Autivo vs Tekmetric: Marketing & Retention Tools Compared

## Quick Verdict

Tekmetric is one of the most popular shop management systems (SMS) in independent auto repair. It excels at workflow, inspections, and shop floor operations.

Autivo is a customer-facing platform: branded mobile app, CRM, booking, rewards, and marketing automation designed to drive repeat visits.

These tools are complementary, not identical competitors. Many shops use Tekmetric for operations and a separate platform for customer retention. This comparison focuses on what each offers for marketing and customer engagement.

About Each Platform

Tekmetric

Tekmetric is a cloud-based shop management system handling repair orders, digital vehicle inspections, technician workflows, parts ordering, reporting, and customer communication basics. It is widely regarded as one of the best shop management platforms for independent repair shops. Tekmetric's mobile experience serves technicians and advisors inside the shop — not customers at home.

Autivo

Autivo is a customer-facing retention platform. It provides a branded iOS and Android app, CRM focused on communication and engagement, online booking, rewards, memberships, and marketing automation (SMS, VoIP, push, text-back). Autivo works *alongside* shop management systems like Tekmetric.

Branded Mobile App

Autivo provides a white-label iOS and Android app for your customers — booking, rewards, vehicle info, and push notifications under your brand.

Tekmetric does not offer a customer-facing mobile app. Its mobile experience is built for technicians and service advisors inside the shop.

If customer retention through a branded app is the goal, Autivo fills a gap Tekmetric was not designed to address.

Online Booking

Tekmetric offers online scheduling integrated with its shop management workflow. Booking connects directly to bay calendars and RO creation.

Autivo provides customer-facing booking through the branded app and website embed, with automated SMS and push reminders.

Shops on Tekmetric may already have booking covered operationally. Autivo adds the customer app layer and push reminder channel on top.

Marketing and Communication

Tekmetric includes basic customer communication features and integrations with third-party marketing tools. Its strength is operational communication tied to ROs — not retention marketing campaigns.

Autivo is built for retention marketing: automated service reminders, promotional pushes, 2-way SMS inbox, missed-call text-back, and AI call transcription.

Tekmetric runs the shop. Autivo grows the customer relationship after the RO closes.

CRM and Customer Data

Tekmetric stores repair orders, vehicle data, and customer records as part of shop operations. Its CRM is operationally focused — what was done, what is due, what was declined.

Autivo maintains a retention-focused CRM — communication history, app engagement, rewards balances, membership status, and campaign performance.

The data overlaps but serves different purposes: Tekmetric for operations, Autivo for marketing and repeat business.

Rewards and Memberships

Autivo includes loyalty points, referral programs, and Stripe-powered membership tiers surfaced in the customer app.

Tekmetric focuses on operational efficiency rather than customer loyalty programs. No native rewards or membership billing.

Shops wanting to monetize recurring service plans or points-based loyalty need a dedicated retention platform like Autivo.

Pricing

Tekmetric pricing is per-location for shop management, typically $199–$399/month depending on features.

Autivo pricing is tiered for customer-facing features:

• Core ($199/mo): App, push, rewards, booking, CRM
• Growth ($399/mo): + VoIP, SMS, text-back, 2,500 texts/calls
• Pro ($699/mo): + 10,000 texts/calls, analytics, API

Budget for both if you want best-in-class operations *and* retention. Many Tekmetric shops add Autivo specifically for the customer app and push channel.

Where Tekmetric Wins

• Industry-leading shop management and workflow
• Digital vehicle inspections and technician tools
• Robust reporting on shop operations and profitability
• Large integration ecosystem
• Online scheduling tied directly to shop operations

Where Autivo Wins

• Branded customer iOS and Android app
• Push notifications without per-message SMS fees
• Purpose-built retention CRM and marketing automation
• Rewards, referrals, and memberships in one platform
• Missed call text-back and VoIP communication

Can You Use Both?

Yes — and many shops should.

Tekmetric handles the bay. Autivo handles the customer relationship. They solve different problems for the same shop. Data flows between them so RO history informs retention campaigns without duplicate entry.

If you are evaluating whether Autivo replaces Tekmetric: it does not. If you are evaluating whether Autivo adds what Tekmetric lacks for customer retention: it does.

Decision Checklist

Stick with Tekmetric alone if operations are your only software priority right now.

Add Autivo if you want a customer app, push marketing, loyalty programs, and automated retention on top of your shop management system.

The Tekmetric + Autivo Stack in Practice

A typical 6-bay general repair shop runs Tekmetric ($299/mo) for ROs, DVI, and workflow. They add Autivo Growth ($399/mo) for the customer app, push notifications, SMS, and text-back. Combined $698/month replaces a patchwork of separate SMS tools, a basic CRM, and manual loyalty tracking. The shop books 15–20% more repeat appointments from push reminders and recovers 8–12 missed-call leads monthly via text-back. ROI positive within 60–90 days when measured against retention lift and recovered leads.

What Tekmetric Shops Ask Most

The three most common questions: "Will this duplicate my Tekmetric customer data?" (No — Autivo adds a retention layer, not a second RO system.) "Do my customers actually download the app?" (15–25% of active customers within 60 days when promoted at every visit.) "Can I keep Tekmetric and just add the app?" (Yes — that is the recommended setup.)

Reporting: Operations vs Retention

Tekmetric reporting answers operational questions: technician efficiency, ARO trends, parts margin, bay utilization. Autivo reporting answers retention questions: app adoption, push engagement, membership MRR, referral conversions, campaign ROI, and second-visit rate lift. Shops need both report types but from different platforms. Do not expect Tekmetric to tell you whether your loyalty program is working — that is retention software's job.

Integration Workflow

Data flows from Tekmetric (RO closed, vehicle serviced, declined work noted) into Autivo (service reminder scheduled, push notification sent, rewards points credited, declined work follow-up queued). The integration is one-directional for operations data and bi-directional for appointments booked through the Autivo app flowing back to your schedule. No double entry when configured correctly.

Competitive Positioning

Dealership service departments increasingly offer customer apps with push notifications, loyalty programs, and online booking. Independent shops on Tekmetric alone compete operationally but not on customer experience. Adding Autivo levels the retention playing field — your customer gets the same app-native experience at the independent shop that they get at the dealer, often with better personal service and competitive pricing.

Implementation Timeline

Week 1: Connect Tekmetric data feed and import customer records. Week 2: Launch branded app and configure booking. Week 3: Enable rewards and train advisors on app promotion. Week 4: Activate service reminders and push notifications. Most Tekmetric shops are fully live on Autivo within 30 days without disrupting shop floor operations.

Common Misconception

Autivo vs Tekmetric is not an either/or decision in most cases. Shops that frame it as "which one should I pick?" often misunderstand the category difference. Tekmetric is shop management. Autivo is customer retention. The better question is: "When should I add Autivo to my Tekmetric stack?" — and the answer is usually when second-visit rate plateaus or SMS costs start climbing.

Book a free demo to see how Autivo works alongside Tekmetric — or whatever shop management system you use today.