A vehicle health check tool has been added by Pinewood to its Pinnacle dealer management system, which will be included free to customers in the next upgrade of the software.

It allows technicians to gather information about each vehicle reviewed in the workshop either on paper or direct on a workstation into the dealer management system.

Service desk staff are then prompted by Pinnacle to check with the vehicle’s owner whether the work identified by the technician can be carried out. If accepted, it is automatically added in the dealer management system to job cards and parts ordering.

The Pinnacle vehicle health check even links into manufacturer menu pricing, meaning that jobs identified are carried out at fixed prices where possible. Also, discounts agreed with account customers are automatically taken into consideration.

“We believe that it is the right move to provide the new Pinnacle vehicle health check functionality to our customer base free of charge, giving them the best tools to maximise revenue in tough times,” explained Pinewood managing director Neville Briggs.

“Early reports are that the additional profits generated by using the Pinnacle vehicle health check are, in effect, paying for or exceeding the entire monthly charge that we make for using the dealer management system.”