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.
Workshop Software
Workshop Software is a cloud-based management system designed to help automotive mechanical and repair businesses streamline their operations, from job booking and invoicing to inventory management and customer communications.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Protractor | Workshop Software |
|---|---|---|
| Website | protractor.com | workshopsoftware.com |
| Pricing Model | Custom | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Custom Pricing | $69/month |
| FREE Trial | ✘ No free trial | ✓ 14 days 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 | Sydney, Australia |
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.
Workshop Software
Workshop Software is a specialized management platform built specifically for automotive, mechanical, and marine repair shops. You can move away from paper-based systems and scattered spreadsheets by centralizing your entire operation in one cloud-based hub. The platform allows you to manage the full lifecycle of a repair job, starting from the initial customer booking through to digital inspections, parts ordering, and final invoicing.
You can track your technicians' time in real-time to understand productivity and manage your inventory levels automatically as parts are used on jobs. The software also helps you maintain better customer relationships by sending automated service reminders and text updates. Whether you run a small one-person garage or a multi-location mechanical business, you can access your data from any device to keep your workshop running smoothly.
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.
Workshop Software Features
- Job Management. Create and track repair jobs from start to finish with digital job cards that keep your technicians organized.
- Automated Invoicing. Generate professional invoices instantly from completed jobs and sync them directly with your accounting software for easy bookkeeping.
- Customer Reminders. Boost your repeat business by sending automated SMS and email reminders for upcoming services and registration renewals.
- Inventory Tracking. Manage your stock levels in real-time and automatically update quantities as parts are added to customer invoices.
- Digital Inspections. Perform vehicle inspections on a tablet and share professional reports with customers to build trust and increase sales.
- Technician Tracking. Monitor exactly how much time your team spends on every job to identify bottlenecks and improve shop efficiency.
Pricing Comparison
Protractor Pricing
Workshop Software Pricing
- Unlimited users
- Unlimited transactions
- Job management & invoicing
- Customer & vehicle management
- Basic reporting
- Accounting integrations
- Everything in Standard, plus:
- Automated service reminders
- Advanced reporting & analytics
- Customer portal access
- Online booking integration
- Priority support
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
Workshop Software
Pros
- Intuitive interface that is easy for non-technical staff to learn
- Excellent integration with accounting tools like Xero and QuickBooks
- Saves significant time on daily administrative and invoicing tasks
- Reliable customer support team based in Australia and UK
- Cloud access allows you to manage your shop from home
Cons
- Mobile app functionality is more limited than the desktop version
- Initial data migration from old systems can be time-consuming
- Some advanced reporting features require the higher-priced Gold tier