This Marketing module helps you "bring in the business" by keeping customers informed about needed services for their vehicle(s). In addition to problems identified through the repair order checklists, labor operations can be identified for follow-up through the service recommendations and directed to the customer by telephone, mail, or email.
You can create customer follow-up lists for specific groups of customers and send those groups custom form letters. It is a good idea to spend some time reviewing these form letters before and making the changes necessary to meet your shop’s needs before creating the those customer lists.
Watch the video below to see an overview of this functionality.
Toolbar
- Auto-Followup :
- Send Letters – This activates the Follow-up system
- Closed R.O. Followup – This sends follow-up emails or letters for finalized repair orders.
- Marketing – Opens the Marketing system.
- Reports – Opens the report generation functions.
- Graphs – Opens the Marketing Graphs.
- Setup – Opens the configuration setting for Marketing.
The File menu provides access to the same functions.
Customer Marketing Information
The Marketing module relies on information collected on customers and vehicles. Each time a repair order is finalized, information about the customer and the customer’s vehicle is collected.
Information is also retained about a vehicle. If any service recommendations are made on the checklist (see Checklists), or certain services are performed that have been configured in this module for tracking, a follow-up letter or marketing letter may be sent based on certain specified criteria.
Marketing Information in the Customer Record
The Other Info tab contains a Marketing section where you enter the marketing information for the customer.
This table describes the marketing options.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
|
Date of last repairs. The date is updated when a repair order is finalized. |
|
|
Number of repair orders for this customer. |
|
|
Total amount spent for repairs on all vehicles |
|
|
A check mark indicates the New Customer Follow-up Letter has been sent. |
|
|
Repeat Customer Letter Sent |
A check mark indicates the Repeat Customer Follow-up Letter has been sent. |
|
Disable Marketing |
A check mark indicates this customer has been excluded from any marketing and follow-up. |
|
Fleet Account |
A check mark indicates this customer has been included for fleet follow-up only (Services due will be included on the Fleet Follow-up report (see Reports), and has been excluded from any other marketing and follow-up. |
|
Birthday |
The customer's birthday. |
Integration with Word Processor
The R.O. Writer Word Processor module is designed to work in conjunction with the Marketing module. It is a simple, standalone, third-party word processor very similar to Microsoft Word. There are two versions of the Word Processor module:
The advanced word processor supports HTML, graphics and enhanced email functionality.
You gather email addresses as part of the normal customer intake. If desired, you can make at least one email address per customer a required entry.
This section contains the following topics: