Start with the moment of anxiety
Every successful automotive app we have built solves one emotional problem first: the driver has handed over their car and has no idea what is happening to it. Live repair status, a timestamped photo trail and a push notification when the vehicle is ready remove more support calls than any other feature set.
Before writing a line of code we map the shop's real workflow — check-in, diagnosis, estimate, approval, parts, repair, quality check, pickup — and turn each stage into a status a service advisor can advance in two taps.
Scope that fits a first release
A launchable v1 usually contains: authentication tied to the RO number, a status timeline, digital estimates with line-item approval, photo and video documentation, push notifications and a pickup flow. Loaner scheduling, payments and telematics belong to v2.
Serious engagements start around $25,000. That covers product strategy, UX/UI, a native or cross-platform build and store submission for one platform, with the second platform following shortly after.
Integrations decide the timeline
The dealer management system is the long pole. CDK, Reynolds, Tekmetric and Shop-Ware all expose different data models, and some require a certified integration path. We scope that work separately and ship an operable app against a middleware layer so launch is not blocked by a vendor queue.