Estimate / Repair Order?

[sbcauto]

Wondering Why We Need Repair Order? We Start Every One Off With Estimate. Once Work Is Approved & Done, We Move to Invoice When Customer Arrives To Pick-up Vehicle. Would Also Like to See When Part Added To Estimate, That It Show In Inventory That Part Is Allocated. Thanks.

[Pauls Automotive]

The basic work flow theory is the estimate is just that. It is unapproved work. Once the estimate is approved and signed off by customer the estimate is converted to a work order which then enables the inventory to show the parts are allocated to an work order that has definitely been sold to a customer. Otherwise if all estimates were to claim inventory parts you would have a mess regarding what parts you actually needed to order or reorder. Once repairs are done and verified it can be converted to an invoice for collection.

[timbre4]

Adding to what Paul has already stated about the Estimate being a pricing tool to gain approval for actual work, it differently in certain states where a signed Repair Order may be required. We have to anticipate, support and preserve workflow options for all 50 states and Canada.

[rhillig]

The basic work flow theory is the estimate is just that. It is unapproved work. Once the estimate is approved and signed off by customer the estimate is converted to a work order which then enables the inventory to show the parts are allocated to an work order that has definitely been sold to a customer. Otherwise if all estimates were to claim inventory parts you would have a mess regarding what parts you actually needed to order or reorder. Once repairs are done and verified it can be converted to an invoice for collection.

Our problem is that we order the parts when the work is scheduled.....and sometimes it is two weeks out. If we turn it into a repair order when we order the parts - it makes a nightmare for filing the slips later because they are so out of order.

Could it be possible not to give it an invoice number until it is actually is an invoice?

[timbre4]

The short answer would have to be no, since this is something so foundational in the program code.