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!

First things first, let’s talk about the look and feel. Every single page in ARI, from where you enter company details to how you manage your inventory and vendors, has been completely overhauled. We wanted everything to have a consistent look, like all your tools are neatly organized. No more jumping from one screen that looks outdated to another that’s more modern. Now, whether you’re creating an invoice, managing client information, or checking stock, everything has a unified design and a much-improved layout. This also means our software is now much more responsive, fitting perfectly whether you’re on a desktop monitor, a tablet, or even your phone.

Under the hood, we’ve also been doing some serious work to fix up those nagging web display issues. Ever had trouble scrolling smoothly, or seen things jump around on the screen? We heard you loud and clear. We’ve fine-tuned the native scrolling, adjusted grid layouts so your information lines up just right, and fixed those annoying tab-related problems. The result? A much clearer, more stable view of your data, making it easier on the eyes and less likely to cause frustration.

You might also notice the small details, and sometimes these make the biggest difference. We went through every single button, piece of text, and placeholder in the software and gave them a refresh. This wasn’t just about making them look nice; it was about making them clear and consistent. No more guessing what a button does or squinting to read tiny text. Everything is designed to be instantly understandable, saving you precious seconds throughout your day.

And speaking of saving time, we’ve made significant improvements to how you navigate through the software. We’ve added smarter back buttons, improved our pagers so you can flip through lists of clients or parts more efficiently, and supercharged our search functionality. Finding what you need quickly is crucial, and these enhancements are designed to help you get there quickly. It’s like having a well-organized workspace where everything is exactly where you expect it to be.

Finally, we’ve added some helpful guidance to assist you along the way. You’ll now see clearer warnings before you do something irreversible, helpful confirmations to make sure you’re on the right track, and more useful explanations to walk you through certain processes. We also gave our modals (those pop-up windows), standard popups, and snackbars (those little notifications that appear at the bottom of the screen) a complete overhaul. They’re now designed to be less intrusive and more informative, ensuring your interactions with the software are as smooth and user-friendly as possible.

We’re proud of this update and believe it’s a game-changer for how you interact with ARI. We’ve put in the effort to make your daily tasks simpler, quicker, and more enjoyable, whether you’re an auto repair shop owner or a dedicated mechanic. We’re always striving to build the best tools for your business, and this redesign is a big step in that direction. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

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.