ALBANY, N.Y. — Auto/Mate Dealership Systems has updated its Open/Mate application programming interface (API), allowing fixed ops personnel to use third-party service solutions to create new repair orders (ROs) and add job lines to existing ROs, increasing efficiency and improving the customer experience in the service lane, the company announced.

“This feature benefits our dealers that use Xtime, ELEAD1ONE, Ford SMARTT and service-lane products from our other partners for the customer checkin and multipoint inspection process,” said Steve Zadoorian, Auto/Mate’s CCO.

The Open/Mate integration program was designed to allow third-party vendors to seamlessly integrate with Auto/Mate’s dealership management system (DMS). The Open/Mate API uses open standards, keeping costs low for vendors and helping to increase competition and lower prices for dealerships. The ability to seamlessly create new ROs using a third-party solution should speed the customer check-in process and make upselling easier as data from the ROs are pushed directly into the DMS.

“Auto/Mate continues to allow dealers the flexibility to use third-party solutions to innovate and streamline operations,” said Trevor Shoun, director of technical operations at Delaware’s Price Auto Group, which is beta-testing the new feature. “That’s where the beauty of their API comes into play, which in my opinion, is one of the best and most cost effective in the industry.”

Price Auto Group uses Auto/Mate’s Fixed Ops Suite in conjunction with a third-party reconditioning system. The ability to create ROs as part of a stock in process has helped its stores reduce costs and shave days off their recon turn times, said Shoun, who also plans to use menu-based selling systems that auto populate ROs with customer-selected packages, which will allow service advisors to spend more time with customers and less time on paperwork.

Visit Auto/Mate at Booth 3483C at the 2018 NADA convention in Las Vegas.