ClearCourse buys Motasoft to boost garage software, AI

ClearCourse has acquired Motasoft, a UK software provider focused on garage management systems for independent automotive businesses, as it expands its sector-focused portfolio for small and medium-sized firms.

Motasoft supplies software used by more than 1,200 automotive businesses across the UK, including independent garages, MOT stations and fast-fit tyre centres. The deal adds Motasoft's Virtual Garage Manager (VGM) product line to the ClearCourse group and increases ClearCourse's exposure to the independent automotive aftermarket.

ClearCourse develops and acquires industry-specific software products and payment services for SMEs. It serves more than 20,000 customers across its portfolio and has completed more than 40 acquisitions since being established in 2018. The group is backed by investor Aquiline.

Garage software

Founded in 2007, Motasoft built its position with workshop-focused workflow tools. Its VGM platform supports day-to-day processes such as job and workshop management, customer and vehicle records, and online booking.

The product sits at the centre of a garage's administrative and operational activity. It helps garages schedule work, allocate labour, record service histories, manage compliance documentation, and maintain customer communications. In a sector where many businesses have small teams and limited back-office resources, software choices often hinge on ease of use and how quickly they can deploy it across the workshop.

Motasoft has also moved further into payments and customer transaction workflows. ClearCourse positions embedded payments as a core part of its offer across vertical software markets, with card and direct debit options used by customers across its portfolio.

Under ClearCourse ownership, Motasoft expects to launch an embedded payments product under the Motasoft brand. This would keep payments within the system used for booking, job completion and invoicing, rather than pushing users to separate tools.

Data and AI

The acquisition also reflects growing interest in workflow platforms that act as systems of record for small businesses. Tools that capture structured data on customers, vehicles, jobs, parts and billing can support reporting and, increasingly, automation.

ClearCourse plans to introduce AI-focused product development within the Motasoft platform, describing it as sector-specific functionality aimed at productivity and user insights. It did not disclose product timelines or commercial terms for the acquisition.

For independent garages, AI features could take several forms, including automation for booking triage, estimates and customer messaging, as well as pattern recognition across repair histories and parts usage. Any such tools depend on the quality of the data captured day to day by workshop staff and front-desk teams.

Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: "It is fantastic to welcome Motasoft into the ClearCourse group. They bring deep industry knowledge, a strong reputation, and a proven track record of delivering specialist solutions to the automotive industry. This strengthens our offering in this sector and strongly supports our mission to help UK SMEs thrive with industry-specific technology solutions that deliver meaningful value to customers. Together we will continue to invest in a platform of sector-critical features, embedded payments and AI functionality."

Motasoft's management team described the deal as a way to expand product development while maintaining its focus on independent operators. The UK aftermarket includes a long tail of smaller garages competing with national chains and franchised dealer service departments. Software providers in this segment typically differentiate through workflow coverage, integrations with parts and data services, and customer-facing booking and communications tools.

Andrew Burgess, managing director of Motasoft, said: "We're incredibly excited to be joining the ClearCourse group. ClearCourse's expertise in the automotive ecosystem ensures we will remain at the forefront of sector innovation and provide the resources and support to realise the full potential of our product. We're particularly excited to develop and deliver an embedded payments solution under the Motasoft brand, removing the traditional separation between the software platform and the payment experience."

Andy Meikle, technical director of Motasoft, said: "This next stage of our growth, in partnership with ClearCourse, will allow us to accelerate our product roadmap and unlock new capabilities to help our customers compete effectively with national chains. Our goal is to create the most complete garage management and payments platform in the UK independent aftermarket, and this partnership will enable us to do that."

ClearCourse expects to continue investing in the Motasoft platform, with embedded payments and AI functionality among its development priorities for the independent automotive aftermarket.