Bosch Automotive Aftermarket has invested in San Francisco-based Shop-Ware Inc., a shop management and customer retention platform. The new partnership will provide independent Bosch Car Service (BCS) shops in North America with special access to the Shop-Ware platform while allowing Shop-Ware to further invest in its system. This will enable Shop-Ware to offer additional third-party software integrations and an accelerated features roadmap to provide the best repair shop experience behind and in front of the counter.
Shop-Ware was founded in 2013 to provide a point-of-sale, shop management software and third-party integration solutions to automotive aftermarket repair shops. The system allows shops to customize it to their needs, including customer access to job status, financial reporting, workflow management, technician productivity, estimating, online parts ordering and more.
“Bosch’s investment enables us to accelerate our capabilities and growth within the North American repair shop landscape. These capabilities will help increase the efficiency and productivity of the Bosch Car Service network in the U.S. and other independent repair shop owners,” said Shop-Ware Founder and CEO Carolyn Coquillette.
“Shop-Ware is a tool that brings tremendous benefit to the more than 1,400 BCS shops in North America,” said Enrico Manuele, Bosch Automotive Aftermarket North American president. “Working with Carolyn and her team at Shop-Ware enables us to integrate advanced shop management capabilities with our world-class repair centers and offer an unrivaled service experience for customers, shop owners and technicians.”
With the Bosch investment, all North American BCS shops will receive access to tailored systems, which integrate with current offerings, such as the extra rewards program, as well as exclusive access to future features. The added benefit to BCS member shops is a maximized productivity and workflow processes, while equipping them with unique features to help grow their businesses, says the company.
“The strategic investment in Shop-Ware will further increase our capabilities to make our repair shop network future proof. Not only are we supporting our repair shops in making their business more sustainable, but are also setting them up in becoming an integrated partner for future business model needs,” said Jean-Philippe Persico, head of corporate strategy, digital innovation and marketing communication, Automotive Aftermarket North America.
The Bosch Group’s strategic objective is to create solutions for a connected life, and to improve quality of life worldwide with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm. In short, Bosch says it creates technology that is “Invented for life.” Investing in Shop-Ware will further enhance the Bosch portfolio in the aftermarket, according to the company, and create opportunities for long-term sustainability within the independent repair shop market.
“We want to bring the best tools and systems in front of our BCS repair shops,” said Mark Polke, manager, Bosch Car Service Network North America. “With Shop-Ware we found a solution which gives us the best backbone to help our network sustainably grow and provide our current members additional value to be part of a high-quality network.”
The Bosch Car Service network is uniquely equipped for the challenges facing automotive technicians and repair shops, including ever-growing complex vehicles and systems. A focus on technology and highly skilled technicians offers the best repair solution in the industry.
“We are excited to extend our partnership further and use the strength of the Bosch Car Service network and the Bosch team to create the best shop management system in the automotive aftermarket industry,” said Matt Ellinwood, vice president at Shop-Ware.
Shop-Ware is currently available to all North American Bosch Car Service shops. Financial terms of the investment are not being disclosed.
For more information about Shop-Ware, visit Shop-Ware.com.
