Computers
We developed our Auto Repair Shop Daily Management software using 'Filemaker' database development software. We chose Filemaker because it is cross-platform (Filemaker and our software runs on both Apple and Windows computers).
Computers in small business? Do we need computers (other than auto diagnostic computers) in a repair shop? You and I can fix cars & trucks without shop management computers, but they certainly make my life easier (and tougher when they act up!).I would stongly suggest that someone within your business be the Information Technology (IT) person, and learn the basics of the care and feeding of computers, printers and all the other computer esesntials. We have 10 computers in our shop 3 printers, 1 server, multiple harddrives, etc.
Thinking about upgrading your shop's computers? Apple computers are used in our shop, we recently purchased Laptop Intel Macs for all our technicians, Intel Macs can perform using Windows XP or as Apple Macs using Apple's OSX operating system. We choose Apples because of how easy they are to maintain and how easy it is to connect printers and storage devices. While there is some software that we use that only runs on Windows computers, Our shop software, our advertising design software and our communication software all run on either platform.
Our shop, P.A.T. connects all our computers with our management software, Instant Messenger, Email and security cameras (using Security Spy software). We can access our management software and our security cameras from any computer in the world. We use an Apple G5 Xserve as our server, with Cisco router and Axis video server.
From a security standpoint we require our staff to use the Apple OSX for internet and Email needs, OSX has never had a virus. We also use Apple OSX for normal shop functions, it's Unix base and use of open source underpinnings provide extreme flexibility (Apache, MYSQL, PHP, Squirrel Mail).
If you would like to discuss computers, our software or Security Spy software send Jim Wakefield an email or access our forum.