The Superhighway to Estimating: Canned Jobs and Categories For Shop Efficiency [THA 473]

About this episode

Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode Host Carm Capriotto dives into the untapped power of Shop Management Systems (SMS) with business coach Dave Schedin and Ben Dexter, National Training Manager at NAPA TRACS. Together, they reveal how two often-overlooked tools, categories and canned jobs, can dramatically improve shop efficiency, consistency, and profitability. The conversation highlights how a smarter system setup leads to faster workflows, clearer data, and stronger decision-making. Key Topics Discussed Unlocking the Power of Categories: Dave Schedin explains the importance of tracking three core labor types: Diagnostic, Preventative Maintenance, and Repair. When categorized correctly, shop owners can pinpoint exactly where time and money are gained—or lost. Building the “Superhighway” to Faster Estimates: Schedin compares developing Canned Jobs to constructing a freeway: it takes an upfront investment of time, but once built, it enables rapid, efficient estimating. Professional Communication: Canned jobs help replace vague descriptions with clear, value-focused explanations. This allows newer advisors to communicate like seasoned professionals while ensuring consistent pricing, messaging, and storytelling across the shop. Turning Data into Profit: Ben Dexter reinforces the principle of “garbage in, garbage out”: without clean, organized data, shop owners are simply guessing. By mastering categories and canned jobs, shop owners can turn their management system into a powerful engine for clarity, consistency, and long-term profitability. Timestamps 00:00:00 – Introduction 00:03:15 – The Three Labor Categories (Diagnostic, PM, Repair) 00:05:45 – Creating Smart Warranty Categories 00:08:20 – Data Integrity: “Garbage In, Garbage Out” 00:14:15 – Canned Jobs &amp; Professional Storytelling 00:16:30 – “Level 10” Jobs &amp; Built-In Parts Triggers 00:18:00 – Reducing Advisor Cognitive Load 00:19:45 – Generic Jobs vs. Vehicle-Specific “Pro Jobs” 00:22:30 – Helping New Advisors Sound Like Pros 00:25:00 – Writing Complex Estimates in 2–3 Minutes 00:29:15 – The ROI: 15–20% Sales Growth Potential 00:31:00 – Building the Estimating “Superhighway” Dave Schedin, CompuTrek Automotive Management Systems. Dave’s previous episodes HERE Ben Dexter, National Training Manager, NAPA TRACS. Find Ben’s other episodes HERE Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Thanks to our Partner, KUKUI Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI’s integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. Get industry-leading customer support with KUKUI at https://www.kukui.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Pit Crew Loyalty You’re probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. We understand. 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