For most commercial computer repair ventures, manual workflows define their launch phase. And this makes total sense – because, initially, they don’t have loads of customers to see to.
At this point, they’re more concerned with building their market presence. In getting the word out on their retail product and service offerings. And in scoring B2B contracts to net secure revenue channels. For the days when the walk-ins don’t pour in as they should.
All businesses have got to stay afloat, right.
A Natural Inroad for Computer Repair Shop Software
But what happens when these businesses scale – when their order load turns massive? Juggling paper ledgers bearing hasty calculations and pickup times wouldn’t do, of course. Imagine the errors and miscommunications that would arise. Wrong figures and bad-timed calls. A nightmare scenario – with everyone screaming!
When faced with this rigmarole, it’s natural to want an automated solution. A tech failsafe that does all the repetitive, draining work for you. And which organizes your workflow for optimal processing.
Here, nothing comes to the beleaguered tech or shipowner’s rescue!
Nothing – that is – quite like computer repair shop software.
A godsend that takes care of all the hassle – leaving the merchant to focus on their customers. The only real guarantor of any commercial growth, if truth be told. Despite what all the shortcut/hack-oriented gurus on Facebook would have you believe!
Identifying the Right Kind
But with all the neat products currently ‘a flood’ in the market, how do you identify the right ones?
You can’t just plug and play any repair utility you get your hands on. The internet is a bewitching mistress – full of snares for the unwary, and then some good stuff.
Well, luckily for you, I’ve written this entire piece to address this issue.
As a longtime computer repair tech, I know only too well about the scarcity of funds faced by everyone in the biz. A problem heightened by such concerns as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s not even mention the record inflation. So as a tech or shop owner on the lookout for a software solution that fits, I’ve distilled my insider’s take.
The sentiment to help in this way is hardly original.
I think everyone, following a season of success, likes to dispense their wisdom this way. Experiential truths that can bring others jumping on the same boat some quick wins. Without having to go through the same, tedious process suffered by the pioneers.
So here goes.
- Match Repair Shop Software to Business Needs
So first things first.
You absolutely need to have a good understanding of your business workflow. Full insight, that is, into its day-to-day operations and its pain points. The areas where the activity flow stagnates because of some blockage. Whether it’s caused by particular workers, bad affairs handling, investments, or external factors.
These issues need to be analyzed in detail to enable their scrutiny – to foster improvement.
Business needs, of course, also need to factor in the available budget. Modern software subscriptions are pricey. And you really don’t need any extra plug-ins/features that aren’t handy; that’s just wastage.
A good strategy here is to go for the product’s lite version. It’s better to start with the trial version. This would give you a pretty decent idea of what’s in store. How the program would fare against your everyday work.
For instance, if you’re a small-time tech starting fresh in the market, you only need the basics. A POS, payments terminal, and a spreadsheet at max. Plus a phone and an internet connection to make everything work. These tools would work well until you’re ready to scale.
When you do grow – ideally with multiple stores – you need something more high-end. Like a complete shop management system that takes care of:
- POS, Payments Records
- Inventory
- Employee Attendance
- Customer Notifications
- Accounts
You name it.
This is the point where you need to automate to expand and compete against the other players. Other repair businesses with recourse to these things.
It’s all about matching needs with supply – and nothing overboard or under. You’ve got to save/make efficient use of every penny.
- Check for Customer Support
Now a lot of repair techs are not tech nerds. Many are only familiar with the basics. The little/easy repairs like device drying, shot valves replacement, fixing large circuitry, and changing screens. This group mostly relies on the job to get some learning. Something that can take a while.
So, for the shops that hire these techs, they need to provide some crash tutorials. Otherwise, how else would these novices see to the daily business affair?
A number of repair software providers offer these sessions. These are mostly conducted over the phone by the companies’ dedicated customer service reps. Pros who are technical troubleshooting and mentoring experts. Often using remote access to see the queries communicated.
From the buyer’s perspective, it certainly makes sense to do your homework. Research which firm provides the best client service.
Trust me, even if you’re a big player, you’ll still need this provision. Because tech glitches, of all varieties, are a dime a dozen in this field. Severely affecting revenue.
- Research Glitch Frequency
This is where online tech review sites and comparison pieces come in very handy. Before making the subscription, you need to size up all existing customer testimonials. See the average rating. Check for patterns. These are your sure shot bets that something is right or wrong. You want to take these concerns seriously before putting the spending.
I like to rank products in this way by their ‘glitch frequency’. The higher the score for different issues on this 0-10 scale; the more reasons to skip.
- Check for Developer Ratings
Go a little meta. Do the background search on the product developer. See if you can unearth good or bad ratings for their other offerings. If the overwhelming consensus is positive, particularly with regard to design and operationality, you’re safe. Otherwise, be discerning.
- Cost/Benefit Analysis
Finally, weigh the costs of purchase against the clear (not illusory) benefits. You want to be sure you’re not better off with a pen and paper.
Your chosen POS software should come with good ROI.
Don’t make the mistake of going along with the flow. Just because every shop owner is subscribing, doesn’t mean you should too.
Be critical of your unique case.
So, there you have the top 5 tips on sizing up the best repair shop software for your business. Learn which computer repair shop software would work best with your business, providing the highest returns with these five helpful tips.
