customer story

D&S Automotive Increases Close Rate for Estimates to 90% with AutoLeap

Learn how the California-based shop improved its close rate, increased shop sales, and generated more five-star reviews using AutoLeap.

Mike Del Toro and his brother have worked in the automotive business for over 20 years. Their California-based shop D&S Automotive has done it all, from oil changes and basic maintenance to general repairs and complete engine rebuilds.

Evolving over the years, they now run the only smog test and repair station in Jurupa Valley! It took a lot of hard work and certifications to earn that distinguished title. Their specialized inspections have become the focal point of the business, with the shop completing over 300 diesel and gas smog inspections in 2023.

A unique shop deserves unique software! But for Del Toro and D&S, the journey to AutoLeap didn’t happen immediately. The business duo first experienced the highs and lows of other shop management platforms.

Past experiences with shop management technology

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike says he wanted to put the pedal to the floor with his business growth. Organized management of customer data and business revenue became a top priority for the D&S duo.

Mike and his brother tried shop management technology in the past. But with each system, they found one aspect missing: the service behind the software. “We didn’t see the onboarding and training that came for the price we were paying for our previous software,” adds Mike.

It was time to consider alternatives. But before AutoLeap, they would give one more platform a chance.

Key limitations of previous shop management software

Mike came across AutoLeap and a different shop management platform, deciding to try the other system first. After using the alternative software for some time, Mike says he found it:

Less comprehensive: “AutoLeap’s system seems more robust than our previous software.”

Not consolidated: D&S couldn’t access everything they needed within the platform, having to visit other websites for some functions. “It’s really helpful having all the data right at your fingertips, where I’m not having to go to separate software,” adds Mike.

Lacking key integrations: Mike says the system didn’t feature an integration with MOTOR. That affected his ability to quickly quote costs and build estimates using OEM specs and labor times.

Limited support team: Mike recalls nightmare scenarios with his previous software. He would have to spend valuable shop time trying to contact their support team to clarify his questions and resolve issues.

Transition to AutoLeap

With these limitations in mind, they were ready to make the switch. AutoLeap made that potentially stressful transition seamless for D&S! Mike says they were held by the hand and supported throughout the setup. AutoLeap’s team even migrated the shop’s customer data without issue.

The AutoLeap advantage

In just a short time using AutoLeap, Mike and his brother have experienced:

Transparency from day one

Extra time for what’s important

Software to grow with

Ability to sell higher ticket items

Automation where applicable

Increased autonomy

Results with AutoLeap

Since going full-time with AutoLeap’s software, D&S Automotive has:

That’s not all! Nearly 65% of customers invoiced in August were first-time customers at D&S Automotive.

Favorite AutoLeap features

Mike mentions several stand-out AutoLeap features. Those include:

Mike loves seeing all the parts from different vendors in one place. That streamlined access helps accelerate how fast he can send out estimates. “With AutoLeap, I don’t feel burnt out at the end of the day or rushed sending estimates.”

Mike enjoys AutoLeap’s clean reporting dashboard. It gives him a strong sense of his daily business flow. The streamlined view also enables him to analyze recent trends. “The reporting dashboard clarifies where we’re at and helps me prioritize my day.”

Mike appreciates how clean AutoLeap’s estimates are. With his past software, he would have to take a screenshot of the estimate within the software to share with customers. Now, he sends them through a text or email, which is more convenient for his customer base.