Switching software
Switch workshop software with your service history in view
A practical checklist for exports, sample imports and checking vehicle records before changing the way your workshop works.
Updated 1 November 2026 · 3 minute read
Start with the records you need to keep
List the records the workshop uses every day: customers, vehicles, suppliers, products, service history, open jobs and outstanding accounts. Being able to export a file does not mean every field or attachment can be imported into a new system. MechAxis supports CSV imports for customers, vehicles, suppliers, products and service history. Review other records separately before choosing a changeover date.
Keep an original export
Export from your existing system and keep an untouched copy somewhere the business controls. Work on a separate copy for column mapping and cleanup. Check the old provider's export options and access after cancellation before closing the account. Do not assume saved payment cards, photos, documents, balances or open jobs will transfer with a customer CSV.
Test a small, varied sample
Choose a handful of records that reveal real differences: a customer with two vehicles, a vehicle with several visits, an older service record and a product with a supplier. Use MechAxis's import templates to map the supported fields. Import related records in the order the importer requires and check rejected rows before repeating the process. Avoid blindly importing the same file twice.
Open the records and reconcile the details
A successful upload is only the first check. Compare record counts, then open the sample customer and vehicle records. Check registration details, dates, odometer readings, service descriptions and any available invoice references. Imported service history is earlier history, not a newly issued MechAxis invoice or payment. Confirm which records belong to the current customer before sharing history.
Rehearse a working day
Set the workshop's opening hours, labour rates and staff access. Create a test booking, record inspection findings, prepare a quote, order a part and review an invoice. Preview the customer view where the plan supports it. Give the front desk and a technician time to practise their own tasks. A trial is most useful when it includes the awkward parts of an ordinary day.
Agree the changeover boundary
Decide where existing open work will finish and where new bookings will begin. Reconcile outstanding accounts separately and avoid issuing the same invoice in both systems. Make one person responsible for checking the final import and confirming the booking links. Keep a record of what moved, what remains in the old system and who can access it. Timing depends on export quality and the records involved; this checklist is not a promise of a one-day migration.
Questions
Common questions
01Can I import vehicle service history?+
Yes, MechAxis supports service-history imports. Test your export against the supported template and verify the resulting vehicle records before importing the full set.
02Will every record from my current system transfer?+
Do not assume so. Check supported fields and formats first. Attachments, open transactions, balances and payment details need their own review.