ARI (Auto Repair Software)

Today, we sat with Mr. Constantin Coutun, the founder of ARI (Auto Repair Software). A car enthusiast turned entrepreneur, Constantin shares his journey of changing the auto repair industry with cutting-edge technology. In this interview, Constantine discusses his inspiration behind starting ARI and his success mantra. 

He also shares his views on where the automotive repair industry is headed and how ARI helps technicians repair vehicles with ease.

In Conversation with Mr. Constantin Coutun, CEO of ARI APPS

Listen to Mr. Coutun’s motivating story in his own words!

A warm welcome from SoftwareSuggest, Mr Constantin Coutun. What is your success mantra? (Something you have followed personally that has helped you in your journey.)

As cliche as it may sound, I truly believe that the key to success is indeed 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration! Here at ARI, we’ve always focused on delivering true value to our users by working hard and keeping a close ear to the ground!

Hard work and closed feedback loops are essential to any business’s success!

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting your Auto Repair Software company?

As a car enthusiast myself, I’ve always found the auto repair service experience lacking and outdated. It has reached such a high level of degradation that clients approach repair shops with a huge dose of skepticism when it comes to having their cars repaired!

From the shop’s side, things are looking even worse! The lack of streamlined solutions for business management makes many of these shop owners either lose business or be pushed out of business entirely!

Auto repair software are extremely expensive, and there is almost a monopoly in the price-features sphere of this industry!

So, I started ARI with a clear goal: democratize the auto repair software industry and increase transparency (communication) between shops and their clients!

What are the key features of your software that set it apart from others in the market?

ARI is the only auto repair software that offers a Client Portal where vehicle owners can access crucial information about their car’s repair process live! In addition, they can use the system to chat with the shop and get their questions answered in real-time!

The software also comes with an online booking system that takes 2 minutes to setup and online payment processing options that can be up and running in less than 5 minutes.

ARI is the only auto repair software in the industry that packs more than 15 features at only 10% of the price of our closest competitor!

How do you see the auto repair industry evolving in the next 5-10 years, and how is your software positioned to address these changes?

The EV revolution will act as a huge stressor on traditional auto repair shops. In order to stay in business, these shops have to update their workflows and move from outdated pen-and-paper invoicing practices to a fully digital business management solution such as ARI!

The emergence of robot taxis, self-driving cars, and AI-driven vehicles will push the industry to an all-time high! In the next 10 years, there will be more vehicles on the road than people! All those vehicles will have to be serviced eventually and we believe ARI will play a key role in streamlining the repair process. From real-time process updates to easy payment solutions, these features will be a must-have for any successful auto repair business!

How do you ensure that your software is user-friendly for technicians and shop managers?

We run a very closed feedback loop with our users! Aside from running regular surveys, we also support a live chat help center that gives our users the possibility to report bugs and request new features with a simple click!

How does your software integrate with other tools and systems commonly used in auto repair shops?

ARI is heavily integrated with some of the most powerful databases and tools in the industry. For accurate vehicle service history, we use Carafax; for diagnosis and maintenance, we integrate with carMD; for labor guides, we use Mitchell1 Prodemand; for accounting, we integrate with QuickBooks; and for payment processing, we integrate with Stripe, Square, Paypal, and 360Payments.

In addition, we also offer financial services through Wisetack!

Are there any partnerships or collaborations that have been particularly beneficial for your company?

Partnering up with 360Payments to offer POS terminal capability in ARI has been particularly very well received by the ARI community!

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to start a business in the software or automotive industry?

The user base has very specific needs and is heavily reliant on using legacy software. It takes a good number of iterations until you find that golden circle where clients are happy, and the business is profitable!