Auto Shop Writer 10.73.10 has been released and will automatically load to those of you who have current rental or DPP status. Of course, if you are still on ASW 9, you need to call and have us immediately update you to ASW 10.
New CARFAX VIN decoding
In the past we have provided a table on your system to decode VIN numbers. However, keeping it current sometimes was a challenge. Now we have taken the decoding ONLINE.
When you press the little license plate icon, or have added a new vehicle, and you put in the license plate and state code, CARFAX not only provides the VIN but also the information about year, make, model, engine, transmission, etc. This actually will cut out a few steps for you.
IF the vehicle doesn’t have a plate, obviously it cannot return the VIN. In this case, you will need to type in the VIN to that field, and when asked if it is the correct car, say YES even though there is no vehicle shown. Then you simply press the little icon on the right of the VIN field ( if the VIN is there ) and it will use the built in table to decode the details for you.
This feature does utilize the internet, so we hope by now you have a good internet service provider and a reasonably fast system.
MORE CARFAX …
We frequently tell you about the FREE CARFAX services. One of them provides you with FREE marketing. It also provides your clients with FREE updates on tech bulletins, and more. In a coming update, we will have a button working that allows you to enroll your client from within ASW … just by pushing that button.
You are hopefully familiar with the CARFAX service history report. Again, a single button push gives you meaningful data on the services performed on this vehicle. We are updating the information system, also in a coming version, and again, at no cost to you.
Many other modifications
People send us their “wants and needs”. The Version Notes button under help tells you about the additions in each version. Sometimes there are a few generic statements which means that people asked us to refine a report, or display, or other “small stuff” and it was done.
Everything we do is based on your input. So, when you see new capabilities, most of the time it’s because someone sent us an email saying “Hey, can you do this ?” and we did.