the system automatically calculates the grand total and appends it to the Total field.

We hope you enjoy this new addition to the Accounting/Expense module. If you want to see any new features, don’t hesitate to contact us.

As of ARI V9.7.0, we are introducing a new page called WorkFlow. This will help auto repair shop owners easily manage the status of their jobs. With a simple and intuitive drag-and-drop feature, you can now change the status and order of your jobcards in an instant. Here’s everything you need to know!

How to access the WorkFlow page?

Log in to ARI, then go to JobCards and make sure that the GridView option is enabled. Click on the Workflow tab below to open up the dashboard.

How to Use the WorkFlow Dashboard?

Drag-and-drop

The idea of the WorkFlow dashboard is to easily monitor and manage auto repair tasks inside your garage. For instance, when you create a JobCard for the first time, the status will be set to “Created” and the JobCard will be placed in the respective column. When the mechanic starts working on the task, you can simply drag and drop that jobcard from the Created column to the Work In Progress column. At that point, the status of the JobCard will be updated as well as the date.

Re-Order

You can now change the order of your JobCards by using the WorkFlow dashboard. Simply drag-and-drop the jobcard to the desired location in the column and the list will rearrange. This will allow you to set up a priority list for your technicians meaning that they will work on their tasks in the order you set up.

NOTE: If the JobCard does not rearrange when you move it, try again by moving the other jobcards around it.

We hope you find this new ARI feature useful. Let us know how we can improve it.

As of ARI V9.7.0, there is a new way to view, filter, search and handle your data. Aside from the regular listview, we have now implemented a grid/table view which looks much better, especially on bigger screens. Here is what you should know about this new feature.

• Please note that the app will default to GridView on Web and Windows versions.
• On the mobile app, it will default to the classical list view instead.
• You can always toggle between listview and gridview from the upper-right button

What is a Grid View?

The grid view is a table that displays your data. On bigger screens, it’s much easier to read and handle tabled data as opposed to lists. Here’s how the grid view looks like for Invoices.

Benefits

Here’s why using the GridView is much better when handling big data.

Sorting

Just click on the column you want to sort by and the whole table will apply the Ascending or Descending sorting function. This is the easiest way to sort your invoices by ID or Profit or even Clients names.

Filtering

You can filter your entire list based on multiple criteria as seen below. This could be extremely useful when you want to create complex reports or gather crucial info such as how many paid invoices from a certain client you have registered this month.

Exporting

Use the Export to Excell button to download the entire list so you can process it later on in Excell. This function is very useful for accounting purposes.

Hidden Columns

Some tables contain extra columns that are hidden by default. You can enable them by clicking on the dots icon/ columns and then enable the info you are interested in. Here’s an example of hidden columns for the JobCards gridview.

Supported Modules

We are planning to roll out the gridview to all modules of the ARI app in the future. However, currently, we’re supporting the following sections

• Clients

• Vehicles

• Inventory/Parts

• Invoices & Estimates

• JobCards

• Inspections

We hope you enjoy this new ARI feature. Go ahead and try it out and let us know which is the next module you’d like us to support with a GridView?

One of the main purposes of ARI is to help mechanics create invoices fast. In order to do that, it’s crucial that you have a very good search functionality so you can easily find the items you’re looking for. Aside from search, you also want to have the option to filter and sort your lists so that you can navigate easily through them. Today we will talk about all these functions and where exactly you can use them

Inventory – Parts

The parts inventory is by far the biggest list you’ll have as an auto repair shop. That is why we put some extra effort to make sure you have all the tools available to find the items you need as fast as possible.

  Search

You can search your Parts list by the following criteria:

• item description
• category
• item id/number
• warehouse
• vendor name

  Filter and Sorting

You can filter your Parts dataset by the following criteria:

• part number/id
• date created
• description
• stock quantity
• status
• purchase cost
• sale price
• unit type
• warehouse
• vendor name
• category

In addition, you can set the direction of the Sorting between Ascending and Descending

Alphabetical Filter Bar

Once you start scrolling down on your parts list, you’ll notice an alphabetical filter bar popping up on the right side of the screen. If you click on any of the letters, the list will filter by showing all Parts which start with that letter.

The bar closes automatically after 4 seconds. If you want to remove the filter, click on the Clear Filter button or the X at the top of the alphabetical bar!

Inventory – Tires

Similar to the Parts functionality, you also have a search and filter option for the tires list.

