Helps Automotive Service Centers Align with Today’s Online Consumers
Feb 7, 2017 – Cambridge, Mass. — Today, Openbay, the online marketplace for auto repair, announces a subscription service suite for automotive-service centers to address challenges of acquiring and retaining customers. While today’s consumers are increasingly buying products and services online, the auto-care industry hasn’t kept pace with those users’ needs. Openbay’s new suite of services positions auto-repair businesses to engage the always-on customers anytime, and from any device, enabling them to become and remain competitive.
“Owner-operators want to spend time on their core competency: servicing vehicles and focusing on customer satisfaction,” said Rob Infantino, founder & CEO of Openbay. “The automotive aftermarket industry spoke and we listened and delivered. Openbay’s new service suite helps conserve employee time spent pricing service inquiries, and helps with customer acquisition and retention.”
Openbay’s Suite of Services Includes:
1. Automated Quote Service (AQS):
Openbay Automated Quote Service generates detailed service quotes for consumers on behalf of the shop. AQS-enabled shops connect Openbay with its internal margins and labor rates to generate accurate service quotes, often immediately, and save precious employee time generating quotes via phone.
AQS-generated quotes include type of parts (OE or aftermarket), labor rates and estimated completion time, taxes, and any shop fee associated with the service. Most quotes are generated in real-time, and non-standard service quotes are sent on behalf of shops within minutes or hours, seven days a week, by Openbay’s in-house team of certified service advisors.
Once a quote is generated, consumers may send questions to shops, or seek clarification via Openbay messaging. Customers review the business’ ratings and reviews, location, and service and parts-warranty information before scheduling an appointment with a shop via the Openbay marketplace.
2. Service Advisor:
Openbay Service Advisor is a web plugin for automotive service centers’ websites that operates independent of the Openbay marketplace. Using Service Advisor, customers are able to request service directly with one shop via that shop’s website, and immediately receive a custom quote. Similar to AQS, service quotes are based on parts margins and labor rates, as pre-populated by the shop at signup. Once a customer is ready to book, he or she may schedule an appointment directly with the shop.
“We’ve piloted Openbay Service Advisor for a couple of months and have seen current and new customers alike using the service. Within the first month of use, it’s demonstrated an impressive ROI for our business to have now subscribed as a customer,” said Barry Steinberg, president and CEO of Direct Tire and Auto Service. “The automotive aftermarket is in desperate need of modernizing, and Openbay continues to listen to our needs of the service-provider community and deliver innovative offerings.”
In addition to this new service-provider subscription suite, Openbay continues to invest in its nationwide auto-repair marketplace, using the platform to drive business growth and consumer convenience.
Service centers using Openbay ASP, the mobile app built for automotive-service professionals, can track all service activity in real time, respond to customer questions via text, photo and video, and accept bookings and payment with one tap.
Openbay provides subscription services to a number of Provider categories: Franchise new and used car dealerships, national automotive service chains, independent non-chains and mobile mechanics. Those interested in subscription and pricing information about
About Openbay:
Openbay is an online marketplace transforming the auto-repair experience for consumers, and the way that service providers acquire and service customers. In 2015, Openbay announced OpenbayConnect, allowing connected cars to communicate with Openbay for repair and maintenance service. Openbay is headquartered in Cambridge, MA, is privately held, and its investors include Stage 1 Ventures, a16z Boston Seed, GV (formerly Google Ventures), a16z Seed, and several individual investors.
