Questions for a shop software demo
A useful demo uses a car from this week, not a tour of screens. These are the questions and the tests to run while someone shows you the program. They help you compare without getting lost in features the counter will never touch.
One car, end to end
- Ask them to open a booking with a customer and a plate.
- Ask them to turn it into an order, or to open the order directly.
- See whether the status makes sense without a legend.
- Ask for an estimate that comes from that job.
- Ask to see the invoice and whether it is paid.
- Count how many screens that path took.
What actually happens
- Ask how you see a car that is still open.
- Ask what happens when a part is missing.
- Ask where an inspection or MOT reminder gets its date.
- Ask about a second location: separate calendar and stock.
- Ask what the customer can see, and what they cannot.
- Have them do it with your example, not a prepared one.
Week one
- Ask which details are enough to start tomorrow.
- Confirm you do not need to load years of archive.
- Ask who on the team must learn it on day one.
- See whether the counter can use it while the phone rings.
- Ask what happens to paper during that week.
- Ask for the published price: users, locations, and what is included.
After the call
- Write down what they could not show you.
- Write down what would still live in a spreadsheet.
- Compare the price with what you would actually use.
- Do not sign on the same call if you have not seen your own case.
- A serious demo does not have to charge you.
- If the path does not fit in your head, it will not fit at the counter.
If you want to see this on the board, request a demo. GarageBolt