  Search

You can search your Tires list by the following criteria:

• brand
• model
• name
• season

  Filter and Sorting

You can filter your Tires dataset by the following criteria:

• date created
• tire brand
• tire model
• tire name
• tire season
• size
• number or id
• price
• stock quantity

JobCards

The jobcards list can also be searched and filtered according to your needs. You can cancel a search at any time by clicking the X button on the right side of the search field. Also, all your sorting settings will save automatically and persist even if you log out or open ARI on another device

  Search

You can search your Job Cards list by the following criteria:

• client name
• jobcard status (created, WIP, completed)
• jobcard number
• label
• vehicle info (make, model, year)
• vehicle registration number

  Filter and Sorting

You can filter your JobCards dataset by the following criteria:

• date created
• jobcard number
• client name
• status
• total value

Clients

You can search and filter your clients database easily with ARI.

  Search

You can search your client by the following criteria:

• name
• address
• city
• phone
• label

  Filter and Sorting

You can filter your clients by the following criteria:

• date created
• name
• address
• city
• state
• ZIP
• company name
• labels

Vehicles

You can search and filter your entire vehicles database easily with ARI based on a big set of criteria.

VIN barcode and License plate scanning

Use any of the 3 buttons above to open up your device’s camera and scan a VIN barcode or a license plate. OInce the scanning is complete, the system will automatically search for that vehicle in your database.

  Search

You can also use the traditional search bar to find vehicles by

• make
• model
• registration number
• VIN
• unit number
• labels
• year

  Filter and Sorting

You can alsdo filter your vehicles dataset by the following criteria:

• date
• VIN
• registration number
• make
• model
• year
• unit number

There are some other modules that use Search and filter functionality, but by now you probably got the idea of how to use them and where to find them. If you want us to add some more criteria to these filters, feel free to get in touch.

We, mechanics, know that the job we do is pretty hard to explain to our clients. Many times we’re encountered with skepticism and mistrust, so having to prove to your clients that the repair requires more time than they initially expected or more expensive parts than they budgeted, could be quite a tricky business. That is why we came up with a better way to write invoices. hopefully, this will make your job as an auto repair shop owner or mechanic much easier

Why group parts and labor?

One of the biggest issues with typical invoices is that parts and labor items are often displayed in separate tables. This makes it hard for clients to understand what exactly has been done on their vehicle. So, wouldn’t it make more sense to group the labor items with their relevant parts? This way, your invoices will be easier to read and clients will be able to clearly understand the work done and parts used for each of the tasks involved in the repair process.

For example, let’s assume your client came for an oil change and a brake check. After a thorough inspection, you’ve determined that the brake calibers need to be replaced. Normally, you’d create a jobcard for this purpose where you’d add 2 labor items (oil change and brake pads replacement) as well as the parts necessary for the repair (oil, filters, brake pads, etc.). A normal invoice section would look like this:

We can all agree that, although this is a pretty descriptive invoice, it’s still hard to read, especially by someone who is not a mechanic.

Here’s how the same invoice section will look like if you simply group the labor and parts based on their relation

Now the client can easily see that there are 2 major tasks performed on their vehicle, and each of those tasks involves labor and parts associated with that labor. in addition, they can also see how much each of the job costs by checking the Group Total field.

Obviously, this is a better way to write your invoices and the best part is that it will take you no more than a minute to do it.

How to group parts and labor items in ARI

Create a new Jobcard by pressing the + button on the home page. Add the Parts and Labor items necessary for the job. Once you’ve added all these items, press the “group parts and labor” button at the bottom of the items section.

A new window will open that allows you to select the items. First, select one labor item by clicking on it. It will be marked by a colorful border. Now, continue to select the relevant Parts associated with that labor. Once you’re done with that first group, click the “Group Items” button

Now click the “group parts and labor” button again, but this time select the next labor item and its associated parts. Group and repeat the process until all labor and parts have been grouped into relevant bundles.

To see the Grouped items, simply click the “Grouped View” button

How to view the grouped items in your invoices?

Once you group your items, Save your invoice and then click on the invoice button to preview the invoice form. You should now see a button on the upper-right part of the screen that looks like this

If you click on it, then you will see the grouped version of the invoice. you can now Print, Send, or Share via email this version of the invoice with your clients.

Does this work on my digital invoice too?

