User Reviews Overview
About R.O.Writer
R.O. Writer is a comprehensive auto repair shop software built to help owners optimize every aspect of their business, from service writing to invoicing to customer communications. It is the most feature-rich shop management...
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- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: Self Employed
- Used Weekly for 1-5 months
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Review Source
great writer easy to use
Pros
its awsome and great and easy to use so i do reccoment it
Cons
there is not much support on it like live chat or whatever
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
sence 2008
ease of use on a daily basis going paperless increase aro
Pros
it is easy to use quick to build a work order with smart oil and smart jobs
Cons
the marketing and follow up mod. is hard to nav. would like to see it updated
Alternatives Considered
Mitchell RepairCenterReasons for Choosing R.O.Writer
online orderingReasons for Switching to R.O.Writer
its better with more tools to do a faster job- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Owner
When the company was knew they did good work however, since they’ve been bought by someone else, their quality in customer service has gone to zero
Pros
When it first came out, it was too pricey, and it did a lot but now other automotive software is out there for a fraction of the price and does the same
Cons
Lack of customer support, lack of billing support, and basically over priced for what it is
Top R.O.Writer Alternatives
- Industry: Accounting
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Ro writer review
Pros
Ro write has good customization and is easy to use
Cons
Prompts can get annoying when set incorrectly. There is a lot of clicking for one action
- Industry: Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Ro Writer Survey
Pros
RO writer is an easy product to learn, user friendly
Cons
That cut and paste is not an option
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
It was great back in the 90's when it was designed - now it's like driving an antique car
RO Writer was a solid option for a shop management system about 10 years ago. The software is very comprehensive and highly customizable. That said, we have suffered from constant technical problems over the last several years. RO Writer tech support has required us to spend a small fortune updating and replacing network hardware(including our server) to fix the technical problems, but the problems were never fixed. After spending a ton on upgrades to our network, we finally gave up and replaced RO Writer with another software. I've been trying to contact their billing department for months in order to be released from our service agreement due to the constant technical problems, but I can't even get them to return my calls or e-mails. RO Writer was originally designed around a Microsoft Access database, which is ancient technology in 2021. The "new" version(which they will charge you another $10K for and make you sign a 3 year agreement) is based on SQL, but it's half-baked and doesn't function properly. This software should have been scrapped and totally redesigned a decade ago, but the company keeps dragging along their antiquated system and selling it like it's a modern shop management system.
Let me finish with this: If RO Writer's website was based on the same technology that their software is, NOBODY would even consider buying it because you would load the website and realize it was designed with twenty year old technology.
Pros
Good parts ordering options and great product documentation
Cons
Constant crashes, extremely slow response from software. I spent half of my day staring at my screen waiting for RO writer to catch up with me.
Reasons for Choosing R.O.Writer
Integrated parts orderingReasons for Switching to R.O.Writer
At the time, it was the most comprehensive software we can find. There's a button and an option for everything you could imagine. If only it worked properly...- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Was decent, then bad, then abysmal
9 years of honeymoon promises, updates, new sales reps, always promises and no delivery. For the last 5 years I averaged over 20 hours per both on tech support calls. That should say enough right there.
Pros
Details. You want reports, you got ‘em.
Cons
Almost everything else.
Just gets worse with each iteration.
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Happy customer for years, and years, and years!
Pros
Comfortable for all to use. I have high confidence in the program and the support when needed. Tons of reports to use.
Cons
In the past, I was concerned that not enough was being invested in the product. Glad to see that has changed!
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
RO Writer Review
Being new to the industry, I have found the program to be user-friendly and easy to navigate through.
Pros
User-friendly, great customer service. The hard drive crashed, and customer service was extremely helpful. [sensitive content hidden] got the shop and running after a couple days of frustration.
Cons
Not experienced enough to give an honest opinion.
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Bellaire Auto Center's review of RO Writer, 32 years!
We wouldn't be here without it!
Pros
RO writing, Epicor, service history, inventory management
Cons
Latest version 3.0.3 is overall very clunky, slow, and missing some features
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Stick with old software
None, been causing more problems than it cured
Pros
Can't give no pros. Been having problems ever since updated to new software.
Cons
Keeps messing up. Have to call in all the time because something not working. After 24 years using R O Writer I have to say this new software is crap. More money and a lot of wasted time getting it to work correctly. Which they seem can't fix! Never had problems with older version. This new update version has problems all the time and have to wait on hold for 30 minutes for support . I DO NOT RECOMMEND this new version of R O writer!!!
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 6-12 months
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Review Source
Quality Product
Excellent overall
Pros
SMART E CAT. Ability to easily look up fluid types
Cons
Estimate conversion a bit cumbersome. They could make that easier.
Reasons for Switching to R.O.Writer
Ease of use and reputation.- Company size: 51–200 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Excellent Shop Mansgement Software
Pros
We have been using ROWriter software for over 18 years. We currently have 10 shops and a central office using the software. The software is easy to use and to train employees on. It is a real asset to our shops. We also like the recent tablet extension to make ROWriter mobile in our shops. With all of the features available in ROWriter, this is the best shop management software you can buy. Support has also been really good over the years.
Cons
Would like to see more detail in the Central History between shops like parts supplier and parts invoice numbers.
