Opiniones de R.O. Writer

Happy customer for years, and years, and years!

Puntos a favor:

Comfortable for all to use. I have high confidence in the program and the support when needed. Tons of reports to use.

Contras:

In the past, I was concerned that not enough was being invested in the product. Glad to see that has changed!

Bellaire Auto Center's review of RO Writer, 32 years!

Comentarios: We wouldn't be here without it!

Puntos a favor:

RO writing, Epicor, service history, inventory management

Contras:

Latest version 3.0.3 is overall very clunky, slow, and missing some features

Shop owner

Comentarios: The reps I spoke about these issues are just order takers they just say ok I will tell management. I got the rep on the ro writer screen with me and showed her what we were going through and she was yeah that is terrible ….but I will tell management.

Puntos a favor:

I have used the previous version of RO writer for 20 plus years and was very happy with it until a slick salesman got a hold of my general Manager and talked us into purchasing this new version of RO writerWhat a terrible mistake!!!this new version is clunky takes 30% more time to write up a repair order The new color makes us become fatigued quickerPlease give me back my old version of RO writer or I will have to go to a different software company.

Contras:

After you finish writing a description of repair it takes you to the bottom of the page causing you to lose you place on the page Causing you to lose your thought process and you are constantly going to the bottom of the page and back to your original place on the page.This is super exhausting and is waiting precious company time Bad product give me back my old version

R.O. Writer Tech Support is the best I ever work with.

Comentarios: My shop has been using R.O. Writer almost since its inception--30 years ago?--I've been working with the program through three major versions now and each time has been a leap forward in power, flexibility, and intelligence. We are a single shop with a unique mix of classic and modern cars, and R.O. Writer is flexible enough to accommodate both and all of these...

Puntos a favor:

Tech Support for this program is MIND BOGGLINGLY good! Incredible service, super knowledgeable agents, lightning fast response time to both phone call and emails--agents beyond smart, knowledgeable, and efficient. They take the time every call to fix as much as they possibly can. World Class! I would buy the program on the strength of this support alone.

Contras:

Interface still looks like it's from 1995, some of the defaults--I'm looking at you scheduler--are oddly mixed in and work oppositely from themselves in different parts of the program. We often end up with appointments on the wrong day, at the wrong time, because people who use the program occasionally get tripped up by the anomalies/inconsistencies.

RO Writer

Comentarios: The reports are a great way to drill down into how the business is doing.

Puntos a favor:

The scheduler, DVI Suite, matrix gives us the ability to maximize each repair order.

Contras:

The ability of the system alerting us of services that are do since last visit.

BAD TECH SUPPORT

Puntos a favor:

Good, but uninspired program. Decently easy to learn. Does everything we need it to. Better than paper system we had previously.

Contras:

Tech support. There are other issues, but the tech support is very bad. Don't get me wrong. The tech support isn't so completely horrible that you will be forced to switch to a different program. It's just good enough that you will probably stay using their program because you don't want to go through with retraining your technofeeb employees on a new system. Let me elaborate on how bad they are: No online knowledgebase. No user forum No email blasts on known issues occurring Calls to tech support have approximately 20% chance of being kicked out of the queue and hung up on because nobody picked up the phone after 5 minutes of waiting. Calls to tech support have a >25% chance of not returning your call. Yes, I really am saying they sometimes do not call me back. Frequency of failure does increase as the severity of the problem decreases. In other words, they've always called me back on critical issues. But on very minor issues, they've failed as much as half the time to call me back. Calls to tech support rarely reach someone who can fix your problem. They almost always have to call you back. Tech support consistently and repeatedly fails to return your system environment back to it's original configuration after remotely logging in. For example: regedit is often left running and UAC is never turned back on before they log out of your system. The second worst problem is lack of user input. There are several areas in the program that work...but require many extra steps that could be reduced with minor coding additions.

Been with R.O. Writer since DOS days....F7 key anyone?

Comentarios: Again, see above "pro's" section

Puntos a favor:

"version 2.0 " or whatever its being called is the absolute worst in every way; And trust me, I've been here for the long haul since the days of DOS OS and F Keys...What's bad? The Color and Layout, price, epicore, lasercat, integration of multivendor parts, number of clicks to get an R.O. open or Closed. It has ZERO intuativeness. It's overly comberssom and has unnecessary redundancy of clicks built in to open or close an R.O. My best guess is that the [SENSITIVE CONTENT] are tired, rich and lazy and have finally outsourced this "Gold Standard" of days long since gone by the wayside.

