Close to 50 companies responded to an AutoInc. questionnaire that was provided online for the first time. This year's questionnaire is a stark departure from previous years and was revamped to include more features. ASA member Joan Koebernick, AAM, of Dakota-K Auto Repair Center and Tires, was the architect of this year's survey. Koebernick serves on the ASA board of directors and is an automotive software expert, investing many years in studying different types of shop management programs. She applies her software knowledge in teaching a course for the Automotive Management Institute (AMI) titled "Automotive Management Software: What We Should be Asking For and Utilizing in Automotive Management Software." Koebernick believes the major purpose of shop management software is to improve productivity.

The July software issue is the most requested of the year and is compiled from AutoInc.'s software questionnaire that is completed by shop management software companies. The questionnaire is organized by categories - including Inventory, Necessary Reports, Labor Functions, Track Technician Productivity, Customers, Vehicles, Scheduling, Invoicing, Management Features and Customer Follow-Up.

Early reviewers have noted the new survey is more comprehensive. Last year's survey highlighted close to 50 software features, whereas this year's survey includes almost double that amount. In the interest of space, the print version of AutoInc. highlights about half of the software features included on the full questionnaire. A complete list can be found at AutoInc.'s Web site (www.autoinc.org). To learn more about the new online features, see "AutoInc. Offers Supplemental Coverage to Software Issue" below.

As with any new endeavor such as this year's questionnaire, AutoInc. welcomes your input. Because there is a vast difference between this year's software charts and those in the past, please send in your suggestions on how it can be improved or enhanced to editor@asashop.org.

Please select the company you would like to view from the list below.

Collision:

Select collision company from list below ---------------------------------- ADP Claims Services Group Applied Computer Resources Autoprise Solutions Canada CCC Information Services Collision Industry Management Solutions K&S Automotive MicroPerfect Corporation Millennium Integrated Systems Profit Builder Systems Spies Hecker Summit Software Solutions Standox YADA Systems/DuPont

Mechanical:

Select mechanical company from list below --------------------------------- AIMS Software Alliance Computer Services Amcom by Jazz Designs Applied Computer Resources Automotive Visions Inc. AutoComLink AutoTracker Inc. Byte Designs Ltd. CarParts Technologies CCS Ltd. Commercial Data Systems Corporation Computer Assistance Inc. Computer Guys Dealertrax Software Distribution Service Technologies Flexible Systems LLC Garage Operator Genesis Four Integra Management Systems Janco International K&S Automotive Lankar Systems Inc. Management Feedback Systems Inc. MasterLink Software MicroPerfect Corporation Mitchell 1 MultiWare Solutions Inc. Pace Software Inc. Personal Computers of America Progressive Automotive Systems Inc. Protractor Software Inc. QDS Scott Systems Summit Ordering Systems Winworks Software

Please select the software you would like to view from the list below.

Collision:

Select collision software from list below ---------------------------------- ARMS AutoPerfect BodyMaster Collision Center Power Management Crash-writeR DuPont ColorNet Pathways ShopTech Stellix Solo/Unity/Reveal Spies Hecker Wizard Standox Univers Summit

Mechanical:

Select mechanical software from list below --------------------------------- AIMS Allsystems Max Auto Genius Auto Shop Writer Automotive Business Management Systems AutoPerfect Autos2000 AutoShop for Windows AutoTracker AutoWise Bay-masteR Dealertrax Shopmanager GarageKeeper 2000 Garage Operator Manager/Manager Plus Master Repair Maxx Traxx Pro Motive Power MotorWare Protractor Software QDS TireMaster R.O. Writer ROS2000 Service Service Manager Shop Controller Star Service Manager Shop Tech StockTrac Enterprise Super FRED Take Charge Tracker TurboPrise VAST Point of Sale WICS Yes Management System

ASA MEMBERS: To help shop owners find the right software for their needs, AutoInc. has created an online discussion forum, enabling ASA members to post questions and get answers about shopping for the right shop management software. To participate in the discussion, click the link below and follow the instructions. Enter your six-digit ASA member number into both the username and password fields when prompted.