AUTO REPAIR SHOP MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

Even if you already have shop management software, you own it to yourself to check out Protractor!

Feature Set Summary:

Protractor was designed as a scalable product. In other words, Protractor can start as a single location shop management program and can expand to a multi-location enterprise software easily and quickly as a particular business expands. In a single location version of Protractor (Protractor SE), the feature set is described below under the Location Feature Set. For a multi-location or Enterprise version (Protractor EE) the feature set described in both the Enterprise Feature Set and the Location Feature Set would be applicable.

Location Feature Set:

1. User-defined Service or Retail Profit Centers (stores within a store).
2. Built-in or user-defined Service Categories for each Service-type Profit Center or Sales Departments for each Retail-type Profit Center.
3. Powerful Contact and Vehicle management features for unlimited Contacts, Contact Categories, Contact Sites, Vehicles, and Groups of fleet Vehicles.
4. Built-in Maintenance Plan templates and authoring tools to create your own Maintenance Plans.
5. OEM Service Intervals available by vehicle for reference or additional services added to the repair order.
6. Activant (CCITriad) electronic parts and labor catalogue is integrated into the software. This catalogue includes Mitchell Labor Guides; Electronic parts application books; Vehicle specifications that cover fluid recommendations (oil viscosity) and fluid capacities; Tire fitment and wheel torque specifications. Other supplier catalogs that have been integrated into Protractor are NAPA Prolink, Wrenchead and Worldpac.

7. OEM Service Intervals are integrated at the repair order write up stage into Protractor for easy access for service writers.
8. Work Order Designer allows for customized header and footer information that print on plain paper. No more customized forms required.
9. Vehicle Maintenance History records are automatically maintained and Service Reminders automatically generated based on the assigned Maintenance Plan.
10. Built-in Common Complaints templates and authoring tools to create your own Common Complaints. This allows common questions to be prompted to the customer by your Service Advisor.
11. Built-in Pinpoint Inspection templates and authoring tools to create your own Inspection lists. Allows for your customized inspection to be presented to the technician depending on the customer’s original complaint. 
12. Built-in Deferred Work module. Never loose track of work that has been estimated but not repaired or no-shows.
13. Perpetual Materials inventory with fractional quantities, differing buy / sell case lots, and powerful sell pricing options.
14. Perpetual Supplies inventory for accurate expense tracking (both for in-house consumption and supplies used in the shop).
15. Built-in Service Package (Kit) templates and authoring tools to describe commonly-sold combinations of Labor, Materials and Supplies.
16. All Common Complaints, Pinpoint Inspections, Materials, Supplies and Service Packages organized by Service Category for sales and expense reporting.
17. All Common Complaints, Pinpoint Inspections, Materials, Supplies and Service Packages can be standardized at the Enterprise Level, downloaded to the Location and then customized at the Location for quick setup of new locations.
18. New Work Wizard collects customers’ complaints, service requests, inspection requests, then reviews deferred and upcoming work, and schedules an appointment with promised completion time quickly and efficiently.
19. Scheduling system organizes appointments and promised job completion times by No-Shows, Today's Work, Work-on-Hold and Future Work. To Days work can be organized by technician or service advisor
20. Scheduling system allows for next appointment booking when invoice is posted for complete follow up of next time services, deferred work, etc. This also allows for appointment notification by e-mail as often as necessary.
21. Workflow management system follows individual jobs through all work stages including: Tech Assignment, Inspections, Tech Reporting, Estimating, Customer Authorizations, Tech Instructions and Invoicing.
22. Storybook-style Work Order documents are organized by Chapters and Jobs to make them easy for customers to read and understand.
23. On-line parts pricing inquiry and ordering (with participating suppliers). Ability to order parts over the Web from the part supplier.
24. Integrated retail parts pricing matrix, customizable by location and by sales category.
25. Built-in Report templates and custom Report authoring tools.
26. Built-in Security / Password access system for all employees - administered exclusively by the senior management.
27. Built-in Spell Checker with features such as spell-as-you-type, industry-specific dictionary of words, and auto-replace.
28. Integrated email system which allows you to send email messages, Work Order documents, Credit Slips, Receivable Statements, Purchase Orders, Reminders and Reports directly from Protractor.
29. Protractor, during the repair order write up process brings up previously recommended services, deferred word, when the customer returns. No matter who wrote the estimate, or at what Location, the current sales associate has the accurate information.
30. Invoice analysis screen to maximize the GP% and GP dollars on every work order.
31. Split billing for invoice payments.
32. Fully integrated Accounts Payable and General Ledger.
33. Fully integrated General Ledger, including cash drawer balancing, bank accounts and payroll.
34. Counter sale for quick sale of parts without a vehicle attached.
35. Quick Quote templates for estimating or similar sales repair orders.
36. Multi-level pricing levels for inventory.
37. Multiple labor rates and assigned levels for customers.
38. Technician and service writer productivity reports
39. Transfer of inventory between locations quickly and easily
40. Full tracking of all parts cores and returned parts to suppliers
41. Ability to e-mail all printed material (invoices, estimates, accounts receivable statements), including service reminders and deferred work to customers
42. And much more …

