Scheduling software buyer guide
How to pick automotive shop scheduling software
A generic calendar shows open slots. A shop scheduler protects the bay, takes a deposit, and ties every appointment to the vehicle. Here's the checklist.
30-day free trial · Cancel anytime · Plans from $39/month
Strata is scheduling built for auto shops, from detailing and tint to the wider trade, where the booking, deposit, vehicle, and invoice are one record instead of four tools.
What matters
What to look for, and how Strata delivers
| Capability | Strata | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Online booking with deposits | StrataBranded booking page takes a deposit through Stripe right after booking, with alerts when a deposit goes uncollected. | What to look forA page that collects real money, not just a request. Many tools capture the appointment, not the deposit. |
| Month-to-day calendar | StrataOne calendar zooms from month to day, so you plan the season and run today in one place. | What to look forMonth-to-day calendar without switching screens. Typical software often locks you into one view. |
| Bays, staff, and buffers | StrataSchedule by bay and by technician with buffers between jobs, protecting both the space and the person. | What to look forCapacity controls for the bay, not just the person. General field-service software often books staff, not bays. |
| Bookings tied to the real vehicle | StrataEvery booking is attached to the exact customer and vehicle, carrying full service history and a comms log. | What to look forSlots linked to the vehicle and its history. Older detailing tools often separate the schedule from customer records. |
| Confirm by text | StrataTwo-way SMS on Pro and Premier with nothing to set up. Customers reply C to confirm. STOP/START and carrier registration handled. | What to look forTwo-way texting on a compliant number. Many tools send one-way blasts. |
| Quote to invoice in one flow | StrataQuote, appointment, and invoice stay connected, with add-ons, tax, deposits, and balances carried through. | What to look forBooking should flow into quote and invoice without re-entry. Typical shop software often makes you enter jobs twice. |
| Live view of the floor | StrataA jobs board of Scheduled, In Progress, Awaiting Pickup, and Complete, with revenue shown per column. | What to look forA board showing where each job stands, not just when it starts. Many calendars show time, not status. |
| Pricing and switching | StrataPlans from $39/month, no per-seat charge. Self-serve CSV import from OrbisX, Urable, TintWiz, or QuickBooks. | What to look forFlat pricing and data you move yourself. Many tools charge per seat and gate setup behind paid onboarding. |
Why shops choose Strata
The booking asks for the deposit, not just the time
Strata's branded booking page collects a deposit through Stripe right after a customer books. If it doesn't come through, you get an uncollected-deposit alert.
A calendar that runs the whole floor
One view moves from month to a single day. You schedule by bay and technician with buffers, so two cars never land in one bay.
Every booking is a real job on a real vehicle
Each slot is tied to the exact customer and vehicle, with service history attached. Quote, appointment, and invoice share the same add-ons, tax, deposit, and balance.
Confirmations by text, with your shop's name on them
Customers confirm by replying C to a text with your shop's name on it. Through Autopilot, overdue regulars get a pre-written win-back queued for your approval.
Bring your data with you
Moving off your current scheduler
Export your customers, vehicles, and history from OrbisX, Urable, TintWiz, or QuickBooks and import the CSV yourself, with no paid onboarding call. Plans from $39/month, no per-seat charge. 30-day free trial, cancel anytime.
See how import worksCommon questions
Does the online booking actually collect a deposit?
Yes, through Stripe, but after the booking rather than before it: the confirmation carries the link to pay it, one reminder email follows if it's still open a few hours later, and Strata flags any deposit that never lands so you can follow up.
Can I schedule by bay and by technician, not just by time?
Yes. You assign jobs to specific bays and staff with buffer time between them, so back-to-back bookings don't collide. The calendar moves from a month view down to a single day.
How do customers confirm their appointment?
By text. Strata sends the reminder with your shop's name on it and the customer replies C to confirm. Replies land in your Messages inbox. Nothing to set up.
What does it cost, and how hard is it to switch?
Pro is $69/month with the discount ($89 list), plans from $39, no per-seat fees. 30-day free trial, cancel anytime. Import your CSV from OrbisX, Urable, TintWiz, or QuickBooks yourself, with no paid onboarding.
Get started
See your own shop's week in Strata
Import your customers and vehicles, book real jobs on a calendar with bays and buffers, and send a confirm-by-text. 30-day free trial, cancel anytime.
