The use of cloud-based systems has grown exponentially over the past decade. With cloud-based systems, all the information you need to run your business is accessible at your fingertips wherever there is an internet connection.
With cloud-based management systems such as Driverse, auto shop owners don’t have to worry about many issues that plague them with traditional shop management systems: Time-consuming software updates, slow deployments, loss of information, lack of scalability, etc. Instead, they can focus on increasing efficiency and growing their businesses.
Automatic Software Updates
Perhaps the biggest benefit of cloud-based management systems is that software updates are automatic. According to Keegan Dum, president of Driverse, older shop management systems run on on-premises software, which makes software updates difficult and time-consuming for the shop owner.
“A technical support rep has to call you to walk you through the updates,” Dum said. “There's a lot of clicking and multiple steps, and sometimes a shop owner has to update outside of normal business hours so they're not disrupting business.”
With a cloud-based system, updates are deployed regularly and automatically without any intervention by the shop owner - no need to log in and do a screen share with a technical support rep.
“Shop owners can show up the next day and turn on their computer and everything's there, everything's updated,” Dum said.
This also ensures you always have the latest and greatest version of the software.
Quick Deployment
An on-premises software solution requires shop owners to purchase and configure a local server that meets the requirements of the software. Every time you add a new site, you must purchase and configure another server.
Cloud-based software runs on whatever internet-connected PC you already have. All you have to do is go to the software’s website and log in. You will still need to configure some settings through the online portal, but if you open new shops, you can push those configurations to all the sites. This scalability allows you to more easily grow your business.
“All the configurations are ready to go,” Dum said. “You just have to flip the switch to have the site go live.”
Easy Backup and Data Restore
Because the information on on-premises software is saved on local servers, it is critical that shop owners perform regular, manual backups. Otherwise, a fire, natural disaster or even a failing server could cause them to lose all of their information and force them to recollect all their customer information. Cloud-based systems ensure that shop owners will never have to encounter this problem.
“In the cloud, as long as you've got an internet connection, all the data is being continuously fed into an off-site cloud server,” Dum said. “It doesn’t matter what happens to your computer. Simply buy a replacement, hook it up and connect it to the internet and all your data will be there.”
Access Your Data from Anywhere
In addition to backing up data, the cloud also enables shop owners to access their data from anywhere – at home, at the local coffee shop, even at your kids’ softball game. This allows you to always be in the know when it comes to your business and have access to the information you need to make real-time decisions.
If you wanted to access your shop information remotely with older systems, you would have to endure the painful and unreliable process of connecting to a VPN.
“As long as you have a way to access the internet, you can access all the information in the shop management system,” Dum said.
API Interface
An API (Application Programming Interface) enables two different software applications to exchange data and functionality. They may be used, for instance, to send your shop’s sales information to your accounting software.
While APIs can be used with on-premises software, there are many advantages to a cloud open API:
- Scalability: Cloud-based solutions can easily scale up or down based on demand. This means that businesses can quickly and easily adapt to changes in their environment without needing to purchase additional hardware or software.
- Automatic updates: Cloud providers ensure that the API is always up-to-date with the latest features and security patches, so you don't have to worry about maintenance.
- Lower costs: Cloud-based solutions can be more cost-effective than on-premises solutions because they typically require fewer resources to operate.
- Security: Cloud security manages and protects data in a centralized location, making it easier to monitor and analyze network activity.
- Easier Integrations: Cloud APIs typically use standard protocols that make it easier for developers to understand and work with them. By using cloud-based APIs, Driverse has a single endpoint that serves both our mobile and web products. Utilizing the same API allows us to develop faster and ensure the same functionality exists across both platforms.
“It can be a heavy lift with on-premises software,” Dum said. “Cloud-based systems make it smoother and easier with live back and forth data feeds.”
Use Driverse for Your Cloud-Based Software Management System
Any cloud-based software management system is easier to use and runs more efficiently than an old software management system, eliminating extra manual hours and user errors. Driverse stands out among other cloud-based management systems because it offers all the benefits above and combines quick service and repair software management systems into one system.
“As the market continues to grow, we’re seeing quick lubes offer more general repair services and auto repair shops trying to integrate more repeat services, such as quick lube,” Dum said. “There are good cloud repair products, but none of them do the quick service well — that's our bread and butter. It’s what we've been doing for nearly 40 years.”
