wage in Toronto is $23/hour. But with Fiix, mechanics get paid $50/hour. So the mechanics who are on our platform are making literally twice as much as they used to make, and it’s life-changing for them.” Zoning in on a customer base is key to any business’ success. Mangalji explains that the mechanics who contract through Fiix don’t need marketing experience to draw customers in, they just need to do what they do best — fix cars. “The only reason a mechanic goes to work for an auto repair shop is because that’s where the customers are. But if we can just give them a consistent source of customers, then they have no need to be at a shop.” For the mechanic, the system turns them into individu- al independent contractors, rather than employees of Garage X. They simply pull up their Fiix application on their computer or smart device, sign up for a number of jobs, and go do the work. Obviously, this reduces the overhead costs associated with operating a bricks-and- mortar auto repair shop. These savings translate into better prices for the customer, higher earnings for the mechanic, and decent profits for Fiix, enabling them to continue to grow.
However, not every automotive problem can be repaired in your driveway while you’re inside eating lunch. There are occasions where the job is a little more daunting than first anticipated. In these instances, Fiix has set up a network of partner auto repair shops across the GTA. “When we find we can’t do the repairs in the driveway, we make it as seamless as possible for the customer. We can pre-book them a spot with our partners so they don’t have to go there and wait. Or we can even have someone come and pick up the car and take it to the location,” Mangalji points out. A large part of what makes Fiix’s system successful is the level of mechanical expertise they dispatch to each job. A proven track record is a must for every mechanic entering into their system. Mangalji explains that uncertifiedmechan- ics need not apply. “Over 98% of our reviews are 5-star reviews.” “Usually an auto shop has one ‘master mechanic’ — that’s a mechanic with a full 310S licence certification, which takes years to earn. Then there are many apprentice mechanics. The master mechanic oversees the apprentices. For us, every single mechanic has to be a master mechanic. So as a customer, you know you are getting a mechanic with at least 5 years of experience. Most of our mechanics have 10 or more years experience. And if you need a repair on your Toyota, we can usually match you up with a mechanic that used to work at a Toyota dealership.” From the customer’s perspective, the frustration and incon- venience usually associated with auto repairs is all but alle- viated. Simply log in to their website, fiix.io , and a button appears, instructing you to “chat with a mechanic.” One click and you are chatting online with a mechanic who is in the Fiix office at that time. “The mechanic will tell you what’s wrong and give you a price for the repair. You can see a fixed, up-front price for the repair in your app. Then you pay right there. We lock up the funds but don’t actually charge your card until after the repair is complete. The mechanic comes over, fixes the car and then we charge the card. And you get a full inspection after as well. So when the repair is over, you will see a little dashboard in the app that will show you the overall health of your car. You’ll see what you need to fix in the future, how your brakes are looking, when your next oil change will be, all that stuff.” Questions and information are exchanged toward a diag- nosis.
Win-win- win!
Fiix has taken the app-driven experience one step further
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