OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com Newsletter
October 2012   

Welcome to the OnDemand5.com/ShopKey5.com newsletter.

This newsletter is provided to share information about our users, their shops, automotive industry news, things going on at Mitchell 1 as well as tips for using the OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com products. If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, or ideas for what you'd like to see in it, please .

In this issue:

Missed a previous edition or want to read an article again? Just go to the Newsletter Archive page for a list of links to past headlines.


NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

ProDemand™ and ShopKey®Pro Now Available

Click here to request your free upgrade.

FASTER, EASIER, SMARTER

ProDemand and ShopKey Pro are now available to all OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com subscribers at no additional charge. For more information and to request ProDemand™ or ShopKey®Pro to be added to your account, click the link below:

Click here for more information and to request access to ProDemand or ShopKey Pro.

  • FASTER - eliminating the need for multiple information look-ups. By returning relevant content in one look-up, ProDemand and ShopKey Pro quickly give the technicians everything they need to complete the job.
  • EASIER - allowing the technician to effortlessly navigate from procedures to TSBs to specifications to wiring diagrams and more. ProDemand and ShopKey Pro bring the information to the technicians so they can focus on the vehicle.
  • SMARTER - intelligently cross referencing components, phrases, and codes in the database. Technicians don't have to know the OEM specific term because ProDemand and ShopKey Pro will find the information regardless of term entered.

Want to know more before you sign up?

Join us at one of our training workshops where we show you how the new product works. Workshops are held twice per day, every weekday at 12pm Eastern/9am Pacific and 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific. You only need to attend one 45 minute session. Click the appropriate link below to visit our training site and to sign up for a workshop.

Now Includes Estimator

ProDemand and ShopKey Pro now include Estimator built right in.

Watch the training video below to learn the basics of using Estimator or click here to request access to ProDemand or ShopKey Pro.






Internet Explorer 9 or 10 Compatibility

Before installing or upgrading to Internet Explorer 9 or 10, please read our page of information detailing what to do and issues that may occur with this update. Some users will get IE9 automatically from Microsoft.

Click here for more information.


Coolant Testing - The Trainer Video Series

Motor Age -- Engine coolant formulations today come in every color of the rainbow. The coolant in your customer's car may be a conventional formulation, an Organic Acid Technology coolant or a Hybrid Organic Acid Technology type. Each of the three has different routine replacement interval recommendations, but ALL three need to be replaced when their glycol base shows signs of degradation. And degradation can occur long before those mileage/time intervals are reached! The resulting acids can quickly attack the cooling system components and seals, and that means expensive repairs you could have helped your customer avoid.

Testing the condition of your customer's coolant should be done at least annually and corrective action taken based on those results. In this edition of The Trainer, we'll show you how.

Click here for more videos in Motor Age's "The Trainer" monthly video series.



Join Mitchell 1's Product Users Forum

Click here to visit the Shop Management Forum.

It's not just for Shop Management anymore...

Long before social media became popular, Mitchell 1 introduced its Shop Management Users Forum (2004) to assist tech support with training questions from our customers. This allowed support agents to concentrate on technical problems such as PC failures and database issues. Word spread through the aftermarket industry that Mitchell 1/ShopKey users now had a place to ask questions and compare notes about the best ways to operate their software to take better advantage of what it's capable of doing for them.

The forum is accessed either by a Forum button in the shop management software menu or by simply typing managerforum.net into a PC or smartphone browser. Many users keep it open in the background at the shop and can easily see what's new on the forum, as their time permits.

While shops may not always have a management software question, they do seem to have their share of specific vehicle repairs that are driving them crazy. ("I like talking to the people here, maybe we can talk about specific repair challenges too?") To address this need, the forum added a WRENCH section for repair discussions.

You don't actually need to use our shop management programs to participate in the forum. Repair and other product users are welcome too.

Registered members can see WRENCH and additional SHOP-2-SHOP discussions about actually running their businesses. Today, WRENCH is neatly divided by makes and types (GM car, GM truck, etc. including imports). While it's not likely to ever compete with iATN, users comment that it is a friendly, helpful, professional atmosphere that generally yields results, often within minutes of posting. They also share their social events in the CLUBHOUSE section, rounding out the forum as a true online community.

"Mitchell Management Forum: A meeting place where you can interact with other users like yourself. A meeting place where you can discuss software issues as easily as you can discuss what you had for supper last night. A place where you fit right in, whether you're a novice or an expert. A place where you can get answers to your questions and tips on how to use Manager to it's fullest. It's fun and it serious. It's comfortable and knowledgeable. A place that helps you stay ahead of the competition. One of the best tools in your toolbox."
Ric Morin of Motorcar Alternatives in Hookset, NH

We continue to add new areas to the forum. The newest being for ProDemand, ShopKey Pro and SocialCRM.

A discussion forum is as good as its maintenance. Efforts are made daily to tidy up and keep the contents fresh; misfiled posts are moved to correct topics and older posts that no longer apply are removed. The forum currently has 46,150+ posts in 4892 topics by 3782 registered users.

Click here to visit the Shop Management Forum.



SHOP PROFILE   ^  

How To Get Featured In The Newsletter

Your picture here. Would you or one of your techs like to be profiled in the newsletter? How about your shop? We're looking for techs and/or shops to feature in this spot. This is an opportunity to let other techs know about you and your shop. You can share information on what your specialties are, what special conditions you have to deal with in your area, anything interesting about your shop or even what you like to do in your free time.

We will also list your shop's information such as location, phone number, web site, or any other information you'd like to provide.

  • Send your story and photos for consideration to . Please also include your account number.
  • Click here for an example of a past Tech Profile.
  • Click here for an example of a past Shop Profile.


Did you know...
When you post a tip or question in the OnDemand5/ShopKey5 Live Tips system, there is a spell checker available. It is the right-most button on the tool bar above the text box. Just click the button before you click the post button.

Click here for more hints on using OnDemand5 and ShopKey5.


TIP CONTEST WINNERS   ^  

OnDemand5/ShopKey5 Live Tip Contest Winners

Click here for the tip contest rules. Mitchell 1 is running a tip contest for a limited time in OnDemand5.com and ShopKey5.com. Below are the latest winners of the contest. Each of these tips earned the tech a $100 prize. Click the links below to see the complete tips and for more information on how you can enter.




Click here to visit the Mitchell 1 product users forum.
Want to discuss subjects on running your shop?

Join the free Mitchell 1 product users forum today. Click here to check it out.



Click here to visit the RepairCert.com web site.
Click here for information on training resources available for OnDemand and ShopKey repair users.




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