FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Answers about 4softauto: which automotive businesses it is for, what it keeps a record of, what it does not do and how to get started.
About 4softauto
What is 4softauto?
It is a platform from the 4b2b ecosystem for automotive businesses. It has five separate solutions: car dealerships, used-car lots, car rental, auto parts stores and auto detailing. Each solution has its own records, calendars and statuses.
How long does it take to get started?
You can start the same day: create the account, choose your type of business and add the first records. How long data entry takes depends on how many cars, parts or service packages you have.
Can I use several solutions in the same account?
Yes. A company that sells cars and also runs a detailing studio can use both solutions from the same account.
Do I need to install anything?
No. 4softauto runs in the browser, with nothing to install.
Solutions by type of business
What does the dealership solution keep a record of?
Car stock (VIN, price, mileage, status: available, reserved, in preparation or sold), leads linked to the car they want, with the conversation history, and test-drive bookings. The offer and the sales contract are filled in from the record, on your company template.
What does the used-car lot solution keep a record of?
The purchase price and every reconditioning expense, on the car record. The total cost and the margin at the list price follow from the amounts you enter, and each record keeps the date the car came onto the lot.
What does the car rental solution do?
It keeps a calendar per car, calculates the rental per day from the category rate and generates the rental contract from the booking data. At hand-over and return, mileage, fuel level and notes on condition are filled in.
What does the auto parts solution do?
It keeps the parts catalogue with internal code, OEM code and compatibility you note yourself, stock by location, purchase and sale prices, the list of parts below the minimum threshold and supplier orders.
What does the auto detailing solution do?
It keeps service packages with duration and price, schedules cars by bay and detailer and opens a job sheet for each car, with intake notes, before and after photos and the services performed.
What 4softauto does not do
Does it publish cars on listing sites?
No. 4softauto is an internal record-keeping tool. You publish ads the way you do today.
Can customers book online?
Not directly from 4softauto. Your team enters bookings. For online booking on your website, the 4b2b ecosystem has 4appointments.net.
Can I sell parts online from 4softauto?
No. For an online shop, the 4b2b ecosystem has 4shopy.net.
Does it send messages to customers?
No. 4softauto sends no e-mails, SMS or WhatsApp messages to customers. Bookings, statuses and schedules are visible in the panel.
Does it calculate taxes or the VAT regime for used cars?
No. It adds up the amounts you enter and shows cost and margin as management figures. Tax treatment is something to settle with your accountant.
Does it check by itself whether a part fits a car?
No. Compatibility is information you note on the part record. The application keeps it and makes it easy to find.
Questions with detailed answers
- What software does an automotive business need?
- How do you keep track of car stock in a dealership?
- How do you track leads and test drives at a dealership?
- How do you calculate the margin on a used car?
- Which reconditioning costs do you put on a used car?
- How do you avoid overlapping bookings at a car rental company?
- What must a car hand-over and return report contain?
- How do you organise the catalogue and stock of an auto parts store?
- What is the OEM code of an auto part?
- How do you schedule the bays in an auto detailing studio?
- What goes into a job sheet for detailing?