Online comparison and ordering options for coordinating car services among repairers and potential customers is making the selection and purchasing process much more efficient for both parties involved in the transaction.
“In the digital age of empowered consumers it’s surprising that many people still make the often-costly decision of visiting the auto repair shop nearest to their home or workplace,” says Blitzify founder David Swan.
For those who are unaware of exactly how much a service should cost, “this can result in wild overcharging,” he observes. “Perhaps this is why a recent survey found that 83 percent of consumers continue to feel overcharged in the auto repair process and rank the experience on-par with going to the dentist – with most women preferring to visit the dentist.”
Traditionally taking a vehicle to the dealership where it was purchased or the shop down the street often leads to concerns over whether one is getting the best price, “So you Google for other repair shops and make phone calls, but you end up not really being in a better position because you don’t really understand how auto repair works,” says Swan.
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“Blitzify is here to change that. Rather than having the consumer search and browse through listings of service providers, they instead tell Blitzify the vehicle they own and the service they need. Blitzify then takes that to service providers, who decide if the job is right for them. Multiple service providers quote a price, and the consumer is given a transparent choice, which includes location and amenities such as loaner cars or Wi-Fi.”
Based in Phoenix and available in more than 19,000 localities across the U.S., the new cyberspace application “connects customers and automotive service providers through a comprehensive and innovative mobile platform that is changing the way people buy and sell automotive services,” Swan reports. “The app merges data from local market research, information from service providers, special offers, testimonials and ratings and reviews from customers into a user-friendly interface giving the user out-the-door, real-time price comparisons.”
“Our web and mobile app take the hassle out of getting vehicles serviced,” says Rob Infantino, founder and CEO of Openbay, which offers a similar service. “Consumers tell us their vehicles’ needs or problem and we do the heavy lifting. Openbay gets offers from local shops, provides customer reviews, sets appointments and processes payment. Openbay even maintains an easily accessible online record of all services completed on the vehicle, so there’s never any confusion about its maintenance history.”
An Openbay Roadside Assistance option consists of “a robust nationwide network of roadside service operators that can now be dispatched at the touch of a button,” Infantino says.
An alliance with Allstate is another recent addition to the program. “Consumers consistently indicate that identifying a quality auto repair facility is a major pain point, which may serve as a deterrent to regular maintenance and repairs,” notes Gary Hallgren, a divisional president at the insurance carrier. “Integrating with Openbay enables Allstate to ease the burden of comparing and booking vehicle service.”
Virtual garage
“Blitzify is shaking things up to the benefit of automotive service providers,” says Swan. “Recent studies show that more than three in four customers have no loyalty to one single type of service center. This means that 42 percent of service dollars are up for grabs.”
“High prices” is the key complaint cited by vehicle owners who are being driven away from dealership service centers and exploring other repair options.
“Our app is designed to tap into those very customers and provide service providers the opportunity to win their business through a clean and easy-to-use web and mobile interface,” Swan says.
Instead of a customer having to call each shop and ask for quotes, Blitzify solicits bids on a particular job and displays a comparison chart of the prices pitched by four local service providers.
“No more gallivanting around the Internet, searching every review site to get a realistic idea of how good a provider is. We know what a headache it is to have to keep jumping from website to website,” Swan points out.
“By signing up with Blitzify, service providers are putting themselves in a prime location – online and on mobile devices – where customers are already searching for their services. They need to make sure their business is accessible and competitive enough to stay on top.”
A profile page of each service provider lets the potential customer view reviews from Google, Yelp and Blitzify’s own user ratings. “They’ll be able to see where and how far the shop is and what types of vehicles you service. Consumers can also access a list of the specific services you perform and what types of amenities you offer customers. In addition, they can find your direct contact information and photos of your shop on their page,” says Swan.
“Consumers get tired of inputting their car information on every independent service provider site just to get a generic idea of how much their service might cost, or to set up an appointment,” he says. “Blitzify allows them to input info about each car they own or drive and saves it in their virtual garage. Anytime they need a quote, they can simply select the car they need to service and all the specifics will automatically be sent over to local service providers. Input once and they’re done.
“Just like the dashboard of their snazzy car, we’ve designed the Blitzify dashboard to have everything a consumer needs right in front of them. They don’t have to search for their quotes, their preferred service providers, their car information, or their past or pending requests. Can’t remember when their last oil change was? They can consult their dashboard. Don’t remember which provider changed their tires and they have a question about them? They can consult their dashboard. Loved the amenities at a shop they visited last year but they can’t remember where exactly it was located? They can consult their dashboard. See a trend here? Not only is their dashboard an easy and organized way to access their information, it’s also a great way to keep record of what services they’ve had done on each of their cars and who completed the service,” Swan explains.
“Service providers can show their community what makes them stand out from their competition,” he continues. “We want to help you succeed.”
Information specific to your business can be listed such as certifications, hours-of operation and other descriptions.
Shops are able to:
• Choose the vehicles you want to work on.
• Choose the services you want to do (If you don’t have an alignment rack you can de-select the alignments offering.)
• Choose what amenities you offer.
“Blitzify uses geolocation services to find consumers the closest service providers,” says Swan. “All they have to do is pull up the app on their smartphone and they’ve got a comprehensive list of providers near them, as well as all of the services the service providers provide and how to contact them, not to mention reviews and photos as well.”
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