Absolutely! The system will automatically detect if your invoice contains grouped items and will show the grouped view by default when you open the online invoice. Here’s an example of a digital invoice that has grouped items

https://arinvoice.utilitymobileapps.com/invoice?id=60e9ae72a4f8d500147b0113

As you can see on the upper-left side of the page there is a new button that allows the client to switch between group view and list view.

Conclusion

It is our true belief that this new ARI feature will make your auto repair invoices easier to read and process by your clients. We hope you will embrace this change and be one of the only mechanics in town who offer a new spin on their invoices and services.

This feature is pretty simple and yet it offers a great way for you to provide the best customer service to your auto repair shop’s clients. With a click, you can now pull out all the relevant pending service reminders for the current vehicle and add them to your invoice.

Why is this important?

Besides offering a reliable and professional auto repair service, you can also save your client another trip to the service. Imagine your client came with an Engine Light issue, but while you create the jobcard, you also notice that the have a pending service reminder for an oil change. You can now add that labor to the Estimate as a recommended service. If your client approves the labor, then you have just upsold your services and made your client happy.

Here’s how to do it

• create a new JobCard
• select a vehicle
• click the Check For Pending Service Reminders button

if there are any reminders in the system, then you can select some or all and add them to the job card as labor items.

ARI offers a wide range of options when it comes to customizing the look and feel of your auto repair invoices. In this blog we’ll explore all the current options and show you how you can create an invoice template that fits your business needs.

To get access to the templates settings, follow these steps:

• log in to ARI
• open any existing JobCard, Invoice or Estimate
• click the Invoice button to preview the template
• tap the Options button on the upper right corner

Template Settings

Here you can change a lot of settings regarding the way your invoices look and feel. Most of these settings will also apply to your online invoices. Here’s a breakdown of what you can do to customize your auto repair template look and feel.

• Show Logo – This will display the Logo of your company on the invoices’ right-side corner. You can upload your logo in the Profile section of the app
• Show My Address – This allows you to show or hide your business address on your invoices. Addresses can be edited from the Profile/My Company section
• Show Template Number – It will allow you to hide or show the Invoice or Estimate number. Although it’s not recommended to hide this info, it could still be useful when generating Estimates
• Show Mileage – This will allow you to show or hide the vehicle’s mileage on the invoice. Please note that mileage can be edited from the Mileage In / Mileage Out fields on the previous page
• Show License – It will allow you to hide the license plate of the vehicle on your invoice. Could be useful when invoicing heavy-duty machines that don’t have a license number
• Show VIN/Serial Number – This will let you hide or display the Vehicle Identification Number on your invoices.
• Show Labor – Very useful in cases when you want to hide the details about the time and rate of your labor details.
• Show Note – Although it is marked as default, you can still hide the Notes on your invoices.
• Tax Invoice (Australian Format) – If you are located in Australia, then you are required by the law to display the words Tax Invoice on your template. Make sure you have this setting turned ON
• Hide Item Numbers – This is extremely useful when you don’t want your inventory item IDs displayed on the invoice form.
• NEW: Align item description to the left – By default, the item text is aligned in the center. You can move it to the left by selecting this option. Make sure you go out of the invoice and then come back for the changes to take effect!
• NEW: Show QR code to view Invoice online – Although it’s off by default, we strongly recommend changing this setting to ON so you offer your clients an easy way to access the invoice online and then pay it from their phones!
• NEW Show units (pc, gal, hrs, etc.) – This will allow you to display the item units on your invoices!

WARNING: Some of these settings may not be immediately visible after you click the Save button. If that’s the case, then log out and then log back in for changes to take effect

Template Headers

This option allows you to customize the image background on the header of your auto repair invoice templates. It can add a nice customization to a rather boring look. Choose from on of the many headers we have to offer

Change Invoice Color

Do you wanna make your auto repair invoices stand out from the rest? Then choose a custom color that matches your business and also makes your client remember you and your shop. ARI offers a wide pallet of colors for your to choose from.

Font Size

Would you like to increase or decrease the text size on your auto repair invoice? Maybe you want to change the font style and choose something that better fits your business? Rest assured that you can do all that with ARI’s Font Size feature.

Simply click on the Change Font Size icon and choose the appropriate size and style of your font. Make sure you save everything in order to see changes on your invoice templates

Edit Invoice Template Text

This is a very powerful feature that allows you to literally change most of the text on your invoice. For instance, you can edit the names of the table headers or the details of the Notes section.

Maybe you want to rename some of the fields in your invoice or maybe you’d like to delete some lines? You can do all that using the Edit Text feature.

