June 2020

JUNE 2020 AFTERMARKET 35 www.aftermarketonline.net images of defects to customers means you don’t need to have them look at the vehicle. Then, contactless card payments and repair finance offerings mean payment can all be done at distance.” For more information on TechMan visit www.techmangms.com Connected Connectivity has proved more important than ever for garages over recent months. According to Nathan Fothergill, Sales Manager at MAM Software, functionality within Autowork Online is helping garages and workshops across the country. “The recent Coronavirus pandemic has illustrated just how important it is for businesses of all shapes and sizes to remain connected. Whether this means connectivity in a technological sense – such as being able to access systems remotely – or socially, through keeping in touch with your customers, your garage needs to be able to access the tools to make this happen. Luckily for users of MAM Software's Autowork Online, there's already a host of features that make it possible for you to continue operating under the most challenging of circumstances.” Access In Nathan’s view, cloud-based systems have really come into their own during the pandemic: “Businesses are recognising how essential it is to be able to access systems remotely, and for many, this means using software that's hosted in the cloud. Autowork Online runs in-browser so you can access it from anywhere with a compatible workstation and suitable internet connection. “Not only this, the system automatically backs up data, which is then stored in a state-of-the art data centre. This ensures your information is fully protected against on-site threats such as fire and theft. A cloud- based infrastructure also offers resilience and stability that server systems may not be able to provide. This results in less downtime for your garage, as well as improved system performance and speed.” Informed Nathan continued: “The coronavirus pandemic has inevitably led to a change in operations for garages, making it more important than ever to let your customers know the current state of play. It is possible to send SMS and emails automatically from within Autowork Online. Many users have configured this option to let customers know about changes to their opening times, and any precautions they need to take when dropping off vehicles to adhere to social distancing regulations. “These are just two of the communications that have been made easier for garages using Autowork Online during the current situation, but these customer relationship management functions also have their place during normal business operations.” Unprecedented “As recent events have shown,” added Nathan, “the threats and challenges that affect your business are often unprecedented. Having a reliable and future-proof system in place such as Autowork Online can go some way towards helping keep your business up and running.” To find out more about MAM's cloud-based garage management software, visit www.autowork.online Accurate Commenting on the TecDoc Catalogue, Jason Meade, the key account manager for TecAlliance UK & Ireland, said: “The scope, quality and up-to-date status of the data and information in the TecDoc Catalogue enables workshops to offer vehicle maintenance in line with VM specifications, maintaining the vehicle's warranty. It also allows them Below: Connectivity has proved more important than ever for garages over recent months to accurately calculate costs for their customers and even place the necessary parts orders before the vehicle arrives. Furthermore, the dashboard makes it possible to search intuitively for the appropriate product group and individual part, and all functions can be used through mobile devices, as well as via a desktop. “In addition to the range of product groups and individual components that the system holds, the in-depth integration of a wide variety of vehicle manufacturer-compliant repair and maintenance information (RMI) allows users to access virtually all vehicle specific data, directly from the spare parts search.” Jason continued: “The ability to tailor the search method to suit personal preferences provides a great example of how this flexibility benefits our users. By viewing through the ‘search tree’, users can navigate via the assembly and product group filter menus and even select their preferred order, to reflect the parts they search for most often and improve efficiency.” He added: “In addition to its replacement parts orientated data, the catalogue features a great deal of technical content, which provides users with extremely useful information to allow them to be fully equipped to tackle virtually any issue. This includes specific, vehicle by vehicle details for fluids, as well as VM torque settings, and steering and suspension geometry, a must-have for any workshop.”