Why visual tools matter in auto repair

Sourcing the right part quickly can make or break an auto repair job. Inaccurate orders, returns, and time lost to searching for the right part can disrupt workflow and impact customer satisfaction in your shop. That’s where the PartsTech Visual Search Suite comes in. By offering technicians and service advisors advanced visual tools like interactive diagrams and 360-degree product views, PartsTech empowers repair professionals to to get the right part(s) to get the job done correctly the first time.

With the ongoing technician shortage, tools like the PartsTech Visual Search Suite have become even more critical. By simplifying the parts identification process, you can enable your less experienced staff with the tools they need to confidently and quickly order the right parts. This not only shortens training times but also leads to overall shop efficiency — allowing your shop to focus more on delivering exceptional customer service, even under staffing challenges.

Steven Meyer, Chief Product Officer at PartsTech, explains the impact: “In today’s automotive repair environment, tools like the Visual Search Suite are critical. By making parts identification faster and more accurate, we’re helping shops save time, reduce errors, and improve profitability. And with the technician shortage, these tools allow newer staff to confidently make decisions that keep the shop running smoothly.”

Try the new Visual Search Suite in action →

Key features of the PartsTech Visual Search Suite

1. Full-Vehicle Diagrams

The PartsTech Diagrams feature provides interactive, full-vehicle diagrams for major makes and models from the past 30 years. These diagrams allow users to hover over parts for quick identification and add multiple parts to a search list with just one click. The ability to cross-reference parts from multiple suppliers in one streamlined process saves both time and ensures greater accuracy in ordering.

“My favorite feature of PartsTech is the exploded diagrams. I don’t have to go to another tab to find the exploded diagram to figure out what a part is called. I can just click on the part [in PartsTech Diagrams], and it pulls it up for me.” – John Mark, Technician, Honest Mechanic, Louisville, Kentucky

Learn more about PartsTech Diagrams

2. 360-Degree Product Views

For a comprehensive view of a part, the PartsTech 360-degree Product Views offer a full rotational experience, letting users to inspect a part from every angle. With over 50,000 products in the PartsTech catalog available for 360-degree views, this tool helps your team to choose the correct component and reduces the chance of returns due to incorrect orders.

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3. Intelligent Image Replacement

When a manufacturer does not provide an image, the PartsTech Intelligent Image Replacement feature steps in — providing visual context through diagram slices for approximately 80% of the 15 million parts in the PartsTech catalog. This intelligent image replacement helps maintain accuracy in parts selection even when the manufacturer has not provided images — helping you shop to have the information need to make informed decisions.

Learn more about Intelligent Image Replacement

Time saved equals increased profits, a better customer experience, and more

Every minute counts in your auto repair shop, and time spent searching for parts or dealing with order mistakes can cut into your profits. PartsTech simplifies the process by giving you access to multiple suppliers in one streamlined lookup. The PartsTech Visual Search Suite enhances this by improving part identification through visual aids, helping eliminate mistakes when ordering the wrong part. On average, it saves shops an average of 15 minutes per repair order. These time savings quickly add up, boosting bay productivity and allowing shops to focus on growing their business, increasing ARO, improving customer experiences, and more.

PartsTech Visual Search Suite — available now

The PartsTech Visual Search Suite is free on all PartsTech tiers, including PartsTech Free. This suite is a game changer for any repair shop looking to enhance its parts procurement process, improve accuracy, and save valuable time on every repair order.

Explore the Future of Parts Ordering

If you’re ready to take your shop’s parts procurement process to the next level, explore the PartsTech Visual Search Suite and more today. From interactive diagrams to 360-degree product views, these tools help you work more efficiently, avoid mistakes, and keep your customers happy.