Auto Repair Shop Management Software: SimpliFix & PartsTech

A repair order can touch half a dozen systems before the customer pays. Vehicle details go into one screen. Parts pricing comes from another. Photos sit on a technician’s phone. The estimate goes out by text, and the final amount gets entered into a card terminal.

When those steps are disconnected, your team spends more time moving information around. Choosing auto repair shop management software starts with understanding how you want a job to move through the shop.

Start with the way your shop runs

Before comparing software, walk through a recent repair from drop-off to pickup. Where did your service advisor wait for information? What had to be entered twice? Could the person at the counter see which work the customer approved?

A useful software evaluation should cover:

• Customer and vehicle records: finding the right customer, vehicle and previous work quickly.
• Estimates and repair orders: organizing parts, labor and other charges into a clear job record.
• Parts sourcing: comparing supplier pricing and availability while building the estimate.
• Customer communication: presenting recommended work and documenting approvals.
• Payment and reporting: collecting the amount due and matching the payment to the invoice.

Bring a real repair order to a demo. A brake job, diagnostic visit or tire replacement will tell you more about fit than a tour of the dashboard.

What is SimpliFix?

SimpliFix is an auto repair shop management platform that brings shop operations and payment collection into the same system. Its published features include scheduling, vehicle lookup, digital estimates, customer records and PartsTech integration.¹

Its user guide describes a workflow that moves from an estimate or repair order through customer approval, invoicing and payment. Customers can receive estimates for approval by text or email, and shops can collect payment through links or an integrated terminal.²

For an owner, the useful question is how those steps work together during a busy day. Ask the demonstrator to build a job, revise the estimate, show the approval record and collect a payment. Have the person who normally works your front counter participate.

How SimpliFix works with PartsTech

SimpliFix’s user guide confirms that you can connect a PartsTech account and order parts directly from an estimate, compare supplier prices and track orders.²

PartsTech provides the parts and tire sourcing side of that workflow. Its search tools display pricing and availability across your connected suppliers. Vehicle information can carry over from a connected management system, and searches can use a VIN, license plate, make and model, part number or part type.³

Consider a front brake job. Your advisor needs the correct components, supplier availability and a cost basis for the estimate. A connected sourcing tool gives the advisor a way to compare those options as part of preparing the job.

During a SimpliFix demo, ask to see that exact sequence: open the vehicle record, launch PartsTech from the estimate, locate the parts and show how the selected items appear back on the job. Then ask how a changed order, return or substituted part is handled.

Check your own suppliers. Confirm that the locations you buy from are available, that your supplier accounts connect correctly and that the prices shown reflect your shop’s account. A large supplier network is useful when it includes the suppliers you depend on.

Which SimpliFix features depend on the plan?

Feature availability matters when comparing proposals. SimpliFix’s published plan descriptions distinguish the following:⁴

SimpliFix identifies a connected PartsTech account as a requirement for full functionality. Its plan page also ties certain PartsTech features to the selected SimpliFix tier. Confirm current pricing, account requirements and included features in your written proposal.

If digital inspections or labor time information are essential to your operation, make sure the demo and quote cover the plan you would actually use.

Evaluate credit card processing alongside the software

Payment collection deserves the same attention as estimating and parts ordering. Ask to see an in-person payment, a payment link and a refund. Check what your staff sees on the invoice and what the customer sees before paying.

SimpliFix also advertises built-in dual pricing, with cash and card prices displayed on estimates and invoices.⁵ If you are considering that approach, review the customer-facing prices, disclosures, debit treatment, tax handling and applicable requirements with your provider before launch.

Ask for a complete explanation of software charges, processing costs, equipment and any optional services. A program designed to offset processing expenses still needs a clear account of what your shop pays.

For a starting point on comparing processing costs, read our guide to your effective processing rate. If your existing software already works well, our article on switching payment processors while keeping your system explains the compatibility questions to ask.

Five questions to bring to your demo

1. Can you walk through one of our actual jobs? Include parts selection, labor, approval, invoicing and payment.
2. What can we bring from our current system? Identify which customer records, vehicles and repair history can transfer, along with the cost and timeline.
3. How will our PartsTech account connect? Check supplier access and demonstrate the features included in the proposed plan.
4. What does the complete setup cost? Include subscriptions, processing, terminals, optional tools, training and migration.
5. Who helps after we go live? Establish who handles software questions, parts connection issues, payment problems and staff training.

Keep notes on each answer. The right fit should become clear when you can picture your own service advisor using the system with a customer waiting at the counter.

Common questions

Does SimpliFix integrate with PartsTech?

Yes. SimpliFix documents a PartsTech connection for ordering parts from estimates. Confirm your supplier accounts, plan requirements and the complete workflow during a demo.

Are digital inspections included in every SimpliFix plan?

SimpliFix’s published pricing page lists photo and video inspections in the Elite plan. Verify current inclusions before selecting a subscription.

Can Bedrock help review shop software and payments together?

Yes. Bedrock can help you review SimpliFix, discuss the way your shop takes payments and compare the costs with your existing setup.