Car Service App Development

Our client runs a car service and repair garage in the USA, and also operates in multiple cities. They offer services like car maintenance, repairs, emergency roadside assistance, and vehicle inspections. Before approaching us, they mainly used to use old methods like phone bookings, walk-ins, and partnerships with insurance companies. But as everything was manual, customers usually faced issues like delays in vehicle repair, lack of service updates, handling multiple calls, and many inconveniences. 

With the growing use of apps, many of their customers started asking which app is best for car service. They realized they were losing their customers to the competitors who already have a car service appointment app. Over time, they were losing more customers and hence they decided to create a car service app. When they searched for the best app development company USA, they found Manektech, and hence they reached us to get more clarity. As this was their first car service app project, they came with many questions, like how much does it cost to develop a car service app, how long does it take to build a car service booking app, and many more. We sent them a customized quote for mobile app development cost according to their business requirements.

A Challenge to Build a Car Service App Platform:

Our client used to face numerous challenges as they were running a car service garage offline. Firstly, there was no online booking option, so customers needed to visit the garage to book the service appointment. Also, in case of peak hours or traffic, customers often need to wait in line. This often led to missed appointments, double bookings, and much confusion. Plus, once the customers drop their car at the garage, there is no transparency, where customers can see the progress or get updates on their car service. They had to call multiple times at the garage to get updates. The client used to collect payments in cash to maintain records, which often makes the process complex. They were a team of 3 people in a garage, that is owner, and two mechanics. The client manually handled things like customer calls, assigning tasks to mechanics, and updating job statuses manually. This was getting hectic day by day and affecting customer experience and overall business.

Though clients mentioned their pain points clearly, building a car service app had its own challenges. As most of their customers were non-technical, the app had to be simple with functionality. As the requirement was to send live updates on their car’s status (e.g., "Servicing started," "Parts replaced," "Ready for pickup"), we had to develop a custom real-time notification module and integrate with push notification to avoid spamming. The app needed strong encryption, secure APIs, and authentication methods as the app is going to deal with sensitive data like contact details, vehicle information, and payment info.

Best A Car Service Appointment Solution Implemented By Our Team

We began by understanding their business challenges and customer pain points to make sure we aligned with their goals and solved their problems. We started with searching for the best car service app to understand the competitors and their unique features. We interviewed garage staff to review their daily operations, and even gathered feedback from customers who regularly used their services. This helped us identify what people actually wanted in a car service app.

Based on these insights, we created a user-first design strategy and asked designers to keep the UX clean and easy to navigate. We also implemented real-time service tracking screens so users could check the status of their vehicle without making repeated phone calls.

Since most of their customers used Android devices, they needed an Android app development agency. But thinking of the long-term, we suggested creating cross-platform apps compatible for both Android and iOS. So, as an iPhone app development agency, we also focus on design that matches Apple’s usability standards. We used Flutter and Node.js with a MongoDB database to handle bookings, records, and service updates smoothly. 

Plus, for easy payments, we also integrated Stripe, PayPal, and local payment gateways to accept easy payments through UPI.

Key Features of the Car Maintenance Service App:

• Create account: Users need to create an account on the car service app through their mobile number and email ID.
• Book service: Customers can select their service type, such as inspection, repairs, or maintenance, and car models to book a slot at a specific time and day. 
• Track my car service: You can see the live status when your car will be picked up, ongoing progress related to inspection, repairs, and when it is ready to be picked up.
• Get a car service quote: You can get a cost estimate by selecting the suitable car service, date, and time to book in advance.
• Push Notifications & Alerts: You will be notified when your service is confirmed, and receive all the updates related to status, offers, etc through the app.
• Emergency Assistance Request: Users can request roadside assistance through this feature by sharing their location instantly with the service team.
• Service History & Records: You can see your past service details to schedule an inspection and car maintenance accordingly. 
• Digital payments: You can pay through credit card, debit card, wallet, or UPI whichever is convenient.
• Admin Dashboard: This is for the admin where garage teams can manage all bookings, assign jobs, track service times, and monitor customer feedback from a single panel.
• Feedback & Rating System: After each service, customers can rate their experience by giving stars and comments.

Result of Car Maintenance App:

Within the 2 months of launching the car service booking app, the client saw positive results in their business due to convenient and easy booking.

• The booking increased by 34% because of quick appointments through the app.
• Unnecessary calls reduced by 50% due to real-time tracking and updates.
• Daily reminders for inspection and maintenance helped to retain customers.
• Staff efficiency increased by 40% as most jobs were handled by the app.

Technologies and Tools:

• Frontend (Customer App): Flutter 
• Backend: Node.js with Express.js
• Database: MongoDB
• Payment Integration: Stripe, PayPal, and local payment gateways
• Push Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging
• Location Tracking: Google Maps API
• Hosting: AWS 
• Admin Dashboard: React.js for web-based control panel