Pistonlog
A comprehensive automotive service management platform designed to streamline operations for garage owners and mechanics.
1 Garage Owner, 1 Mechanic, 1 Receptionist, 1 QA
The Problem
1. Complicated
Current garage management systems are super complicated and feature-rich. You can tell it's been developed and features have been just mashed together and poorly designed over time.
2. Hard to Learn
Whilst mechanics just get used to it, it becomes impossible for new users to join their platform and learn the system effectively. It's so hard to learn that people never bothered, and it fell to specific individuals instead of being collaborative.
3. Expensive
These systems are also very expensive platforms to be on with long SaaS contracts that lock garage owners into costly commitments. The high monthly fees make it difficult for smaller garages to justify the investment.
Opportunity
How might we make a platform Simple, Powerful and worth the pricetag?
Goals
We converted our key problems into opportunities to solve for during the development.
ComplexSimple
The platform should have an intuitive interface that reduces complexity and makes daily tasks straightforward for garage owners and mechanics.
ConfusingIntuitive
New users should be able to onboard quickly and collaborate effectively, eliminating the knowledge silos that exist in current systems.
ExpensiveValue
The platform should provide clear value that justifies the cost, with transparent pricing and features that actually improve garage operations.
Design Iterations
The platform went through many iterations before we had a shippable product candidate.
Catching the busy business owner talking directly, I gathered insights and problems from his current system and priorities for my new one. This direct feedback was invaluable in understanding the real pain points and ensuring the solution would actually solve the problems he faced daily.
Development
Built as a full-stack web application using modern technologies to ensure scalability, performance, and maintainability.
Frontend
- • React with TypeScript for type safety
- • Tailwind CSS for rapid UI development
- • Responsive design for mobile and desktop
Backend
- • Node.js with Express for API development
- • PostgreSQL database with Prisma ORM
- • JWT authentication and role-based access
Key Features Implemented
Project Management
Managing the project involved co-ordinating between myself, one other developer, and quality assurance across different time zones. Working remotely across London, New Delhi, and Skopje required careful planning and communication. We had to schedule meetings during overlapping working hours, use asynchronous communication for updates, and ensure everyone stayed aligned despite the time differences. A key challenge was translating real work problems from mechanics into actionable software tickets that could be developed and tested effectively across our distributed team.
London
New Delhi
Skopje
Impact
The platform is currently being tested in a real-world environment. Impact metrics and user feedback will be measured over time to validate the solution's effectiveness in streamlining garage operations.