What Garage Hive does

Garage Hive is a cloud-based garage management system (GMS) built specifically for independent automotive repair shops, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Nottingham, UK. The platform unifies workshop scheduling, electronic vehicle health checks, parts inventory, customer online authorisation, online booking, automated MOT/service reminders, customer surveys and NPS tracking, multi-location management, and accountancy within a single workflow. The product is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central with Power BI for reporting and Autodata for technical repair data, and is accessed via web browser or dedicated iOS/Android apps with remote support delivered through ZOHO Assist.

The business sells primarily to small and mid-sized independent garages in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man and South Africa, with a customer base of "hundreds of garage owners." Revenue is generated through monthly SaaS subscriptions with a 6-month initial contract term, supplemented by transaction-level economics from integrated payment processing (Dojo, Pay 360) and customer financing (Payment Assist). Pricing is not publicly disclosed but customers cite ROI through quantified outcomes such as 25-42% turnover growth and £500k workshop sales uplift within a year of adoption.

Go-to-market is community-led: an active Facebook group of garage owners, The Blend annual conference (in operation since 2019, returning October 2026), peer testimonials, case studies, YouTube tutorials, and a documentation site. The company is small — listed at 1-10 employees — with leadership comprising Managing Director Ray Dilsons, Operations Manager Dawn Metcalfe, and founder Alex Lindley. The business is privately held with no disclosed external funding, and operates primarily in the UK aftermarket through direct sales supplemented by community referrals and self-serve demos.

Name

Garage Hive

Legal name

Garage Hive

Website

https://garagehive.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Garage Hive is a cloud-based garage management system built on Microsoft Dynamics 365, serving independent automotive repair shops across the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, and South Africa with workshop scheduling, parts inventory, customer communication, and Power BI reporting via a SaaS subscription model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription: Cloud-based garage management software subscription providing access to all core features including workshop management, reporting, customer management, online booking, and integrations. Typically billed monthly with 6-month initial contract terms mentioned.
2. Payment Processing: Integrated payment services through Dojo and Pay 360 platforms, likely generating transaction fees or revenue share from payment processing.
3. Financing Integration: Payment Assist integration for customer financing of vehicle services, potentially generating referral fees or commissions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Garage Hive sells a cloud-based, community-driven garage management system (GMS) built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central that consolidates workshop scheduling, electronic vehicle health checks, parts inventory, supplier ordering, customer online authorisation, Power BI reporting, MOT history, automated reminders, online booking, and integrated accountancy into a single SaaS subscription for independent automotive repair shops.

