We’ve made it quick and convenient for you to choose the right quick lube software for your shop.
Choosing the right fast lube software for your shop is critical to the success of your business. It is important that you take the time to identify your business needs before starting your search. Are you looking for a simple solution that will just transact customers or do you want a system that will provide insights and help you grow your business? If you already have a POS (point of sale) solution, what are some of the pain points that you would like the new system to overcome?
Six steps to take when shopping for a quick lube POS software:
1. Identify your business needs
2. Identify your must have features. If you don't know where to start, we have outlined some key features you should consider below.
3. Ask around and read reviews
4. Assess usability
5. Assess scalability
6. Ask about training and support
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you'll always get what you’ve always got.” —Henry Ford
Features you should consider when choosing a quick lube POS solution are: Speed, Reliability, Information and Usability
1. Speed
You know how important speed is to your overall business, the faster you get customers through the more vehicles you can service in a day. Make sure the POS software you choose doesn't slow down your process, if anything a good software should provide efficiencies that automate some of the process and actually allow you to service more vehicles in day. When choosing a software, ask to see a demo that is as close to a real life scenario as possible.
2. Reliability
Your business relies on this software so make sure it works well and doesn't break down on you. Today you can choose between two types of systems, cloud based or a traditional "on-premise" systems. For more details on the difference between cloud based POS systems and traditional POS systems read blog post Cloud-Based POS vs. Traditional POS. With a traditional system you don't need to rely on an internet connection however if your hardware fails you can loose all of your customers information. Nowadays there are cloud based solutions that also have offline capabilities if the internet goes down. I believe those are the most secure and least risky solutions since your data is saved and backed up at all times and in the case that you loose internet connection the system still works.
3. Information
How much information does your POS software provide you that you didn't already know. A good POS system should provide vehicle maintenance schedules, fluid capacities, VIN scanning capabilities and part lookup functionality. Some may even include part ordering directly in the system. It's also important to consider how this information is being displayed to you and your technicians. Is it simply laid out in an easy to understand fashion or is it confusing and unclear. The way this information is displayed can drastically impact the speed at which your team can process vehicles through your shop.
4. Usability
Lastly the solution you choose should be simple and easy to use. This is especially important when you need to train a new employee. When testing solutions you should keep a note of how many screens you need to view to complete a task and how many clicks you need to process an order. It may not seem like a big deal if one system takes 5 or 6 more clicks to complete a task but when you think about your technicians doing that tasks hundreds of times a week the time quickly adds up. Finding a software that is intuitive and simple to use will make things easier for your team and new employees.
Keeping these four points in mind will help you get started on looking for a POS solution that best fits your quick lube shop. If you have any questions about this post please reach out to us using the contact page and we'd be happy to help you make your POS choice.