Custom Template for your Auto Repair Invoices

in general, we recommend using the default template as it comes with the most advanced features for customization. However, if you’d like to use a really custom template, then we’re happy to let you know that ARI comes with 7 unique invoice templates.

Once you choose the template that you like, make sure you save it as your custom template and then you can access it from My Custom Template button later on.

In the hopes that you find this blog useful, we once again encourage you to share your opinion and feedback regarding invoice template settings. Let us know what else we can do to make your invoices the best in the automotive industry!

ARI allows you to add vendors to your account so that you can easily select them when ordering parts or logging expenses. However, you may also want to get some reports for these vendors so you can easily track the expenses or purchases incurred for each of your vendors.

We have added a new addition to the Reports section of ARI. You can now get detailed reports for your auto repair service Vendors and Suppliers.

In case you are not sure how Vendors can be added to your accounts, go to Profile and click the Vendors section. Make sure you add the suppliers you work with. You can then use these suppliers when ordering parts or submitting expenses in Accounting.

Expenses & Purchases Amounts

To see the total expenses and purchases amounts you’ve incurred from each of your suppliers, follow these steps

• go to Reports
• Vendors Reports
• select the datesFrom and To accordingly
• click the Refresh button

Download Vendors Reports for Post Processing

You may need to post-process your vendors expenses and purchases amounts to get a better understanding of how your money was spent. For this purpose, we you can download your reports and use them in any spreadsheet editor.

• click the Export Data button

Please note that all your vendors need to be added to your Profile in order to show up in this report. If you think some vendors are missing, make sure you add their exact names in the Vendors section.

As always, let us know if you find this vendors and suppliers report useful for your auto repair business!

As of ARI V9.6.5 there are a few changes that should make your job as an auto repair service provider much easier. Make sure you update your app to the latest version before you proceed with this guide.

Most important changes in the Appointments feature of ARI

1. QR codes for all online appointments

Starting with ARI V9.6.5, every appointment made online, by your clients, using our online booking system will also generate a QR code.

The final booking page will look like this on the client’s end.

If a client comes to your shop with this QR code, all you have to do is

• log into ARI on a mobile device (needs camera)
• go to Appointments
• click More (upper right corner)
• tap the Scan QR Code Appointment
• scan the QR code with your camera

If the scanning was successful, then you should see the client’s appointment on your screen.

2. Create Appointments from JobCards

This has been a long-requested feature and we’re happy to say that we finally got the chance to implement it. You can now create an appointment straight from the JobCard menu. The client, vehicle, and invoice/estimate data will automatically populate into the new appointment.

This is useful in cases when you create Estimates. Once the estimate gets approved by the client, then you can simply book that entire job right into your calendar.

Here’s how to create an appointment from the JobCard menu

• go to JobCards page
• open up an existing jobCard
• click the More button (upper right corner)
• tap the Create an Appointment
• select the time and date you want to book the client
• verify and Save the appointment

3. Show Vehicles associated with the selected Client

Just the same as with JobCards, from now on, when you select a Client in the Appointment section, the system will automatically filter down only the Vehicle associated with that client. This should make it much faster to create an appointment.

login -> Appointments -> add new Appointments -> tap to Add a Client -> tap to add a Vehicle

4. Show Clients associated with the selected Vehicle

Obviously, the same applies backward. If you select a vehicle first and then add a client, the system will display only the associated owners first. This way, you won’t have to search for the client manually

login -> Appointments -> add new Appointments -> tap to Add a Vehicle -> tap to add a Client

5. Search functionality

You can now search through your appointments by client name or vehicle registration number. All you need to do is open the Appointment section, go to More, and tap on the Search Appointment button. Input the client name or car’s registration number to pull up the respective appointments.

We hope you find these updates useful. If there is anything else you’d like to see in your auto repair software, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Mechanics say these features bring added value to their Auto Repair shops

Vehicle Inspections

Studies have shown that auto repair shops that offer 50-point inspection reports to their clients have gotten 43% more returning clients than their competition. ARI comes with one of the best Vehicle Inspection features on the market. Period.
Create a Car Inspection In Minutes with ARI

Automatic Service Reminders

Have you just finished an oil change? Or maybe you replaced a fuel filter?
Make sure to create a service reminder and ARI will automatically notify your clients when the next service is due.
How to Add Service Reminders

Expense Tracking

From employee salaries and vendor invoices all the way to and electricity bills and rent, ARI can help you keep a record of all your business expenses. There is no way to build a profitable business without knowing exactly what your expenses are. Let ARI help you save money
Learn More About Tracking Expenses

Time Logs

Track mechanics’ times so you make sure that your shop is fully optimized and everyone works at max capacity. With ARI, you can clock in and clock out every time you start a new job. That will surely be useful.
Learn More About Time Logs

ARI comes with many other useful features such as CarFax vehicle history reports, advanced diagnostic, online booking, custom invoice templates, and much much more.
If you’d like us to add a new feature, make sure to get in touch with us.

