Vehicle service provider scheduling system and method of use
A system and method of scheduling an outsourced vehicle service includes providing access to a service scheduling program at a repair facility via a vehicle diagnostic computer tool or via a vehicle repair estimating software system, where the service scheduling program is integrated into or accessible by the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or the vehicle repair estimating software system, and includes scheduling an outsourced service for a vehicle to be performed by an outsourced service provider at a service location, where the scheduling is done by a repair service provider of the repair facility using the service scheduling program. The scheduling includes providing one or more potential outsourced service providers for performing the outsourced service, providing one or more potential appointment times for the outsourced service providers, selecting an outsourced service provider from the one or more potential outsourced service providers, and selecting an appointment time for the outsourced service.
1 . A method of scheduling an outsourced vehicle service provided by a service provider, said method comprising:
providing access to a service scheduling program at a repair facility via a vehicle diagnostic computer tool or via a vehicle repair estimating software system, wherein the vehicle diagnostic computer tool is configured to be operatively connected to a diagnostic port of a vehicle to be in communication with an electronic system of the vehicle to scan the electronic system and wherein the vehicle repair estimating software system comprises a computer integrated with a vehicle repair estimating software program, and wherein the service scheduling program is integrated into or accessible by the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or the vehicle repair estimating software system;
performing a diagnostic scan of the electronic system of the vehicle with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool to obtain diagnostic scan results of the vehicle after the vehicle diagnostic computer tool has been operatively connected to the diagnostic port of the vehicle;
evaluating, with the service scheduling program, the diagnostic scan results from the vehicle diagnostic computer tool to determine whether the diagnostic scan results include any diagnostic trouble codes;
either scheduling, with the service scheduling program, an outsourced service for the vehicle to be performed by an outsourced service provider at a service location if the service scheduling program determines that the diagnostic scan results do not include any diagnostic trouble codes, wherein said scheduling with the service scheduling program is performed with the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or the vehicle repair estimating software system via their respective interactive display screens, or preventing scheduling the outsourced service by the service scheduling program if the service scheduling program determines that the diagnostic scan results include diagnostic trouble codes, wherein said scheduling of the outsourced service is done by a repair service provider of the repair facility using the service scheduling program and comprises:
displaying an identification, with the service scheduling program, of one or more potential outsourced service providers for performing the outsourced service via the respective interactive display screens of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or of the vehicle repair estimating software system;
displaying, with the service scheduling program, one or more potential appointment times via the respective interactive display screens of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or of the vehicle repair estimating software system for the one or more potential outsourced service providers for performing the outsourced service, wherein the potential appointment times are retrieved by the service scheduling program from a database, wherein the appointment time comprises a date or a date and a time;
selecting, with the service scheduling program, via the interactive display screen of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or of the vehicle repair estimating software system, an outsourced service provider from the one or more potential outsourced service providers; and
selecting, with the service scheduling program, via the interactive display screen of the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or of the vehicle repair estimating software system, an appointment time for the outsourced service.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service scheduling program is configured to filter potential outsourced service providers based on at least one scheduling factor, wherein said providing, with the service scheduling program, one or more potential outsourced service providers for performing the outsourced service comprises providing, with the service scheduling program, one or more potential outsourced service providers for performing the outsourced service based on the at least one scheduling factor.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scheduling factor comprises a qualification to perform the required outsourced service, and wherein only outsourced service providers that are qualified to perform the required outsourced service are provided via the service scheduling program.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scheduling factor comprises an availability of the outsourced service provider, and wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises receiving, by the service scheduling program, from the repair service provider a desired appointment time for the outsourced service, and wherein only outsourced service providers that are available at the desired appointment time are provided via the service scheduling program, and wherein the desired appointment time may comprise a date, a date range, a time, and/or a time range.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one scheduling factor comprises a distance from the repair facility to the outsourced service provider, and wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises receiving, by the service scheduling program, from the repair service provider a distance limit for the distance between the repair facility and the outsourced service provider, and wherein only outsourced service providers that are within the distance limit are provided via the service scheduling program.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises providing, with the service scheduling program, a distance from the repair facility to each of the one or more potential outsourced service providers.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outsourced service is a vehicle calibration or a vehicle safety system service for the vehicle.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, with the service scheduling program, at least one qualification questions to be answered by the repair service provider, and wherein said scheduling the outsourced service may be prevented or permitted based on responses to the qualification questions, wherein the vehicle requires a plurality of vehicle services, and wherein the at least one qualification questions comprise a query as to which of the plurality of vehicle services have already been completed.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one qualification question comprises whether the vehicle is equipped with a particular component and whether that particular component is ready for an associated outsourced vehicle service.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service location comprises the repair facility or a facility to which the vehicle is provided from the repair facility, and wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises selecting, with the service scheduling program, the service location.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the service scheduling program comprises a scheduling program module retained on the vehicle diagnostic computer tool or on the vehicle repair estimating software system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the scheduling program module communicates with a scheduling server via a network connection during said scheduling the outsourced service.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an estimate of vehicle repairs using the vehicle repair estimating software system, and wherein said scheduling the outsourced service comprises scheduling the outsourced service during said generating an estimate of vehicle repairs using the vehicle repair estimating software system.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises transmitting a service schedule notification to a remote computing device of the outsourced service provider.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said scheduling the outsourced service further comprises transmitting a service schedule confirmation to the repair service provider.