Southdell Garages

Introduction

Based in Birmingham, Southdell Garages is an independent workshop run by owner Donna Marks, employing two technicians and an apprentice — with plans to expand. Known locally for reliable service and loyal customers, the business has been steadily growing despite the challenges of managing a busy workshop.

Before discovering TechMan, Donna and her team were using a garage management system that was being discontinued. The search for a more flexible, personalised alternative led them to TechMan — a solution that has since streamlined their workflow, improved organisation, and made daily operations far more efficient.

The Challenge

Donna’s previous garage management system was coming to an end, prompting the team to look for something more personalised for their small but busy business. After some research, they found TechMan — a system that offered exactly what they needed.

“We did a bit of research and looked for something that was a little bit more personalised for a small company,” Donna explains. “That’s when we decided on TechMan.”

The Solution

Donna and her team chose TechMan for its approachable design, small-business focus, and strong support network. To ensure a smooth transition, they travelled to Northampton for one-to-one onboarding and training with the TechMan team. Donna recalls that the team were very helpful during the process, assisting with importing everything from their previous system and making the setup straightforward.

This hands-on support gave the Southdell Garages team the confidence to dive in and start using TechMan effectively from day one.

The Results

Since adopting TechMan, Southdell Garages has seen noticeable improvements in productivity, efficiency, and customer experience.

Smoother daily operations: “The more you put in, the more you get out. It makes our day-to-day running much smoother.”
Better organisation: All customer details are instantly accessible, keeping jobs, reminders, and records in one place.
Improved efficiency: Automatic reminders ensure customers never miss their bookings. “We no longer have people forgetting to come. We give them enough notice, and everything runs more efficiently.”
Higher productivity: With fewer missed appointments and better scheduling, the team stays consistently busy.

“It’s a real asset to have customers’ information at the touch of a button,” says Donna. “On the whole, it’s a lot more efficient — a lot more.”

Support & Experience

Donna describes TechMan’s customer support as responsive and dependable. She mentions that when issues such as duplications occurred, the support team quickly helped to resolve them. Overall, she found that any problems were handled efficiently and with good communication.

This level of ongoing support has made TechMan not just a management tool, but a partner in Southdell Garages’ continued growth.

Conclusion

For Donna and her team, TechMan has brought structure, simplicity, and professionalism to every part of their business.

“Yes, I’d definitely recommend it,” Donna concludes. “It would be a real asset to you.”