What garage software should do today
An independent workshop lives on its regular customers. They stay when they feel well informed and the process is easy — not because of the lowest hourly rate. So modern garage software should not only keep things in order inside, it should also work outwards:
- Appointments that customers book themselves, with vehicle and request.
- Job status the customer can see at any time without calling.
- Communication in writing and tied to the job.
- Estimates and approvals documented so they can be traced.
- Invoice and payment without paper and without an extra device.
- Vehicle history that does not sit in a folder in the basement.
What OpenHood covers
OpenHood brings the communication between workshop and customer into one app — from the first appointment to the invoice:
- Online booking: your customers book straight from the app, with vehicle details and a description. You see the appointment in your calendar. More under online booking for workshops.
- Live status: received, diagnosis, repair, ready — the customer always knows where things stand.
- Documented chat: text and photos, tied to the job; voice messages coming soon.
- Digital estimates and approvals: create an estimate, change it and send it for approval, including extra work in the middle of a job. See digital repair approval.
- In-app payment soon: via Stripe in euros or Swiss francs, no card terminal.
- Digital service book: the complete vehicle history in one place; PDF export coming soon.
- Appointment reminders soon: MOT-type inspections (HU/AU, Pickerl, MFK) and seasonal tyre changes, automatically two months ahead.
What OpenHood deliberately is not
OpenHood is not a price-comparison site and not a marketplace where workshops bid for jobs. Your customers come to OpenHood through you and book with you — not with the workshop that has the lowest price. OpenHood is a tool for what happens after customer and workshop have chosen each other.
OpenHood focuses on communication with your regular customers. How it fits your existing workflow is something we work out together during personal onboarding.
What to look for when choosing
Whichever solution you pick — these questions are worth asking before you sign:
- Where is the data? Customer data, vehicle data and chat histories are personal data. Server location and GDPR should be clear. OpenHood runs its servers in Germany.
- Can your customers cope with it? Customer communication only works if your 70-year-old regular joins in too. Short paths and familiar controls beat a long feature list.
- Can you test it calmly? You test OpenHood free for 14 days, without a credit card and without commitment.
- Who helps with setup? Founding Workshops get a personal setup, on site or by video, and a direct line to the product team.