Technology keeps advancing and as it does, there are numerous improvements to make life easier for everyone. Cloud applications, for example, can make managing one or more auto repair shops much simpler than it would otherwise be. While any application will probably improve the organization and efficiency of your business, some will do a better job than others. Here are just some of the features that you will find in the top cloud-based applications for managing your auto repair shop.

Easy Organization
The most important thing should be the ease with which you can organize all of the information. You will want to look for a system with a smart dashboard that shows you all of the relevant information at a glance. Things to look for in this area should be sales vs. expenses, the breakdown of work done by various technicians, and the amount of hours worked in your shop (total between employees) for a given day. You should also find a system that will make it easy to organize invoices, customer information, and more. The best systems also have separate columns for labor and parts as this will keep you organized for when it comes time to do your taxes.

Provides Extra Information
It is true that simply having a system that organizes your information for you will be helpful, but that is not all. The best applications will also provide you with extra information specific to the industry. Integration with CarFax, for example, will make it easy to look at the repair history for any vehicle currently in your shop. A labor time estimator will help you schedule repairs and technicians as you will have a better idea of how much time to allot for each job.

Multilocational
The top cloud-based management systems will also be multilocational, in more than one sense. They will give you the ability to access the system from multiple devices or accounts. This lets you give access to your technicians, accountants, and assistant managers or see the same information no matter where you are. The multi-location abilities should also include the option to include multiple auto repair shops within a single account. This helps you stay organized even if you manage more than one repair shop.

Ability To Try For Free
Not everyone is great with technology and some people prefer different types of systems. Because of this, the top options will let you try the application for free, at least for a limited period of time or with limited features. This is the perfect way to decide whether the application is right for you. The manufacturers of the top products will have enough confidence to let you try their system for free, with no contracts and no commitments. This is always a sign of a quality system.

Customer Service
Finally, you want to make sure that whichever application you select has excellent customer service. A dedicated support team should be available to walk you through problems or simply explain a process to you. Ideally, this support will be available via online chat, phone calls, or email so you can select whichever method is most comfortable for you.