Basically, I don’t have much connection with others in the same industry (*´з`)
Both hands? Actually, even one hand seems questionable… Well then
Motorcycle shops are seriously messy.
Both inside and outside the shop… that’s what I think with a 97.85% probability (estimated).
This isn’t about the shop owner’s personality or anything like that—it’s a fact ( ﾟДﾟ)
There are just too many daily tasks ( ﾟДﾟ)
You folks (bike shop owners) have gotten so used to it that you don’t really feel it anymore?
Maybe… but
you’re so overwhelmed that you can’t organize your surroundings
or even your desk. (Probably.)
Phone calls, emails, ordering, inspecting shipments, research,
emergency repairs, accidents, quotes, vehicle sales, dealer auctions,
inspections, registration, fabrication, customization, tool and equipment research and purchases, material shopping,
outsourcing, dealing with vendors, blogs, social media, and so on
—the list never ends.
Before you know it, a year passes, then ten years…
and garbage piles up… mysterious dead-stock original parts lying around…
and you think, I really should organize the work… you know?
I think if you streamline things a bit, you can improve efficiency, so let me share some suggestions from my experience.
Reduce the hassle of duplicate parts orders
You have lots of customers with the same motorcycle.
In those cases, what I definitely recommend is creating an order content format organized by task type.
For example, ZRX1200 Front Fork OH —you decide on a title like that,
and create a format with the part numbers needed for fork OH.
By doing this,
the next time you need to order for a bike that’s already had a fork OH, it’s done at lightning speed?
Whether you look up the parts list and write it out each time or not makes a huge difference in effort.
Stem OH, swingarm OH, carburettor OH— it’s all the same.
If your format is correct, you’ll eliminate careless mistakes like forgetting to order, and it’ll be much more effective.
Digitize all delivery notes and invoices as PDFs.
I mean, you’re still using paper? … but
if you convert everything to PDF, you won’t have to hunt through files looking for invoices every time.
Sure, at first you might struggle with getting used to it and organizing folders.
But it’s definitely worth doing properly.
If multiple mechanics are creating invoices for different customers,
multiple people can check the invoice files, making it even more efficient.
You’ll lose fewer invoices, and you can always print more ( *´艸｀)
Fujitsu PFU Document Scanner ScanSnap iX1500 (Dual-sided scanning/ADF/4.3-inch touch panel/Wi-Fi compatible)
We use this one.
Don’t skimp on the price—
the lightning-fast scanning and touch panel menu that lets you sort into folders is the secret sauce (・´з`・)
The key is making it sustainable so you don’t get sick of it.
It’s all about equipment and mindset…
Turn down weird jobs (*´ω｀*)
I think every industry has them… jobs that smell fishy, people who smell fishy.
*Not body odor, okay?
When you think ( ,,`･ω･´)ﾝﾝﾝ? it’s definitely your sixth sense.
You need to make the judgment call to pass.
Sometimes a job you took thinking it was the right thing ends up really biting you in the end…
I could go on forever listing experiences.
If you’re running it solo or with just one other person, you have to work incredibly efficiently or you won’t be able to wrap everything up cleanly in your lifetime.
I think it’s worth cutting back on some of what you’re doing and streamlining.
