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Important Question about Alldata Solution


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jloved87
New User

Jun 14, 2017, 11:49 PM

Post #1 of 6 (2787 views)
Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In

Hi, I need some advice from current mechanic people in the thread. Any input would be appreciated.

I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada and I am in middle of an important decision as I was offered a job as an outside sales rep for Alldata. Pretty much visiting mechanic shops to sell the Alldata solution.

The hiring manager told me that in today's mechanic world, it's about 25% Alldata, 25% Mitchell, 15% Identifix and 35% nothing at all. And for those who aren't using anything is because they are uneducated about these software solutions and it is my job to educate and sell them.

Is this true in the industry? And I looked some Alldata reviews online from a google search and I see many complaints about the company's product. Are they competitive in the market?
Is it possible that mechanic shops can operate without having to use any of these three solutions?
Are these software a necessity or just an added on option for them?
Lastly, do existing Mitchell/Identifix users switch to Alldata easily or do they just stick to one solution for a very long time?

Any input is appreciated as I just started a family and this decision is important for my familiy.

Thanks


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 15, 2017, 4:24 AM

Post #2 of 6 (2774 views)
Re: Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In

I have been using Alldata for at least 20 years. I have used both Mitchell and Identifix in the past and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. Alldata in general seems to be the best. Mitchell has improved a lot in recent years but still doesn't compare to Alldata. Mitchell does have better wiring diagrams and there are times when I have to go to Mitchell for one of those diagrams. (I have access to both).

Identifix has also improved a lot in recent years but their strength is a database of known fixes which is only helpful occasionally. They have added a lot of Alldata like features recently.

I think Alldata is still the leader in the industry but their lead is shrinking. The competition is getting better and Alldata is getting stale.


Another issue is that they both offer shop management software and in that area, Mitchell has the better and more user friendly system.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 15, 2017, 4:26 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 15, 2017, 5:02 AM

Post #3 of 6 (2762 views)
Re: Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In

jloved87 :
Saw this last night when it first showed up and removed the second of the same question posted one is enough please. Most of what I've used is AllData or printed stuff or sent to me as needed working alone don't want subscriptions or the costs now at this point.


Have what is probably the most important question for you. Are you in some way or form a mechanic now partly or in the trade in some way at all? If you were to give a demo of how it works and what your product shows and how it's better (sales is sales) you'd have to have some clue of what a shop would want and where they get stuck.


If you currently are not involved in any aspect of auto repair I can't imagine how you'd sell anything probably to that 35% that are getting info somewhere else now as needed?


You are asking and should. If not familiar with what the product does for anyone there's a hurdle hard to jump. Anyone can buy this stuff now without a sales person so just who is the customer really going to be? I'm asking not judging this or you,
Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 15, 2017, 5:14 AM

Post #4 of 6 (2753 views)
Re: Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In


Quote
Anyone can buy this stuff now without a sales person so just who is the customer really going to be?



That's just not true Tom. Shops have to go through a rep to set up an account.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Jun 15, 2017, 6:17 AM

Post #5 of 6 (2748 views)
Re: Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In

May be so as said I will not pay for it for now. In person sales is about over and even when the person is going to have to know product details to the max live on line or however or it's not going to work out.
AllData seems to be looking for people for this position in person I think I can understand the issue that a job for it exists at all. Those who didn't seek out what they wanted already I can believe the 35% but just who are they and where I can't say.
This is about sales to a trade that's declining in new techs includes about all trades.
Hard for me OP (original poster) as I'm in a burb of Boston that is totally non trade friendly as one goes out it's replaced by a clean biz of some sort. Tons of Research design work all clean office parks now endless. Entire area of US's Atlantic coast through the Great Lakes also stems from mill town manufacturing of anything and the trades mandatory - all of them.


Back and understand you want something more stable and watching around me nothing is very stable for long in exact location IMO.


You asked and if you are motivated and can make it with AllData go for it. It's going to change but if you are good at what you do you'll be needed for the changes.


Good luck with your choice,


Tom



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Jun 15, 2017, 6:32 AM

Post #6 of 6 (2744 views)
Re: Important Question about Alldata Solution Sign In

That's not how this works.

Alldata reps control all accounts within their territory. If you try to sign up online, you simply get referred to your area rep. Any issues with your account get handled by the rep.

I assume any new rep in an area will inherit all existing accounts in that area also.

It's basically impossible to operate a repair business today without one of these subscriptions.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jun 15, 2017, 6:33 AM)






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