Shop-ware

About Shop-ware

Shop-Ware provides a professional-grade, enterprise-level Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform for automotive shop management, targeting independent auto repair facilities. The company was established in 2013 by Carolyn Coquillette, a former mechanic and owner of a hybrid-specialty repair shop in San Francisco named Luscious Garage. The initial software was a custom online management system developed for her own shop, which, due to its success and the attention it garnered, was commercialized to serve the broader automotive repair industry.

The platform operates on a subscription-based business model, offering tools designed to streamline and enhance the efficiency of auto repair operations. Shop-Ware's cloud-based system digitizes the entire workflow, from creating repair orders with integrated vehicle inspections and rich media, to managing real-time shop floor dispatch. Key features include live customer chat, parts allocation tracking for jobs in progress, and advanced analytics that can be monitored across multiple locations. A distinctive feature is the "Parts GP Optimizer," which uses machine learning to help shops achieve their gross profit targets on parts sales. The platform aims to improve transparency and communication between the service provider and the customer, facilitating online approvals and payments.

Coquillette's direct experience in the auto repair field heavily influenced the product's development, ensuring it addresses the practical needs of shop owners. Before founding Shop-Ware, she gained recognition as a mechanic specializing in hybrids and was named Shop Owner of the Year in 2017 by Women in Auto Care. In December 2020, Shop-Ware secured $15 million in a Series A funding round led by Insight Partners, which was intended to expand its engineering, support, and sales teams. On March 13, 2024, Vehlo, a company specializing in automotive aftermarket software, acquired Shop-Ware. Following the acquisition, Coquillette joined Vehlo's aftermarket leadership team, continuing to lead Shop-Ware.