Enterprise Feature Set:

The Enterprise Edition of Protractor Software, using true client server architecture, takes advantage of the true object oriented code functions the way that Microsoft® envisioned their .Net platform could be developed. Utilizing the Protractor client software with a TCP/IP connection to the server, a Wide Area Network (WAN) is established that links all of the AAFES locations and suppliers together any where in the world. By integrating the tight Internet connectivity for Business-to-Business (B2B) transactions, many key benefits will be realized over your existing DOS based solution. Some of these benefits would include:

1. Protractor Enterprise Edition allows each location to be connected and visible to each other. Locations can be grouped by division or geographic area. Customers, customer history, and inventory can be viewed in real time and shared across all locations. (Imagine ability to view and transfer customers and customer history from any location in the world to any other location in the world)
2. Protractor Enterprise Edition allows for standardized Location setup so that every Location looks and feels and reports exactly the same. This aids in setting up new locations and consistent reporting is accomplished.
3. With the Enterprise Edition, pricing can be set and maintained from the Enterprise head office if necessary. This is especially useful for tire sales and pricing updates on inventory items.
4. All Locations can communicate with suppliers on line and in real time for parts inquiry, parts pricing and parts ordering.
5. Protractor Enterprise Edition allows the customers previous repair history to be available for all stores across your entire network, any where in the world. This resolves vehicle history problems for customers who are transferred to other cities where your locations are situated.
6. Protractor tracks and brings up previously recommended services, deferred word, when the customer returns. No matter who wrote the estimate, or at what Location, the current sales associate has the accurate information.
7. Allows for customer contact by e-mail for estimate updates, notification of finished repairs, and reminder service for deferred work and future appointments.
8. Completely integrated Purchase Ordering system. Purchase orders allow for one button receipt of all items as they are received. Enterprises could even allow supplier’s to connect to view or maintain inventory, and create the purchase order for replenishment of their inventory. (Dependent on your security settings)
9. Protractor will allow either Central Accounts Payable at the Head Office for all Locations or A/P at the Location Level. Including all parts and cores to be returned to the supplier.
10. Protractor will allow for Central Accounts Receivable at the head office for all Locations or A/R at the Location Level.
11. Powerful Vital Signs of each location available in real time from your desktop anywhere in the world. Check profit and gross profit $ and gross profit % on every line, every job, every invoice, every day, every week, every month. Enterprise Level users can see the sales and profits to the second for any location at anytime. This will allow for a whole new management level and feedback for senior managers.
12. Protractor Vital Signs for all Locations can be rolled up using self defined Divisions or for the entire Enterprise operation for real time analysis of shop production and fiscal performance.
13. Protractor Enterprise Edition allows for complete 360 Degree CRM (Customer Retention Management) with its advanced customer marketing module.
14. Customized reporting can be done by the Enterprise Head Office if extra reports are required that are not integrated into Protractor.
15. Customization of the Protractor Software can be done to fit the Enterprise needs should a required feature not be present in the Software.
16. Full user security set by the Enterprise Head Office and the Location Setup.

Future Protractor Features:

Protractor Software currently releases 3 new versions of the Protractor software per year and we are proud to say that the new features contained in these updates are driven by the end user’s of our software. It is primarily their wants and needs that drive the new features.

Protractor Versions:

Single Edition - for single locations with 1 or more computers
Franchise edition - for 2 or more locations who want to instantly share common information and consolidate performance reports on-line
Enterprise Edition - for larger organizations who want to instantly share common information and consolidate performance reports on-line

Regardless of the size of your operation, you owe it to yourself to have the best management tools at your disposal. You'll be amazed at how much impact switching to Protractor can have.

Learn more about Protractor
Auto Repair Shop Management Software Features | More Features | Enterprise Features | Online Demos