Contras:

See above "Pros" section for full length

20 year user and now Im looking for a new system

Comentarios: After 20 years, no updates to impact functionality that really matter to day to day operations, I'm now looking for new systems because of the 2.5X price increase in the monthly fees! I used the tech support maybe average once per YEAR to get the system running again after a windows update and what I was paying before was too expensive for that. Don't pay $10,000 plus and $200 a month to write addresses and vin numbers in a system that gets no new updates, or repairs made to the glitches!

Puntos a favor:

it is functional for operating my business

Contras:

clunky, slow and navigation is stupid. too many 'features' and repots that are useless. all the time invested into making this software 'better' is just adding useless reports and tracking mechanisms that are meaningless

R.O. Writer

Comentarios: R.O. Writer is a quality software to help keeps things organized.

Puntos a favor:

R.O. Writer has everything you need in once data base to find out how to repair a car, quote the repair, and invoice the customer.

Contras:

R.O. Writer has so much information within the software it doesn't make it very user friendly to someone with little experience.

RO Writer 2019 Gen 2 Migration

Comentarios: My workflow has improved significantly since the migration / upgrade. My employees are using the software far more effectively. We even took advantage of training that RO Writer offers and it has been a breath of fresh air for us. In conclusion, I had issues with my previous set up, RO Writer made promises that If i upgraded to Generation 2, a lot of my issues would be eliminated. I appreciate that they were right and that they made it incredibly easy.

Puntos a favor:

1. Had problems with querying data (IE History) Was told that this issue would go away if I migrated to Generation 2. I was skeptical. RO Writer was absolutely correct. Looking up info is now incredibly fast thanks to the SQL Server back end. 2. Sales, Install and Training called me WHEN they said they would and everything worked around my schedule, couldn't have asked for it to go better. The team was fantastic. 3. I have several different POS systems. RO Writer is my favorite when it comes to ease of use, hands down.

Contras:

I honestly don't have any cons to list here. I am upset that I didn't migrate to Generation 2 sooner.

An Awesome Shop Management Program

Comentarios: The Support team at RO Writer are awesome. CSR respond to all our issues in a prompt manner. The Level 1 and 2 support staff can fix any issues we have in the same day. It happens on all software packages these days.

Puntos a favor:

What we like about RO Writer is the ease of use and the ability to navigate through the Software. It is very user friendly even for new users. The Accounting side of RO Writer is a must for shops looking to increase their profitability, knowing where the Margins are is very important. Our CPA recommends it also as it is very powerful in that feature. The Support team is awesome.

Contras:

Speed issues, but we are on an older version and soon moving to the newer 2.3 version. Sometimes the older version will run sluggish but our database has grown leaps and bounds over the last few years.

Quality Product

Comentarios: Excellent overall

Puntos a favor:

SMART E CAT. Ability to easily look up fluid types

Contras:

Estimate conversion a bit cumbersome. They could make that easier.

Excellent Shop Mansgement Software

Puntos a favor:

We have been using ROWriter software for over 18 years. We currently have 10 shops and a central office using the software. The software is easy to use and to train employees on. It is a real asset to our shops. We also like the recent tablet extension to make ROWriter mobile in our shops. With all of the features available in ROWriter, this is the best shop management software you can buy. Support has also been really good over the years.

Contras:

Would like to see more detail in the Central History between shops like parts supplier and parts invoice numbers.

Downhill spiral

Comentarios: Been using software since 1999, this company keeps going down hill with support n service. Once was the best. I’ve got over 30k invested so I’m held hostage. What’s good is I’m seeing some well thought options from competitors. Support people are good, their just not supported by corporate

Puntos a favor:

Old platform that really simple. It turns on every time we turn it on I guess that’s a Pro. Needs work

Contras:

No good improvement. Took years change database. Glacial tech-support week support to call back...

Legacy Automotive

Comentarios: A C has been fantastic. He made the switch over process seamless. Software is doing exactly what we want and look forward to future updates.

Puntos a favor:

Simple to use. If you can read it's self explanatory.

Contras:

Almost too basic in some areas. Example: maybe a more modern look instead of blocky 2000s era software.

Ro writer covers all your needs

Comentarios: I have used it for 5 years in both of my shops. As an owner I have the data I need even if I'm not at the shop. It has streamlined our flow 10 fold. Love it. Highly recommend it.

