Protractor
Protractor is a specialized shop management software designed for automotive repair and tire businesses to streamline their entire workflow from digital inspections to real-time financial reporting and inventory.
Shop-Ware
Shop-Ware is a cloud-based auto repair shop management software providing digital vehicle inspections, native parts ordering, and automated customer communication to streamline your automotive service business operations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Protractor | Shop-Ware |
|---|---|---|
| Website | protractor.com | shop-ware.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $135/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2003 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
Protractor
Protractor provides a comprehensive cloud-based platform to manage your automotive repair shop or tire business more effectively. You can move away from paper-based systems by using digital inspections, automated maintenance reminders, and integrated parts ordering. The software connects your front-office service writing with back-office accounting, ensuring your financial data is always accurate and up-to-date without manual data entry.
You can monitor your shop's performance through real-time dashboards and detailed reporting that tracks technician productivity and profit margins. Whether you manage a single location or a large franchise, the platform scales to handle complex inventory needs and multi-site management. By centralizing your customer communication and service history, you can build stronger relationships and increase your average repair order value through professional, transparent digital vehicle inspections.
Shop-Ware
Shop-Ware is a comprehensive shop management platform designed to help you run a paperless auto repair business. You can move away from traditional clipboards by using digital vehicle inspections that allow you to share photos and videos directly with your customers. This transparency helps you build trust and get faster approvals on repair orders through an interactive customer interface.
The platform centralizes your entire workflow, from appointment scheduling and parts procurement to invoicing and payment processing. You can manage your staff's productivity with real-time tracking and optimize your profit margins using automated parts markup tools. It is built specifically for independent auto repair shops and multi-location enterprises looking to increase their shop's efficiency and average repair order value.
Overview
Protractor Features
- Digital Inspections Create professional digital vehicle inspections with photos and videos to share directly with your customers via text or email.
- Integrated Accounting Manage your full general ledger and financial reporting within the platform to eliminate the need for external accounting software.
- Live Parts Ordering Connect with your preferred parts suppliers to check local inventory and place orders instantly without leaving the work order.
- Automated CRM Send automated service reminders and follow-up messages to your customers to increase repeat business and shop loyalty.
- Inventory Management Track your parts and tire stock in real-time across multiple locations with automated reordering points and barcode scanning.
- Technician Workflow Assign jobs to technicians digitally and track their progress through a visual dashboard to optimize your bay productivity.
Shop-Ware Features
- Digital Vehicle Inspections. Create professional inspections with photos and videos that you can text or email to customers for instant approval.
- Native Parts Ordering. Order parts directly within the repair order from multiple vendors without ever leaving the Shop-Ware interface.
- Messenger Integration. Communicate with your customers in real-time through a built-in chat feature to keep them updated on their vehicle status.
- Inventory Management. Track your parts stock levels automatically and manage purchase orders to ensure you always have what you need.
- Automated Parts Markup. Set custom pricing matrices that automatically calculate your profit margins on every part sold in your shop.
- Real-Time Shop Stats. Monitor your shop's performance and technician efficiency through live dashboards that update as work is completed.
Pricing Comparison
Protractor Pricing
Shop-Ware Pricing
- Digital Repair Orders
- Digital Vehicle Inspections
- Native Parts Ordering
- Customer Messenger
- Integrated Payments
- Basic Reporting
- Everything in Support, plus:
- Advanced Inventory Management
- Parts GP Optimizer
- Labor GP Optimizer
- QuickBooks Integration
- Custom Inspection Templates
Pros & Cons
Protractor
Pros
- All-in-one system eliminates the need for separate accounting software
- Digital inspections significantly increase average repair order totals
- Deep integrations with major parts and tire suppliers
- Cloud-based access allows you to manage your shop from anywhere
Cons
- Initial setup and data migration requires significant time investment
- Steep learning curve for staff moving from simpler systems
- Higher price point compared to basic estimating-only tools
Shop-Ware
Pros
- Digital inspections significantly increase average repair order value
- Seamless parts ordering saves hours of manual searching
- Cloud-based access allows you to manage shops remotely
- Customer interface makes repair approvals fast and easy
Cons
- Initial setup requires significant time for data migration
- Learning curve for staff transitioning from paper systems
- Mobile interface can be sensitive on smaller screens