For years, independent auto shops have relied on the same tools: a service bay, a phone line, and a lot of paperwork. The technology is changing fast, but plenty of shops are still running the old way. That, Jon Belmonte thinks, is exactly what makes the space so interesting. “It’s exciting to be in a market where sometimes you’re selling against pen and paper.”
Auto repair shops may feel far from the world of SaaS and online marketplaces—but for Belmonte, the challenge is the same. Before becoming CEO of AutoVitals, he led technology businesses including Active Network and Spoutable. Now, his work is closer to the ground. “Our history is based on spending time with actual shop owners and shop employees within their shop environments to learn how they operate, what works well and what needs improvement,” he said.
AutoVitals’ platform gives shops a way to run more efficiently: from digital vehicle inspections and workflow management to CRM tools that help bring customers back. The goal is to help owners grow the business behind the bay doors without adding more technicians or expensive infrastructure.
But for Belmonte, running a business takes more than good technology. “The leadership tends to be about the people,” he said. At AutoVitals, that starts with the team itself. The company’s core values—be customer-focused, impactful, innovative, accountable, and real—set the standard for how his team shows up for each other and for the shops they support.
Belmonte sees a direct line between better tools and better businesses. The most successful shops, he believes, are the ones that provide great service, treat people well, and run reliably. For AutoVitals, that means giving more shops the tools to make it happen.
