If you are a UK-based garage owner looking for a reliable GMS (Garage Management System), then you must have heard about two popular platforms: Auto Garage Network and TechMan. But among these two, which one is better for your garage and can offer maximum benefits to you?
This blog will help you understand both GMS providers better and make a wise, calculated decision for your garage to increase its workflow efficiency.
Why Customer Support Matters
But why exactly does customer support matter for operational workflow, and why should you consider all the facts before making any decisions around it?
A garage management system touches every corner of your business, from bookings and invoicing to stock, job sheets, technician tracking, accounting, and more. When any of these functions develops an issue, your workshop’s productivity stops, jobs pile up, customers become frustrated, and revenue declines. In these scenarios, your software provider must respond quickly and resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
Below is an overview of TechMan vs AGN, based on their offerings:
TechMan's Support Offering – An Overview
TechMan has built a capable product and has clearly invested in its support infrastructure. They have listed a dedicated customer service team and a customer success team on their website, both reachable by phone, email, or in-app messages, and both conduct regular system health checks.
For onboarding, TechMan provides data migration assistance, software training, and one-to-one guidance during setup and states that training can be delivered remotely or on-site at an additional fee.
TechMan is a growing, feature-rich platform, offering services across the UK, but with that growth comes a more structured, corporate-style support model. Its tiered plans, add-on fees, and support experiences designed around scale make things complex for independent workshops.
TechMan's pricing is also contract-dependent for exact figures, and its Partner Plans require minimum-term commitments, whilst Flexi Plans carry upfront onboarding and setup costs on top of monthly fees. This level of complexity might feel more like friction than flexibility.
AGN’s Support Offering – An Overview
Independent UK garage owners see AGN as a business partner more than a software vendor and enjoy the benefits it offers, such as:
- Dedicated support help: AGN maintains separate dedicated contact numbers for sales and customer support: sales inquiries: 07947 906789; customer support: 01702 655556. There's no need to use a general helpline or wait to be triaged.
- Free trial period: Unlike other GMS providers that lock you into commitments before you've had a real chance to understand the software, AGN offers a full 30-day free trial without needing you to input credit card details to test their platform in real situations.
- Understanding of the automotive industry: AGN has been solving the issues that garage owners in the UK face since 2016. They have built the platform for garages and offer DVLA-integrated MOT diary management, multi-bay operations or other solutions. When you call their support team to ask, for example, how to configure SMS reminders for MOT renewals, you are connecting to experts who are proficient in their work.
- Transparent Pricing: AGN offers three GMS plans with different advantages and price structures, which are clearly mentioned on their website. There are no add-on charges for on-site training, no hidden onboarding fees, just a straightforward setup cost!
TechMan Vs AGN: The Better Choice For Your Workshop
The question is not which GMS provider, TechMan or AGN, has more features, but which provider will be available for your garage without any delays when you need them. Let’s compare TechMan vs AGN, which will help you make the right choice for your garage:
| Support Area | TechMan | AGN |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Phone Support | Offers a general customer service line | Offers separate sales and support numbers |
| On-site Training | Available at additional cost | Included in setup |
| Free Trial | Demo/request-based | 30 days free, no credit card |
| Pricing Transparency | Quote-dependent | Fully published online |
| Contract Flexibility | Partner Plan (min-term) or Flexi (upfront fee) | Standard monthly subscription |