The 25% ARO Boost: How One COSTAR Feature Turns Workshop Software into a Profit Engine

When you start looking for the best workshop software, you probably have a mental checklist of must-haves: cleaner invoices, better scheduling, and a way to track your parts. These are all essential for running a tight ship in your workshop.

But what if the single most profitable feature isn’t even on your list?

Global industry benchmarks show that workshops using one specific tool often see their Average Repair Order (ARO) climb by up to 25%. That tool is the Digital Vehicle Inspection, or DVI.

If your current automotive workshop software doesn’t have DVI built into its core, you aren’t just missing a feature; you could be leaving a quarter of potential revenue on the table every single day.

How the DVI Solves the Trust Gap

To understand why DVI is so powerful, it’s critical to understand the problem it solves, which isn’t a mechanical problem. It’s a psychological one called the trust gap.

When a member of your team calls a customer to recommend a new set of brake pads or a transmission flush, the customer often hesitates. They aren’t necessarily cheap; they are sceptical. For decades, the industry has been plagued by stories of mechanics recommending unnecessary work. Even if your advice is 100% honest and critical for their safety, your customer can’t see what you see. They only hear a voice on the phone asking for more money.

This scepticism leads to the most costly phrase to your automotive business: “I’ll just leave it for now, thanks.”

How to Build Customer Trust Auto Repair Owners Dream Of

The solution is simple but revolutionary. You need to stop selling and start showing.

Digital Vehicle Inspections bridge the trust gap by changing the medium of the conversation. Instead of a verbal description, you provide undeniable visual proof.

Here is the mechanism of a profit-generating DVI:

1. Capture the Evidence: Your technician is already inspecting the vehicle. With COSTAR Mobile, they simply snap a photo or record a short video of the worn brake pad, the leaking hose, or the bald tyre right there in the bay.
2. Deliver the Proof: That evidence is attached directly to the digital quote and sent via SMS or email to the customer’s phone.
3. The “Aha!” Moment: The customer opens the link. They don’t just see a price; they see the metal-on-metal wear. They see the cracked rubber. The scepticism vanishes because they are looking at the problem with their own eyes.
4. The Easy Yes: When a customer sees the truth, they feel empowered to make a decision. The conversation shifts from “Are you trying to upsell me?” to “Wow, thanks for catching that.”

The Financial Impact: Faster Repair Approvals and Higher ARO

The impact of this visual transparency is measurable.

Because your customer trusts the diagnosis, they are far more likely to authorise the additional work. This is the primary driver to increase the average auto shop repair order that owners strive for. You aren’t getting more customers; you are simply getting paid for the work that already needs doing on the cars you already have.

Furthermore, it saves time. Other DVI benefits for workshops extend beyond just revenue. There is less back-and-forth on the phone and less time spent explaining technical terms to non-technical people. The photo does the talking for you, leading to significantly faster repair approvals.

COSTAR: Your Profit Engine

Many systems treat inspections as an afterthought or a bolt-on app. COSTAR is different.

We believe that building trust should be the heart of your operation. That is why our DVI module is seamlessly integrated into your workflow.

• Seamless Flow: The inspection flows directly from the technician’s mobile device to the service advisor’s screen and onto the customer’s phone. No double-handling data.
• Professional Presentation: The customer receives a branded, professional report that looks authoritative and easy to understand.
• Permanent Records: Every photo and inspection is saved against the vehicle history, protecting you from future disputes and building a long-term health record for the car.