Running a powersports repair shop means juggling a lot. Repair orders, parts, techs, and customer communication are all happening at once. As we’ve grown, keeping everything organized has honestly been one of the biggest challenges.
When I was working out of my home shop by myself, I usually had about 15 to 20 jobs going at a time. That was manageable. But once I moved into a larger space and brought on two technicians, everything changed. Now we need to be running 40 jobs at a time, and I’m pushing toward 60.
Each one of those jobs has multiple steps. Diagnosing the issue, ordering parts, completing the repair, testing. It adds up fast. And the reality is, nobody can keep all of that straight in their head.
Nobody.
When you’ve got 40 or 60 machines in progress, there’s just no way to reliably track everything without a system.
One of the biggest headaches is parts. A single shipment might include parts for inventory, counter sales, and multiple repair orders.
So now you’re asking, which part goes where?
Without a system, that gets messy fast.
Before Lightspeed, I was using Google Docs and basic tools. It worked when things were small. It was simple and free. But as we grew, it just wasn’t enough. At a certain point, you have to stop trying to manage everything in your head and offload that structure somewhere else.
That’s really what pushed me to look for something better.
What kept coming up in my search was the disconnect between parts and service. That’s where things break down if your system isn’t built right.
Lightspeed solved that for me.
Now I can track repair orders, inventory, parts, and job status all in one place. I actually have visibility into what’s going on in the shop at any given moment.
And when you’re scaling from 20 jobs to 60, that visibility isn’t just helpful. It’s necessary.
If you want to learn a little bit more about how and why I made the switch, check out this video.
Chuck Harder
Chuck Harder is a real, boots-on-the-ground Red Seal–certified motorcycle technician who lives the day-to-day reality of the service department. As the creator of True Tech, he’s built a growing community focused on cutting through industry noise and delivering straight, practical insight for riders and technicians alike. His approach is simple: no fluff, no guesswork, just real answers that help solve problems faster. From his shop in Kamloops, Chuck works with powersports customers every day, using Lightspeed to keep operations moving and service running smoothly. He bridges the gap between technical expertise and real-world dealership operations, understanding the pressures dealers face because he’s lived them—tight timelines, complex repairs, and customers who need answers now. Chuck isn’t just talking about the industry. He’s in it.
