About RO Writer
Born in the Bay,
Made for the Bay
For nearly 50 years, we’ve built software around how shops actually work — not the other way around. RO Writer gives owners and their teams the tools to run tighter operations, grow revenue, and keep customers coming back.
Our Story
How RO Writer grew into what we are today and what the future has in store for us.
Founded as a consulting business
We began as a consulting company for dealerships. We worked to streamline the service department, identify lost sales opportunities, improve profit margins, and help with bookkeeping.
One of our Chevrolet dealer customers asked for help with their parts department. After working with their staff, we created a brand-new inventory management software and counter sales system.
Around the same time, General Motors™ had stopped publishing their price books, creating the need for parts catalog management. We responded by updating the software to manage these new pricing catalogs.
This ignited the spark to create RO Writer!
Progressive Automotive Systems creates the first version of RO Writer
The software began as a DOS application, which was a text-based interface. The software’s popularity grew quickly.
The Windows version came out in 1998. The processes were closely aligned with the real world, unlike other systems of that time.
Shops were up and running quickly and could add new items and people to the system in real-time. Owners were also introduced to the ‘Work in Progress’ screen for the first time – something no one else at the time was doing.
Acquired by Midas for shop software
Our success didn’t go unnoticed. One of our customers saw the value in what we’d built and decided to bring us in-house. In 2001, Midas purchased Progressive Automotive Systems and the RO Writer product, moving the entire operation to Itasca, IL in 2004.
TBC Corporation acquires Midas
In 2012, TBC Corporation finalized an agreement to purchase Midas International and its subsidiaries, including Progressive Automotive Systems and the RO Writer product. Both operations were moved to the West Palm Beach area starting in 2013, and the Itasca, IL offices were closed.
New management took over Progressive Automotive Systems as an independent line of business. With the support and resources of TBC Corporation, the RO Writer team continued to improve the software with a focus on independent shop operators and franchisees.
Acquired by Constellation Software
In 2021, TBC entrusted RO Writer to the Perseus Group, an operating group of Constellation Software Inc. Constellation was chosen for its proven track record and commitment to helping software companies live up to their potential.
“The acquisition of RO Writer represents a platform investment for the Perseus Group in the automotive repair shop software industry,” said Adam Zimmer of the Perseus Group. “We are looking forward to advancing the development of the product to meet the needs of the thousands of retail and Midas customers.”
RO Writer Leadership Team
Kris Denos
President
Elizabeth Vertheim
VP of Sales
Craig Green
Director of Product
John Hinz
Director of R&D
Sonia Calcagni
Director of Technical Support
Thomas Zorbas
Director of Professional Services
Sadie McCann
Director of Marketing
Sharon Heu
Sr. Finance Manager