The family-owned dealership needed a better way to manage vehicle repairs and dealership operations as the business grew. See how they streamlined workflows, improved communication, and gained the tools to grow confidently.
Faster vehicle turnaround time
Organized inventory tracking
Improved customer communication
Minor Lane Auto Sales, based in Missouri, is a family-owned business founded by Jodi and Oscar Hernández. The couple began their journey in the automotive industry more than a decade ago and opened their used car dealership three years ago. As the business grew and customer needs expanded, they saw an opportunity to open their own auto repair shop. Six months ago, they acquired a larger space with enough room to install car lifts and build out a service area, enabling them to begin offering repairs for both their inventory and external customers.
Operating in a small town with a growing Hispanic population, Jodi and Oscar noticed many customers were looking for a Spanish-speaking auto shop they could trust. With eight employees and a rapidly growing operation, Jodi realized the dealership needed stronger systems in place to stay organized, serve customers professionally, and keep up with demand. That’s when they found Shopmonkey — and everything changed.
“Shopmonkey does the work for me — it helps me stay organized, look professional, and grow faster than I ever imagined.”
Disorganized operations | Limited visibility | Lost opportunities.
Like many small businesses, Minor Lane Auto Sales was growing fast — but their systems weren’t keeping up.
They began by renting a small garage space, which lacked the tools and space to do more than minimal prep work on their used vehicles. Eventually, they purchased a larger building that allowed them to open a full-service shop. But growth came with new pain points.
Before Shopmonkey, Jodi was using paper notes and her memory to track everything. It was hard to tell if a car had been repaired, if parts had been ordered, or if a job had already been billed. Scheduling was inconsistent, and they weren’t ready to open up to outside customers.
“We were losing time, missing details, and making decisions in the dark,” said Jodi. “I needed to fix that.”
Simple setup and support | Organized tasks and tracking | Fast estimates and updates
A complete shop management platform — with support that goes the extra mile.
Jodi started looking for tools that could simplify her daily operations. She needed a system that was cloud-based, easy to use, and flexible enough to work for both a used car dealership and a growing repair shop.
Shopmonkey stood out above the rest.
“Other tools felt outdated. Shopmonkey looked modern and clean — and the customer service was amazing. It helps me stay organized, look professional, and grow faster than I ever imagined.”
Jodi credits her onboarding experience with building immediate trust. Her sales rep walked her through everything in detail and followed up with Spanish-speaking support to ensure she and her team were comfortable. She also appreciated that the product itself, including system-generated texts, estimates, and invoices, could be sent in Spanish — making communication with customers and mechanics easier and more professional.
As she started to implement Shopmonkey, things began to change quickly.
She could now send real-time updates and photos to customers via text.
Estimating and invoicing became easy and professional.
Tasks were clearly assigned to mechanics, and progress could be tracked.
Parts were ordered and marked up directly in the system.
Mechanics clocked in/out, and payroll was automatically calculated.
“It wasn’t just about fixing problems — it was about finally feeling in control.”
Since using Shopmonkey, Minor Lane Auto Sales has seen dramatic improvements:
60% increase in inventory
The increased operational efficiency benefits not only to their customers but also the dealership side of their business — enabling the shop to increase inventory by 60%.
Clearer internal communication
With repair history, task assignments, and parts orders all in one place, everyone on the team knows the exact status of each vehicle — eliminating confusion and delays.
Professional customer experience
Built-in messaging lets Minor Lane send updates and photos directly to customers, making the experience feel modern, transparent, and trustworthy.
Time savings and smoother workflows
Tools like the VIN decoder, labor guides, and real-time estimates allow the team to work faster and more accurately, saving valuable time across every job.
Empowered and organized team
The Shopmonkey time clocks help track employee hours automatically, while mobile access gives the Minor Lane team the flexibility needed to manage everything from anywhere.
Spanish-language tools and support
From onboarding to daily communications, everything works in Spanish, helping the team and their customers feel confident and understood.
“We’ve gone from piles of paper to a platform that runs our business. Now I can help more customers — and I don’t feel overwhelmed.”
Jodi and Oscar didn’t just want a tool — they needed a partner. With Shopmonkey, they gained more than software. They gained confidence, structure, and the ability to grow at their own pace.
And for a shop in a small town with a growing Spanish-speaking customer base, that made all the difference.
“Most of our customers come to us because we speak Spanish. Shopmonkey helps us deliver the kind of service they can trust.”
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With repair history, task assignments, and parts orders all in one place, everyone on the team knows the exact status of each vehicle — eliminating confusion and delays.
From onboarding to daily communications, everything works in Spanish, helping the team and their customers feel confident and understood.
Tools like the VIN decoder, labor guides, and real-time estimates allow the team to work faster and more accurately, saving valuable time across every job.
Minor Lane Auto Sales is a family-owned used car dealership based in Missouri, offering high-quality pre-owned vehicles with a strong focus on customer service. With years of experience in the auto industry, the team is committed to helping customers find the right car at the right price. The business also operates a growing repair shop to service both their own inventory and local drivers. Whether buying, selling, or servicing, Minor Lane is proud to be a trusted name in their community.
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