May 1st, 2009

AutoTraker Pro does not have a competitive feature set. The web site has very limited information but it was enough to determine this.  Some of the information stated is also so outdated it’s amusing.  Click on the “AutoTraker” link and you’ll find text that states:

“An Extensive Windows Automotive Shop Management Solution That Will Take You Into The Next Century!”

Either they are very late updating their website or they are ready to take you into the 22nd century.

It also states:

“…more powerful than any other Automotive Shop Management program on the market.  Winner of “Best of the breed” award.”

There are two problems with that.  The first sentence is a problem because subjective claims of superiority based on personal opinions of intangible qualities or vendor pride should not be made. Any claim of superiority should be based on accepted standards and unbiased comparisons. Vendors must be able to substantiate any such claim.

The second sentence is a problem because any award advertised should state who it was awarded by and in what year. A vendor should stop using any designation or award, if any material change in their product or service causes to no longer meets the criteria used to win approval to use the designation or award. Awards given by those that are not qualified to make such determinations should not be used.

Still more problems with the statements on their web site exist.  The header as an animation that states:

“Automotive Shop Management At It’s Best”

See previous comments above for an explanation on why this is unacceptable.

At the bottom of each web page is text that states: “Last Modified: (and then the date and time that one browses to each web page) leading you to believe that the web page was just modified.  This is obviously false.

Despite the claims of the vendor, AutoTraker Pro is not competitive with several other shop managment programs so it is eliminated in the initial screening.