Puntos a favor:

Reports are plentiful, repair orders are easy to read, ease of use, and has more than you will use for a shop. Easy to open and process repair orders. Ro touch is the bomb. Awesome product

Contras:

Theres a lot of stuff to use. But sometimes it just takes time to decide wHt u need to use cor your situation to run your shop profitable and productive

its been the best software we have used

Comentarios: i think its getting better every day. I think its still the best point of sale software out there. I dont think there is the perfect system.

Puntos a favor:

easy estimating at All three of our locations. I really like the new updates with the new version. Another thing i like is the the new smart status on ro touch.

Contras:

it locks up at times, and i"m sure its probably something we did wrong along the way. The system gets better every day. I think this system is going to be awesome, once all the bugs are worked out.

Efficient & effective automotive repair software

Puntos a favor:

I like the speed with which I am able to determine availability for products and create repair order estimates. Find quite accurate.

Contras:

At times will ask questions like 4wd vs 2wd, automatic vs standard shift but then will display both options on parts screen even after I have narrowed down the search. I dislike that you have to get out of an estimate for any other work in rowriter- example I am estimating brakes on customers vehicle when receive call from another customer for an appointment- have to exit estimate in order to set appointment in scheduler- I am constantly having to go back into or restart estimates. Also would like to be able to look at part pictures from the ro once on a ticket- with current system have to go back into smart jobs if I would like to reference picture again.

Crashes and support is awful

Comentarios: I would not recommend this software to anyone. Any new system needs to be cloudbased. It will cause your Service adviser to quit.

Puntos a favor:

Smart E Cat was nice to use when it worked. I like the parts return system. You need to run AutoApps with it to run efficiently.

Contras:

Tech support was not good. Software would crash DAILY. Loses information constantly. Slow to update or improve any features. Expensive.

12 Years with RO Writer

Puntos a favor:

This product makes us money. Not only in grosses on sales, but on efficiencies. It makes ordering part very easy and you can compare competitors pricing.

Contras:

Hard to learn, but the best product once you do learn it. The system does lock up from time to time, but easy to restart. Sometimes takes quite a while to get through to customer support.

Horrible Software

Comentarios: I would NOT recommend this software. We will not be renewing when our contract ends!!

Puntos a favor:

There is absolutely nothing good about this software. It is a total waste of dollars spent. Unfortunately I can't come up with a single pro.

Contras:

Customer support is not friendly to work with, the software is always glitching out on us, you can't track invoices/emails sent

Gone but not forgotten

Comentarios: I rarely give negative reviews, but since Capterra keeps prompting me to review RO Writer, here we go! We enjoyed our relationship with RO Writer for many years and truly hated that we had to leave. The deciding factor for us was their refusal to go cloud-based. We have frequent power outages in Florida, and being 'tied to a computer' was affecting us adversely.

Puntos a favor:

ROW has always been very easy to use. It served us well for over 20 years.

Contras:

Customer support has become slower over the past few years, which caused time delays for our shop.

Customer Service

Puntos a favor:

Thank you to the customer rep for always assisting myself and my coworkers. He always gives us fantastic customer service.

Contras:

The only issue we have ever had with RO Writer is that the wait times are very long on the phone when trying to get through.

Good product overall, gets the job done and for the most part done well.

Puntos a favor:

RO Writer helps you run a profitable business. It is very strong in reporting, and having all the separate modules is very helpful when multi-tasking. Smart-e-Cat is nice having all your parts vendors on one screen and the integration with SpeedDial is great. With my current reps, AC and Stan, recent support needs have been met quickly and efficiently.

Contras:

The product as a whole is a bit dated and occasionally will need to be restarted due to errors. There is an updated 2.0 version out, we have not migrated to that yet in order to let them get some of the bugs worked out. Was expensive to purchase up front.

been a customer since 1998 they don't care about the software anymore

Comentarios: it's a shame this company took such a bad turn to the worst. after all these years I am actively looking

Puntos a favor:

there are none it's just aggravation there behind the times the marketing aspect of the program is terrible you cannot even pull up a declined items so you can reach out to your customers

Contras:

constant crashes customer support is ill equipped to handle any questions they always say we need to get you two tier 2 that will take a couple days for them to call you back... if they call. in the meantime your system is down you can't collect any money of nor write any invoices