Garage

The operating gap

European repair shops still run estimates, bays, parts orders, and customer updates in disconnected tools—while margins shrink and EV mix changes what comes through the door. We close that gap with shop software built around how bays actually earn.

Issues garages face in 2026

The five pressure points we hear on shop visits—each card is a problem we address in product, grounded in how independent garages lose money today.

• 01

  Margin squeeze

  Operating costs rose ~5–6% while list prices barely moved—net margins often sit in the low single digits instead of the teens owners remember.

• 02

  Technician productivity leakage

  High labor rates with no time-on-job visibility—five billed hours stretched across eight on the clock can cost €1,200–2,000 per tech per month.

• 03

  EV transition threat

  Fewer oil changes and parts jobs as EV share grows—shops need new high-margin lines (battery health, tires, brakes) before revenue quietly erodes.

• 04

  OEM data lockout

  Coding and diagnostic access tied to expensive per-brand licenses—small independents cannot match dealer tooling without pay-per-use bridges.

• 05

  Parts delays & lift blocking

  A vehicle waiting on parts blocks a lift—at European rent rates that idle bay can burn €200–300 per day and wreck the week’s schedule.

• 06

  Customer communication gaps

  Estimates, approvals, and inspection photos still bounce between phone, SMS, and paper—customers feel disconnected and shops lose upsell moments.