The verdict in three sentences
In a workshop with 14 lifts handling 9,000 repair orders a year, additional revenue is won at vehicle reception and at the moment the customer receives the work proposal, not inside the DMS. A custom module at €30,000-70,000, connected to your manufacturer DMS, adds online booking, tablet-based active reception, diagnostic video and SMS work approval, with a 3 to 4 month timeline. The numeric goal: raise the acceptance rate of additional work from 30% to 42%, i.e. 12 more points.
Why the DMS is no longer enough for aftersales
The DMS (Dealer Management System) of a multi-brand dealership handles invoicing, parts and accounting. It is rarely designed for the workshop customer experience: a service advisor walking around the vehicle with the customer, a technician filming a worn brake pad, a customer approving a quote from the office in Berlin or Potsdam. Typical gaps in 2026:
| Workshop journey step | Common practice | Target practice with the module | Measured effect (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking | Phone, 3 to 5 min per call | Online calendar linked to lift capacity | 40% of bookings made online |
| Vehicle reception | Paper sheet or DMS entry | Tablet-based active reception with photos | Reception time from 12 to 8 min |
| Diagnosis | Advisor calls the customer | 60 to 90 s video sent by SMS | 85% open rate |
| Work proposal | Verbal quote, call back if no answer | SMS link with one-click approval | Reply within 30 min in 70% of cases |
| Vehicle handover | Explanation at the counter | Summary and invoice sent before arrival | Counter waiting time halved |
| Follow-up | None | Automatic service reminder at 11 months | Return rate up 8 to 10 points |
2026 budget: from a targeted module to a full suite
| Scope | Content | Budget (excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video and SMS approval | Technician video, quote by link, signature | €30,000 to €38,000 | 3 months |
| + Tablet active reception | Checklist, photos, signed condition report | €40,000 to €52,000 | 3.5 months |
| + Online booking and lift planning | Slots based on real capacity and skills | €55,000 to €70,000 | 4 months |
| DMS integration (read repair orders, write quotes) | Depending on available API or export | Included, €5,000 to €12,000 if DMS is closed | 3 to 6 weeks |
| SMS sending | Local operator, about €0.05 per SMS | €1,500 to €2,500 a year for 9,000 orders | Ongoing |
| Maintenance and hosting | Fixes, DMS API changes | €4,000 to €8,000 a year | Ongoing |
Subscription-based workshop video tools usually cost €150 to €400 per month per site. They suit a single-brand workshop, but a three-brand dealership with a shared DMS and different reception processes benefits from a single module in its own branding, with data it keeps.
Mini case study
Markus, aftersales manager of a three-brand dealership in Berlin, runs 14 lifts and 9,000 repair orders a year. Additional work is detected on 40% of orders, i.e. 3,600 proposals, with an average ticket of €280. At 30% acceptance, he invoices 1,080 additional jobs, i.e. €302,400. With video and SMS approval, the rate rises to 42%: 1,512 jobs, i.e. €423,360, so €120,960 of extra revenue. With a 55% gross margin on labour and parts, the gain reaches about €66,500 a year. For a €52,000 module and €6,000 annual maintenance, payback comes in about 10 months.
FAQ
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How much does a custom aftersales module alongside the DMS cost?
Between €30,000 and €70,000 in 2026 depending on scope, plus €4,000 to €8,000 a year in maintenance. The video and SMS approval module alone starts around €30,000.
Will our manufacturer DMS accept an external connection?
Most DMS on the market offer an API or scheduled exports. If the DMS is closed, plan €5,000 to €12,000 for integration and 3 to 6 additional weeks.
Are diagnostic videos GDPR compliant?
Yes if the customer is informed at reception, if plates and people are out of frame or blurred, and if videos are deleted after a defined period, for example 12 months. Hosting in Germany or the EU is recommended.
Will technicians actually film?
Adoption depends on the time added: a 60 to 90 second video takes less than 2 minutes with an app designed for the workshop. A bonus tied to the share of videos sent, around €50 to €100 a month, often speeds up adoption.
How long to get started?
Plan 3 to 4 months: 3 weeks of scoping with advisors and technicians, 8 to 12 weeks of development, then a 2-week pilot on one brand before rolling out to the other two.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your DMS, number of lifts and repair order volumes: we will price the right module with a 3 to 4 month plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
