Requirements checklist
What to ask for when choosing software for car service and detailing centres.
A checklist built from how car service and detailing centres work, to print or save as a PDF and bring to any supplier meeting.
What the software should cover
Tick each one that matters to your business.
- Job cards
- Estimates and approvals
- Spare-parts stock
- Bays and technicians
- Tax invoices and payments
- Service reminders
- Wash and coating packages
Roles that need their own access
Who logs in, and what each person may see or change.
- For owners
- For service advisors and receptionists
- For mechanics
- For accountants
Reports to ask for
Ask to see each one with your own sample data.
- Today’s and this month’s revenue
- Unpaid and part-paid invoices
- Job cards by status, including cars ready for delivery
- Estimates shared and awaiting approval
- Parts at or below their low-stock level
- Service, insurance and emissions test reminders due, followed up or overdue
- Today’s bookings, with pickup and drop requests
Systems it may need to connect to
Note which ones you already run.
- WhatsApp click-to-chat
- Card, wallet and bank transfer records
- Google Maps link on your website
Questions for any vendor
Put these to every supplier you are comparing.
- Can it print a tax invoice?
- Does stock reduce when a part is fitted?
- Can it remind customers when the next service is due?
- Do you handle insurance jobs and cashless claims?
- Can we attach photos of the vehicle at gate-in?
- What happens during billing if the internet drops?
- Does it push anything into our accounting package?
- Can old customer and vehicle records be moved?
- Who owns the data?
- Should we just use a free billing app?
- How long before the garage is writing job cards on it?
- What does the garage need to prepare for the start?
Where the work usually breaks today
Circle the ones you recognise. They set the order of the project.
- Approvals are disputed at billing
- Parts are fitted but not billed
- Bays are committed twice
- Coating customers do not come back
- Readiness time is unclear
Prefer to talk it through? See the car service and detailing centres page.