Like any reputable business owner, you’re eager to see how this mnonth compared with other months. Although a crucial task, it can be sometimes tricky to get a clear understanding of whether your business is growing or slowing down!

Good news is that ARI can help. Enter ARI Reporting section

Reports

– 10 reports that will make your business thrive –

Whether you need to check your inventory or monitor your profit, there’s a good chance ARI has a report for you. Check out the list of all reports available for your auto repair business!

Export Data

– for accounting and post-processing –

Sometimes, you may want to analyze your data deeper in order to understand if your business is growing. Other times you may need a particular set of data for your accountant. No matter what, you can download your data easily and process it later on in your own program of choice.

Let us know if you want any particular type of reports in ARI and we’ll do our best to implement!

– keep better track of your inventory –

Today we’d like to point out a new feature in ARI that may have gone unnoticed in the previous release, but make no mistakes, it’s a big thing.

You can now add a Supplier/Vendor to your Parts inventory. This will allow you to keep a better track of what parts you sell from which vendors.

How to Use

After Login, head out to Inventory/Parts. Open an existing part or create a new one. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you should see the Vendor input.

NOTE: In order to use the Vendor selection, you first need to add a Vendor record.

How it Works

The main point of adding Vendors to your parts is so that you can get proper reports. So, after you have added a vendor to a part, all new invoices you save will retain the vendor’s name and expose it in your Reports sections.

Reports that contain Vendor name:

• Sales & Purchase (only AFTER a new invoice is Saved)
• Parts & Services

Let us know if you want the vendor names exposed in any other Reports!

One of the nemeses of running an auto repair shop is getting paid on time. Although most of us are used to charging clients on the spot, let’s not forget that people get more and more accustomed to paying their invoices online.

ARI can help you process and keep track of your payment easily and reliably thanks to our integration with Stripe

1. Set Up ARI for Online Payments

In order to get full advantage of our Payment feature, you first need to connect ARI with Stripe – our payment processor.

login -> ARI Settings/Payment Collection Setup
Click the Connect with Stripe button and follow the instructions to connect!

2. Access Payments page

It’s time to see how payment processing works with ARI. We will use the new Payments feature that we rolled out yesterday!

login -> Payments

In case you already registered payments with ARI already, you should see them here.

3. Process Payment

Click the + button to add a new payment record. Select an Invoice and then choose payment method: Online Payment

If you want to process the payment on the spot, then click the Process Payment Now button.

You will be redirected to your digital invoice and you will see a Pay Now button in the upper-right corner of the screen.

Tap that button and let the client input their credit card info so that you can process the payment with Stripe.

Once the transaction is successful, the payment details will automatically appear in ARI under the Payments page. You can also track all your transactions from your Stripe dashboard.

We hope this was useful info. Let us know if you have any questions.

As always, we work hard to make sure ARI has all the tools required for you to run your auto repair business with ease. With regular updates and constant feature additions, we stay ahead of our competition by offering an affordable yet compelling auto repair software.

NOTE: Before you continue, make sure to update to the latest ARI version

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Here’s what’s new in this update

1. Payments

This was one of our client’s most requested features: to expose all the Payments on a separate page so you can easily search by client name, payment method, invoice number, and of course, the amount paid.

After login into the auto repair software, while on the Home page, click on the payments icon    to open the page. You should now see all the payment records you’ve done so far on ARI. Here’s a screenshot of how the payments page looks like.

NOTE: Old payments do NOT have a client name or invoice number displayed. This data will show up only for new payment records created after this update.

Create a new payment record

So far, you could create payment records inside the Invoice page, but from now on we have a much easier way to create new payments. Just click on the + button and you should see the new payment form. Click on the Select Invoice button and then select the invoice you want to process payment for. After that, select the Payment Method

More Payment Methods

We have added a few more payment methods in order to cover all the possible options. Now you can process Online Payments, Cash, Check, Card, Wire Transfer, Paypal, and Other. The form will change depending on the type of payment method you select.

