august2023 - 35

of these resources to your toolchest can help you stay up
to date with emerging trends and technologies. In fact,
the Diagnostic Network offers a support channel that can
empower shops to find solutions to many of the challenges
they face and offers up the opportunity to participate in
discourse aimed at raising the automotive service professional's
situational awareness to the highest levels.
Figure 4 - Ability to link to Mitchell 1 from within a Shop-Ware work order.
promotions as well. Figure 2 shows how Broadly works
with our shop management system by queuing a request
for review following the closing of an invoice, sending
out appointment reminders and more.
SERVICE INFORMATION (SI)
Service information today comes in many forms and can
be sourced through several channels. From the vehicle
owner's manual to factory service information, we have a
plethora of data available to us 24/7. Many of the aftermarket
service information resources such as ALLDATA,
Mitchell 1, Motor, MotoLogic, and others, provide access
to service information resources both through conventional
access and with the advancements in digital communications,
some of that service information can be
delivered right within your service management system.
For example, some of the quick specifications needed
to carry out specific tasks can be contextually embedded
right within the repair order. Given the decades of
behind-the-scenes work by groups such as the Auto Care
Association and others in linking up relational parts and
vehicle component information with vehicle (DNA) build
data, modern systems possess the power to work more
intelligently providing a path to reduced friction for all
of us front-line service providers.
NONTRADITIONAL SI CHANNELS
An internet search can turn up a ton of info but not all
of it can be trusted. However, there are professional service
sites such as Diagnostic Network (diag.net), iATN,
and others that can also serve as a trusted resource for
uncommon situations. Furthermore, adding one or more
EFFICIENT WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT
Automotive shop management systems not only facilitate
customer communication but also optimize the internal
operations of repair shops. Custom jobs can be engineered
with inspection routines that will help support
company processes and procedures. This can serve as a
quality assurance step that will go a long way in supporting
quality control over each job. Additionally, if your
state or jurisdiction has any mandates around service,
shop management systems can be leveraged by adding
the items needed to solve for mandates. For example, in
California we are required to check and adjust the air
pressure on every vehicle passing through our facility.
So, on any new repair order the tire pressure " job " is
automatically added to each work order. In addition, we
also have a quality control job process added to the work
order as well (Figure 3).
Some shop management systems also allow one to tie
in direct access with their service information providers
allowing a technician to link to their SI source carrying
over the vehicle details which oftentimes eliminates
a step in the information look up. See Figure 4 which
shows a direct link to Mitchell 1 from within a ShopWare
work order.
CONCLUSION
The modern information and shop management systems
we have access to today are helping service professionals
conduct business with a little less friction and can go a
long way in supporting profitable business operations
well into the future.
SCOTT BROWN is an ASE Master Certified L1
Technician and has over 37 years of professional
service industry experience. He is an independent
shop owner in Southern California and is engaged
at various levels within the industry. He has a
deep understanding of the challenges technicians experience
at the service level and is continuously striving to move the
industry forward through education and networking. Brown found
Diagnostic Network (diag.net) after 22 years of service at iATN,
where he retired as company president in 2018.
sbrown@vehicleservicepros.com
Professional Distributor I August 2023 I VehicleServicePros.com 35
http://www.diag.net http://www.diag.net http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

august2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of august2023

Editor's Note – Stock up!
Sneak Peek
Most Wanted
Exclusive – Innovation Awards
In Focus
Cover Story – Turning up the pressure
Diagnostic Tech – Leveraging shop management and service information systems
Show Me Your Truck – Fresh off the show floor
Go Sell Something – The dangers of prequalifying
Driving Sales – Shop Equipment and Tool Storage
Tales from the Road – How Leuschner saved Christmas
august2023 - 1
august2023 - 2
august2023 - 3
august2023 - Editor's Note – Stock up!
august2023 - 5
august2023 - Sneak Peek
august2023 - 7
august2023 - 8
august2023 - 9
august2023 - Most Wanted
august2023 - 11
august2023 - Exclusive – Innovation Awards
august2023 - 13
august2023 - 14
august2023 - 15
august2023 - 16
august2023 - 17
august2023 - 18
august2023 - 19
august2023 - 20
august2023 - 21
august2023 - In Focus
august2023 - 23
august2023 - Cover Story – Turning up the pressure
august2023 - 25
august2023 - 26
august2023 - 27
august2023 - 28
august2023 - 29
august2023 - 30
august2023 - 31
august2023 - Diagnostic Tech – Leveraging shop management and service information systems
august2023 - 33
august2023 - 34
august2023 - 35
august2023 - Show Me Your Truck – Fresh off the show floor
august2023 - 37
august2023 - Go Sell Something – The dangers of prequalifying
august2023 - 39
august2023 - Driving Sales – Shop Equipment and Tool Storage
august2023 - 41
august2023 - Tales from the Road – How Leuschner saved Christmas
august2023 - 43
august2023 - 44
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