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Downhill spiral
Been using software since 1999, this company keeps going down hill with support n service. Once was the best. I’ve got over 30k invested so I’m held hostage. What’s good is I’m seeing some well thought options from competitors. Support people are good, their just not supported by corporate
Pros
Old platform that really simple. It turns on every time we turn it on I guess that’s a Pro. Needs work
Cons
No good improvement. Took years change database. Glacial tech-support week support to call back...
Response from Progressive Automotive Systems
We are sorry you have had that experience with RO Writer. AMS is no longer a reseller for RO Writer and now support Protractor, a cloud-based system.
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Legacy Automotive
A C has been fantastic. He made the switch over process seamless. Software is doing exactly what we want and look forward to future updates.
Pros
Simple to use. If you can read it's self explanatory.
Cons
Almost too basic in some areas. Example: maybe a more modern look instead of blocky 2000s era software.
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Ro writer covers all your needs
I have used it for 5 years in both of my shops. As an owner I have the data I need even if I'm not at the shop. It has streamlined our flow 10 fold. Love it. Highly recommend it.
Pros
Reports are plentiful, repair orders are easy to read, ease of use, and has more than you will use for a shop. Easy to open and process repair orders. Ro touch is the bomb. Awesome product
Cons
Theres a lot of stuff to use. But sometimes it just takes time to decide wHt u need to use cor your situation to run your shop profitable and productive
- Company size: 11–50 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
its been the best software we have used
i think its getting better every day. I think its still the best point of sale software out there. I dont think there is the perfect system.
Pros
easy estimating at All three of our locations. I really like the new updates with the new version. Another thing i like is the the new smart status on ro touch.
Cons
it locks up at times, and i"m sure its probably something we did wrong along the way. The system gets better every day. I think this system is going to be awesome, once all the bugs are worked out.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
Efficient & effective automotive repair software
Pros
I like the speed with which I am able to determine availability for products and create repair order estimates. Find quite accurate.
Cons
At times will ask questions like 4wd vs 2wd, automatic vs standard shift but then will display both options on parts screen even after I have narrowed down the search.
I dislike that you have to get out of an estimate for any other work in rowriter- example I am estimating brakes on customers vehicle when receive call from another customer for an appointment- have to exit estimate in order to set appointment in scheduler- I am constantly having to go back into or restart estimates.
Also would like to be able to look at part pictures from the ro once on a ticket- with current system have to go back into smart jobs if I would like to reference picture again.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Crashes and support is awful
I would not recommend this software to anyone. Any new system needs to be cloudbased. It will cause your Service adviser to quit.
Pros
Smart E Cat was nice to use when it worked. I like the parts return system. You need to run AutoApps with it to run efficiently.
Cons
Tech support was not good. Software would crash DAILY. Loses information constantly. Slow to update or improve any features. Expensive.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
12 Years with RO Writer
Pros
This product makes us money. Not only in grosses on sales, but on efficiencies. It makes ordering part very easy and you can compare competitors pricing.
Cons
Hard to learn, but the best product once you do learn it. The system does lock up from time to time, but easy to restart. Sometimes takes quite a while to get through to customer support.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 1+ year
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Review Source
Horrible Software
I would NOT recommend this software. We will not be renewing when our contract ends!!
Pros
There is absolutely nothing good about this software. It is a total waste of dollars spent. Unfortunately I can't come up with a single pro.
Cons
Customer support is not friendly to work with, the software is always glitching out on us, you can't track invoices/emails sent
Response from Progressive Automotive Systems
We are sorry you have had that experience with RO Writer. AMS is no longer a reseller for RO Writer and now support Protractor, a cloud-based system.
- Industry: Automotive
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
Gone but not forgotten
I rarely give negative reviews, but since Capterra keeps prompting me to review RO Writer, here we go! We enjoyed our relationship with RO Writer for many years and truly hated that we had to leave. The deciding factor for us was their refusal to go cloud-based. We have frequent power outages in Florida, and being 'tied to a computer' was affecting us adversely.
Pros
ROW has always been very easy to use. It served us well for over 20 years.
Cons
Customer support has become slower over the past few years, which caused time delays for our shop.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used Daily for 2+ years
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Review Source
Customer Service
Pros
Thank you to the customer rep for always assisting myself and my coworkers. He always gives us fantastic customer service.
Cons
The only issue we have ever had with RO Writer is that the wait times are very long on the phone when trying to get through.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
Good product overall, gets the job done and for the most part done well.
Pros
RO Writer helps you run a profitable business. It is very strong in reporting, and having all the separate modules is very helpful when multi-tasking. Smart-e-Cat is nice having all your parts vendors on one screen and the integration with SpeedDial is great. With my current reps, AC and Stan, recent support needs have been met quickly and efficiently.
Cons
The product as a whole is a bit dated and occasionally will need to be restarted due to errors. There is an updated 2.0 version out, we have not migrated to that yet in order to let them get some of the bugs worked out. Was expensive to purchase up front.
- Company size: 2–10 Employees
- Used for 2+ years
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Review Source
been a customer since 1998 they don't care about the software anymore
it's a shame this company took such a bad turn to the worst. after all these years I am actively looking
Pros
there are none it's just aggravation there behind the times the marketing aspect of the program is terrible you cannot even pull up a declined items so you can reach out to your customers
Cons
constant crashes customer support is ill equipped to handle any questions they always say we need to get you two tier 2 that will take a couple days for them to call you back... if they call. in the meantime your system is down you can't collect any money of nor write any invoices
