The problem
A technician finds worn brake pads or a split CV boot during a service. The service desk rings the customer, who can't see the problem, isn't sure they trust it, or doesn't pick up, and the car sits on the ramp. If 8 cars a week need extra work and only 3 customers say yes over the phone, a lot of genuine work goes home unfixed.
What the AI does
Workshop Software's inspections, on the Gold plan, record the condition of a vehicle with checklist items, notes and photos. You send the inspection to the customer by email or text; they open a link, enter a verification code and select the work they want to approve. When you finalize the inspection and turn it into a job, the labor and parts for each approved item are filled in for you.
A worked example
An independent garage in Derby with four technicians services about 25 cars a week. Technicians photograph anything that needs attention, and the service desk sends the inspection by text while the car is still on the ramp.
Before
Extra work found on 8 cars a week; about 3 approved by phone
After
About 5 a week approved from the photos, 2 more jobs at an average of $160£120€143A$230C$226
What it's worth
About $549£413€491A$793C$776 a month in profit, at an assumed 40% margin on $1,373£1,032€1,228A$1,981C$1,940 of extra work (2 more approvals a week at $160£120€143A$230C$226 times 4.3). That is against $145£109€130A$209C$205 to $172£129€154A$248C$243 a month for the Gold plan.
How to set it up
- Start a Workshop Software trial and choose Gold ($172£129€154A$248C$243 a month on monthly billing, or $145£109€130A$209C$205 a month billed annually), the plan that includes inspections.
- Set up an inspection checklist for services and MOT preparation, with clear names for each item.
- Ask technicians to photograph every item they mark as needing work, with the number plate in the first photo.
- Send the inspection by text or email while the car is still on the ramp, and ring anyone who hasn't opened it within an hour.
- Turn approved items into the job and check the parts and labor before the technician starts.
What goes wrong
- Inspections are a Gold feature. Silver doesn't include them.
- Separate safety items from advisories in the wording. Pushing advisory work as urgent loses trust quickly.
- Text messages carry a per-message fee the pricing page doesn't state, so check the rate before sending every inspection by text.
- Extra users cost $21£16€19A$31C$30 a month each, so check how many logins your technicians need.