Product overview

Garage Hive is a cloud-based, community-driven garage management system (GMS) offered as a unified platform combining multiple operational modules. The core Garage Hive platform serves as the central system, integrating: Workshop Management (digital diary, scheduling, technician clocking), Garage Hive Reporting powered by Power BI (real-time business intelligence dashboards), Parts Stock Management (inventory with bin/barcode support), Customer Online Authorisation (VI-to-estimate workflow with photo attachments), Electronic Vehicle Health Checks, Customer Surveys & NPS, Online Booking (with API for third-party integration), Automated Reminders (MOT/Service/follow-up notifications), MOT History, Supplier Integrations (Dingbro, GSF, LKQ Euro Car Parts, NAPA, Castrol, Micheldever, Stapleton Tyres), Multi-Location management, Customer Journey automation, and Accountancy (Microsoft Dynamics 365 as built-in with Sage/Xero/QuickBooks options). The platform operates on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central infrastructure and supports mobile access via dedicated iOS and Android apps, with remote support through ZOHO Assist.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Garage Hive (Core Platform) Cloud-based, community-driven garage management system that consolidates workshop management, scheduling, invoicing, parts ordering, customer communication, and business reporting into a single unified SaaS platform for independent automotive repair shops.
• Workshop Management Digital workshop control featuring real-time diary and bookings, job scheduling, technician clocking on/off jobs, electronic checklists, live schedule view with color-coded tiles, and inventory management accessible from any device.
• Garage Hive Reporting (Power BI) Advanced business intelligence and reporting suite integrated with Power BI, providing real-time dashboards for KPIs including Average Invoice Value, Gross Profit, technician efficiency, parts margins, and labor sales across daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views.
• Parts Stock Management Comprehensive inventory control system with bin functionality, barcode scanning via Modern Search, extended item descriptions, and integration with multiple parts suppliers (Dingbro, GSF, LKQ Euro Car Parts, NAPA, Castrol, Micheldever Tyre Services, Stapleton Tyres).
• Customer Online Authorisation Virtual Vehicle Inspection (VI) system allowing garages to send reports with photos and descriptions via SMS or Email; customers can review and self-authorise work digitally without phone calls.
• Electronic Vehicle Health Checks Digital checklist and vehicle inspection system allowing technicians to conduct health checks on their device and attach results to job sheets, with photo attachments and advisory timestamping.
• Online Booking Online booking tool allowing customers to book services through a garage's website or stand-alone page, integrated with the workshop schedule, with automated confirmation SMS/Email and an Online Booking API for third-party providers such as Reception Mate.
• Automated Reminders Automated SMS and Email notification system for MOT, Service, Timing Belt Changes, follow-ups for previously reported work, and booking confirmations; supports bulk SMS to Reminded Not Booked lists.
• MOT History MOT history management feature providing real-time DVLA MOT history synchronization, including test results, advisories, expiration dates, and automated reminders for compliance and audit trail.
• Customer Surveys and NPS Built-in customer feedback system using Net Promoter Score (NPS) methodology or custom surveys, with automated SMS and Email feedback requests, live customer insights within documents, and detailed Power BI dashboards.
• Multi-Location Multi-site capability with centralized accountancy, advanced business intelligence reports, customer relationship management, and cross-location visibility for garage operators with multiple branches.
• Accountancy Integrated financial management with choice of Garage Hive's own Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central accountancy or third-party integrations with Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks.
• Supplier Integrations Parts supplier integration ecosystem connecting to Dingbro, GSF Car Parts, LKQ Euro Car Parts, NAPA Auto Parts, Castrol, Micheldever Tyre Services, and Stapleton Tyres, enabling parts search, direct job-sheet ordering, and purchase order generation.
• The Blend Annual Conference Garage Hive's annual conference and networking event for independent garage owners, featuring multiple speaker tracks, exhibitions, and an awards dinner. Organized by Garage Hive with Event Director Ray Dilsons.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average invoice value increases of £90+ per invoice
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DingbrocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 March 2026Integration with Scotland's largest independent motor factoring group. Allows users to seamlessly search Dingbro's extensive online catalogue, add parts directly to job sheets, and generate purchase orders all from within Garage Hive.
• The BlendcoreOthers · 1 January 2019Garage Hive's annual conference, originally a small user conference in 2019 that has grown into the UK's premier conference for independent garage owners. Organized by Garage Hive with Event Director Ray Dilsons.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365coreTechnology or IntegrationGarage Hive's platform is built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, providing the foundation for the garage management system and integrated accountancy functionality.
• Power BIcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdvanced business intelligence reporting integration providing real-time dashboards for KPIs including Average Invoice Value, Gross Profit, technician efficiency, and more.
• AutodatacoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical data integration allowing access to vehicle repair times, service schedules, and specifications accessible across multiple devices and documents.
• Auto IQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness development and training partner. Many Garage Hive customers mention working with John Batten from Auto IQ for business coaching alongside using the software.
• The Garage InspectorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive business consultant Andy Savva works with Garage Hive customers on business improvement programs.
• Autotech CommunicationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPR agency producing press releases, case studies, and event coverage for Garage Hive including The Blend conference coverage.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kerridge Commercial Systems: Kerridge Commercial Systems (Tasmania/Autoline) is a long-established UK automotive aftermarket software vendor offering dealer management and workshop solutions to independent garages and groups, competing head-on with Garage Hive in the same UK SMB segment.
• Workshop Software: Workshop Software is a cloud-based garage management system purpose-built for independent mechanical workshops, offering job cards, invoicing, parts ordering, and customer communication — directly analogous to Garage Hive's feature set and target customer.
• Shop-Ware: Shop-Ware is a modern, cloud-native shop management platform for independent auto repair shops in North America, with workflow, parts, and customer-experience modules that closely map to Garage Hive's workshop, parts, and customer-journey modules.
• Drivve: Drivve provides cloud-based shop management, document handling, and customer communication tools to independent automotive workshops, targeting a similar SMB garage segment with overlapping functionality (jobsheets, VHCs, customer comms).
• GEM-CAR: GEM-CAR is a garage management system used by independent mechanical and collision repair shops across multiple countries, offering estimating, work orders, parts inventory, and customer management — comparable scope and customer profile to Garage Hive.
• AutoFluent: AutoFluent is a cloud-based shop management platform serving independent automotive repair shops with estimating, repair orders, parts, accounting, and CRM features — a similar vertical-SaaS product targeting the same SMB garage niche.
• R.O. Writer: R.O. Writer is a long-standing shop management system for independent auto repair shops, providing estimating, repair orders, inventory, and accounting — competing in the same vertical with a similar SMB focus and feature breadth.

Emerging players

• Torque360: Torque360 is a cloud-based garage management platform built for independent auto repair shops, providing estimates, repair orders, parts inventory, and integrations — an emerging SaaS player with overlapping scope to Garage Hive, primarily in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Mitchell 1: Mitchell 1 (part of Snap-on) is an established US-based provider of shop management, estimating, and repair information for the automotive aftermarket, serving independents with a broader portfolio that overlaps Garage Hive's workshop, parts, and reporting modules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCEO94MEqoL9C2cIDCorxL6A?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/GarageHiveCommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garage-hive
• Xx.com/GarageHiveUK

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garage Hive