It’s no secret that many people in today’s society expect speedy and simple solutions to their problems—and that includes keeping up with vehicle maintenance. With the continued bombardment of distractions and duties, a dealership’s clunky or complicated service scheduling software could drive customers away, to competitors that offer easier online tools.

If you want your service department to have a full appointment log, you must break down the technological barriers so your customers can schedule service easily and quickly. Plus, your software should include features that help increase shop capacity, offer in-depth reporting, and more.

Break Down Technological Barriers in Your Scheduling Process

What Customers Want When They Schedule Service

Are you making the most of your opportunities to capture more service appointments? Keep up with your competition by digitizing your fixed ops and offering what customers want.

1. Easy-to-use interface. Your service scheduling software should allow customers to book their appointment in five minutes or less—this helps drive customer satisfaction and lower cart abandonment. Customers should be able to easily find the vehicle maintenance services they need, choose specific dates and times, and book an appointment without any hassle.
   
   
2. Flexible booking options. Give your customers the ability to book appointments online, by phone, or in-person when it’s most convenient for them. It’s also important to deliver a seamless experience no matter how they book. This includes follow-up with confirmation, reminders, and the option to reschedule if needed.
   
   
3. Automatic reminders and notifications. Your scheduling tool and appointment log should automatically send reminders and notifications to customers (and staff) about upcoming appointments. This will help ensure appointments are not missed, plus it will give customers the option to reschedule.
   
   
4. Pickup and delivery options. There are several reasons why offering pickup and delivery services to your customers can boost revenue. Busy customers with work or family obligations may choose your store over another with this convenience available. It may also lead to higher-ticket repair orders while lessening the morning service lane rush.

What Your Fixed Ops Needs in a Service Scheduling Tool

With the right tool at your disposal, you can help improve your service department in numerous ways, showing potential customers that you offer more than the competition.

• Integration with your other systems. Your service scheduling software should integrate with your other tools, such as your dealership’s CRM or inventory management system. This will help to streamline your operations and improve efficiency.
  

• Customer-centric recommendations. More than just booking an appointment, your scheduling tool should provide your staff with the ability to offer customers OEM-specific, mileage-based, and vehicle maintenance recommendations to increase upsell opportunities.
  

• Thorough reporting and analytics. Your service scheduling software should provide reporting and analytics that allow you to track appointment performance and identify areas for improvement. This information can be used to make better decisions about your business.

Simplify Service Scheduling for More Appointments

Don’t let technological barriers jam your appointment log. You can capture more customer bookings, increase shop capacity, and optimize your service lane with an advanced solution. To discover what Affinitiv Book can do for your fixed ops, contact us today for a live demo.