The daily problems this covers
Parts shops hold thousands of lines that only make sense by part number. Dealers need to know where each unit went and who bought it. Workshops lose parts and labour between the job and the invoice. Navigate links each of these to stock and the ledger.
Setting up
The Automotive & spare parts starter pack adds Store manager, Service advisor and Technician roles. It adds categories such as engine parts, brakes, filters, lubricants and tyres. It also adds two product fields: OEM number and Vehicle fitment. Its go-live steps ask you to link your key suppliers and open your first job card.
Parts and stock
- Find a part by name, code or its OEM number field.
- Set a reorder level on each part. Reorder reports show what is below it.
- See stock by branch and request a transfer from another branch.
- Import goods with one import reference: goods in transit, landed costs such as freight and duty, costing, then release to a selling warehouse. Goods cannot be sold until released.
- Letters of credit can be managed from application to closing, if that module is on.
Serial numbers and units
Tick Track serial numbers on a product such as a motorcycle or generator. Serials are captured at receipt and chosen at sale. Search finds a unit by serial, registration, engine number or chassis / VIN, including units already sold. Its history shows each transaction, with the document and customer.
Dealers and key suppliers
Under Key suppliers, a dealer sees the supplier's catalogue, stock by branch and the price agreed with that dealer, and places orders. Both sides see one order record with dispatch and delivery status. Dealers can raise tickets with the supplier, and can post a Part/Unit Request to other dealers on the same supplier's network when a customer needs something they do not have. The other dealers and the supplier answer with availability and price.
Service and workshop
Express service handles routine jobs in one step. For example, a workshop might record an oil and filter change, take payment and close the job on one screen. Express jobs skip diagnosis and work in progress, and everything must be paid in full for it to save.
- Reception: find the customer or unit by phone, registration, chassis or engine number. Record the check-in condition, such as fuel level, tyres and lights.
- Diagnosis and quotation: the quotation goes for customer approval.
- Repair: parts and labour go on the job card and into workshop work in progress.
- Quality check: a checklist confirms the repair, parts, test run and complaint.
- Invoice and release: the job is invoiced through Sales and the unit is released.
- History: each unit keeps its service history for the next visit.
- Tracking: a customer can follow the job on a private link with no login.
Warranty and complaints
Warranty policies can apply by product, category or brand, by months or usage such as km, whichever comes first. Any unit can be looked up by serial. Product problems can become tickets with an owner, a service level and a root cause.
Where Navigate may not fit
- There is no manufacturer parts catalogue or VIN decoding. You enter OEM numbers and fitment yourself.
- Serialised items do not use pack sizes and cannot go on bills of materials.
- The Service module has no workshop appointment calendar, so bookings are handled outside it.
- Express service cannot complete an invoice that needs approval. A manager completes it.
- Link to a supplier's own system depends on that supplier. Check whether yours has an API feed set up.
Frequently asked questions
Can I track a motorcycle by chassis and engine number?
Yes. A serialised unit can hold its serial, chassis / VIN, engine number and registration, and search finds it by any of them.
Is there a built-in catalogue of which part fits which vehicle?
No. Vehicle fitment is a text field you fill in for each product. Navigate has no manufacturer catalogue and does not decode VINs.
Does a small parts shop need the full workshop module?
No. The Trade & Serial plan is aimed at shops selling spare parts and complete units, with serial tracking, and the workshop module is separate. Plan contents can change, so check the current plans.
Can I handle repairs that are not vehicles?
Yes. Job types include vehicle, motorcycle, machine and equipment repair.