What is a digital multi-point inspection (MPI)?
A digital MPI is the technician inspection workflow used to record vehicle condition and recommendations, often with photos or video, then communicate findings and obtain customer decisions. Its value depends on shop adoption, estimate accuracy, DMS write-back and measurable repair-order outcomes.
Technician workflow
Test VIN and repair-order selection, inspection templates, measurements, media capture, recommendations, labor and parts linkage, and completion time on shop devices.
Customer workflow
Review clarity, accessibility, language, authorization, declined work, questions, reminders, payment and records. Avoid treating video alone as proof of informed approval.
Operational integration
Confirm how recommendations, approvals, declines, pricing and payments update the DMS repair order and reporting.
What to verify
Repair-order integration
Inspection and media workflow
Estimate and approval accuracy
Declined-service follow-up
Audit and retention
Continue the research
Digital MPI & video inspection
Technician inspections, media, recommendations and customer approvals.
Compare providers →Service lane platforms
Check-in, MPI, estimates, approvals, communication, payment and retention.
Compare providers →Service marketing & retention
Recall, declined-service, maintenance and customer retention campaigns.
Compare providers →Related dealership technology questions
What software do car dealerships use?
Most dealerships use a DMS as the operating and financial backbone, plus a CRM, website/CMS, inventory tools, digital retailing, communications, marketing, analytics, F&I and fixed-operations systems. The right combination depends on franchise obligations, market, store count and operating model.
DMS definitionWhat is a dealer management system (DMS)?
A dealer management system is the dealership-specific operational and financial platform used for functions such as accounting, vehicle sales, parts, repair orders, manufacturer reporting and management reporting. Exact modules and OEM eligibility vary by provider and market.
Service lane definitionWhat is service lane software?
The tools a dealership service department uses at the point of write-up and through the repair visit: check-in, inspection capture, estimate and approval, customer communication, status updates and payment. Its value depends almost entirely on whether it writes back to the repair order in the DMS rather than creating a parallel record.
Loaner managementWhat is a dealership loaner or courtesy vehicle management system?
A system for tracking courtesy vehicles through reservation, agreement, condition capture, mileage, fuel, tolls, insurance and return. Its value is mostly financial control: unbilled fuel, unreturned units, missing damage documentation and idle fleet are direct losses that a paper process rarely surfaces.