After decades using StockTrac®, this Midas franchise owner was hesitant to switch — but R.O. Writer’s robust estimating capabilities, inventory management, and Carfax integration quickly won him over. After an outstanding onboarding experience, and with a responsive support team at the ready, he’s now leveraging R.O. Writer to streamline operations, simplify parts ordering, and explore new digital tools like digital vehicle inspection (DVI).
Gil Harris owns and operates two very successful Midas Auto Service & Tire locations in the metro Detroit area, one in Clinton Township and the other in Troy.
Gil is an experienced Midas owner and operator, having operated Midas franchises for 35 years. His busy stores are among the highest customer count locations in Michigan and are also among the sales leaders in Michigan.
Needless to say, operational efficiency is of paramount importance to Gil and their busy team. Having to change shop software providers wasn’t on their wish list. But, after many years of working with StockTrac®, Gil and his team were challenged to find new shop software when they learned that support was ending for the tool, and no new software would be released.
As a long-term franchisee and a member of the IMDA Board of Directors for about 15 years, Gil was aware of R.O. Writer and had watched the software evolve into “as complete a shop management system as one would require to operate a Midas franchise.” When the time came to change shop management platforms, R.O. Writer was the only solution he was willing to consider.
Gil’s shops have now moved to R.O. Writer, and he shared some positive feedback with us about the onboarding process, and their early experience with the solution.
An Exceptional Onboarding Experience
Changing shop software providers can be a hassle, since the software touches many facets of your business and is used daily. But for Gil Harris, the onboarding specialists at R.O. Writer and Midas have made the changeover as painless as possible.
Gil describes the R.O. Writer onboarding experience as “as good as we could have asked for,” and shared some accolades for staff members on both the R.O. Writer side, and Midas side of his specific implementation, indicating that they “were very helpful and very patient” with him and his staff.
"I can’t speak highly enough of the onboarding team. The set-up experience was beyond any expectations. They have been very, very good."
Gil Harris
Shop Owner, Midas
Reaching New Heights with R.O. Writer and Midas
Gil shared that his team are doing well with the basics of R.O. Writer, after only a few months of using the solution. He looks forward to getting additional training and support from Midas and R.O. Writer to learn how to use the full capabilities of the software.
"What I really need to do is I need to go visit some of my friendly other Midas franchisees and sit down and watch how they do what they do and learn from that a little bit too."
Presently, his team are enjoying the ability to easily access the labor requirements and the parts suppliers for a specific repair that is required for a vehicle. Gil remarks on how simple it is to choose a vendor in R.O. Writer, see the right parts, and confirm they are in stock. Gil’s team also appreciate the connection to Carfax so that they can quickly and easily obtain the VIN and history of a customer’s vehicle.
Gil is a digital enthusiast and told us “Personally I’ve wanted to do DVI for a long, long time because of the computer background I’ve had.” He tells us that his team in Troy, Michigan and their customers are already seeing the benefits of R.O. Writer DVI and look forward to extending and refining their use of the tool.
R.O. Writer Digital Vehicle Inspection – Now Cloud-based
R.O. Writer’s Digital Vehicle Inspection (“DVI”) app allows you to replace clipboards and paper inspections with tablets and smartphones. Text your technician’s inspection findings and recommendations alongside pictures and videos directly to your customers, so your customers feel empowered to make educated decisions quickly.
Learn MoreLeading with Integrity and Enthusiasm for What’s Next
Going forward, Gil looks forward to learning more about R.O. Writer, and how it helps support growth and efficiency at other Midas stores. “What I really need to do,” Gil told us, “Is I need to go visit some of my friendly other Midas franchisees and sit down and watch how they do what they do and learn from that a little bit too.” In fact, Gil is so enthusiastic about sharing knowledge that he offered to visit R.O. Writer’s headquarters to connect in person with our team!
At 83, it’s clear that nothing is slowing Gil Harris down, and he keeps a keen eye on emerging trends in his industry. The R.O. Writer team looks forward to sharing innovations with Gil, Chris, and the Midas 6113 team as they explore new ways to provide consistent, high-quality service to customers.
