Vehicle service technology company Vehlo announced it has acquired Shop-Ware, a cloud-based shop management platform catering to independent repair shops in the automotive aftermarket.

Vehlo said Shop-Ware’s methodology in addressing industry requirements through automation and cloud-based solutions “stands out” in the market, citing the DVX customer communication interface that supports digital media, live chat, online approvals and payments. The company also praised Shop-Ware’s Parts GP Optimizer, which uses machine learning techniques to steer individual parts toward shops’ targeted gross profit goals.

“We’ve been impressed with Shop-Ware’s innovative solutions and commitment to providing premier tools for the aftermarket community, including multi-shop operations,” Vehlo CEO Michelle Fischer said. “Shop-Ware is a great addition to Vehlo’s suite of shop management solutions and aligns with our mission to be the automotive repair industry’s favorite technology partner, delivering a compelling return on investment with features loved by shop customers, shop owners and technicians.

“We look forward to partnering with the Shop-Ware team to support their great customer base and continue innovation and feature enhancement our customers need to grow their businesses.”

Vehlo said Shop-Ware CEO Carolyn Coquillette, who founded Shop-Ware in her San Francisco repair shop in 2013, will continue to lead the company as part of Vehlo’s aftermarket leadership team.

“From brand equity to technical leadership, I am very proud of Shop-Ware and everything we’ve accomplished to reach this incredible milestone,” she said. “This alliance allows us to harness the sought-after partner synergies underlying this industry to foster the long overdue digital transformation.

“Via this acquisition, Vehlo will scale its influence and market share, and we are thrilled to work together across the portfolio of outstanding companies and people to accelerate our cumulative growth even further.”