NOTE: When you select Online Payment, you have an option to Process Payment on the spot. Just click the button and follow the instructions on the screen to set up online payments with Stripe.

Invoice Status and Paid Amount Auto Update

Once you Save your new payment record, the Invoice paid amount will update automatically, and depending on the balance due, the invoice status will change to Paid if the due amount is zero.

2. QuickBooks Auto Sync

We have redesigned the entire QuickBooks integration feature in order to ensure better stability and much faster transfers. But the best news is that you can now set up ARI to sync with your QuickBooks account automatically, every time you create a new client, part, service, or invoice.

NOTE: Invoices in JobCards will sync only after you change the status to Completed

Settings

Head out to ARI Settings and click the Connect to QuickBooks button. If you are not connected, then follow the instructions on the page to connect ARI with QuickBooks. After successful connection, you should see this page

NOTE: Make sure you always click Save Settings after you made changes.

How Auto Sync works

If the AutoSync option is enabled, then every time you create a new client, or add a new part or service, the system will automatically add or update your QuickBooks records. Invoices will be sent automatically as well but only after they are marked as Completed. Please note that for invoices, the system will ask you to confirm the sync every time you complete a jobcard.

3. Vendors/Suppliers Exposure

We have added the possibility to select a vendor when creating a new Part record. This will help you stay on top of your part ordering process and give you a better understanding where your most sold parts are coming from.

Parts Supplier Selection

Go to the Inventory page, click on Parts and then create a new record or edit an exiting one. You should now see a new field at the bottom of the page that lets you select a Supplier. Once done, save the item and you’ll see that the supplier’s name will be displayed on the Parts page

Supplier Reports

In order to take full advantage of the feature above, we have also exposed the supplier names in the Reports/Sales&Purchases . You can now clearly track the parts that sold the most and where did they come from. Don’t forget that you can also download the report data and process it later on in the excel file.

4. Better Profit Reports

There are several things we have changed when calculating and reporting Profit. Read this part carefully in order to get a better idea of the changes.

Subtract Tax and Discount from Profit

From now on, the net profit of an invoice will be calculated as a sum of Parts and Services minus the discounts and taxes. This makes for more realistic reports.

Net Profit Reports

We have adjusted the Reports/Inventory&Profit accordingly. You can now get separate reports for profit resulted from parts selling, labor or overall invoicing.

NOTE: Net Profit contains the overall profit from an invoice after discounts and taxes have been subtracted. Also, the data is available after this update only.

5. Other changes

We have made a couple more small changes to ARI according to our clients’ feedback. Here are some of the most common ones:

• Notes in the Client section.
• Invoice Paid text exposed on invoices that are marked as Paid
• Speed improvements
• Bug fixes

We hope you enjoy this new update. Let us know in the comments below if you want anything else added to ARI so we can make this the best auto repair software there is!

1. Creating an Expense

After login, head out to the Accounting module by pressing the icon on the home page 

You should be presented with this view. Click on the Expenses tab

After that, press the + button to start a new expense. You should now see this form.

Fill up the form by selecting a type of expense, a vendor, and the amount owned. If you don’t have vendors created, then you can create one by pressing the + button while on the Vendor page!

Make sure you check the info one more time and then click Save

2. Edit Expenses

Although not advisable, sometimes you may need to edit an expense in case you made an error or the payment values have been changed. If that’s the case, all you have to do is click on the Expense in question, make the edits, update the date (optional), and then Save

3. (NEW) Delete an Expense

This feature has been implemented recently. Deleting an expense is pretty straightforward. Open the estimate and then click the Trash icon. Confirm the deletion and you’re done!

4. Search & Filter Expenses

Filtering

To filter your expenses, select the From  and To dates and then click the Refresh icon

Searching

Simply click the search icon on the top of the screen and then type in your search query. You can search by vendor name, expense id, invoice number, PO number, and expense type.

5. Download Expense Reports

If you need me info about your expense, you can download an expense report that contains all the data necessary for you to post-process it. This data might be needed by your accountant or simply for your own end-of-month reports.

To download an expense report, head on to Reports from the Home screen and then click on Income and Expenses button. Select the timeframe, hit refresh until you see the results, and then click Download.

Conclusion

We hope you found this walkthrough useful. Let us know if you have any feedback!

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