FEATURE COMPARISON

CoreBack vs. Spreadsheets vs. DMS

Many shops only discover return leakage once they measure it. Here's how the three most common approaches stack up on the workflow dimensions that matter most.

Comparison notes and recovery references on this page reflect product positioning, pilot observations, and workflow assumptions rather than guaranteed results.

Methodology note: setup time, workflow friction, and recovery observations are directional comparisons based on product design assumptions and pilot feedback, not a controlled benchmark study.

FEATURE	CoreBack RECOMMENDED	Spreadsheet EXCEL / SHEETS	DMS Notes TEKMETRIC / MITCHELL
Setup time	< 2 minutes	1–3 hours	4–8 hours + IT
OCR invoice capture	Browser-based, zero uploads	Manual entry every time	Depends on DMS version
QR bag labels	One-click print	✗ Not available	✗ Not available
Kiosk shelf mode	Full-screen tablet mode	✗ Not available	✗ Not available
Due-date nudges (SMS/email)	Automated · configurable	✗ Manual calendar alerts	Varies · often none
Multi-vendor shelf view	All vendors · color-coded	One tab per vendor (chaos)	Single-vendor only
Credit auto-match	Yes · 2-min close flow	✗ Manual reconciliation	Rare · manual
Vendor recovery benchmarks	Built in · per-vendor analytics	DIY pivot tables	✗ Not available
Multi-location support	Up to 5 locations (Multi plan)	Multiple files = chaos	Expensive add-on
Privacy / data ownership	Browser-only OCR · your data	Cloud sync risks	Vendor owns your data
CSV sync to DMS	Tekmetric, Shop-Ware, Mitchell	Manual export	Native · locked-in format
Cost	$0 free · $49/mo Solo	$0 but costs ~$400/mo in leakage	$200–$800/mo subscription

Focused workflow pages

BOTTOM-FUNNEL

Spreadsheet vs dedicated core tracking

For shops that already have a sheet but do not trust it on a busy week.

BOTTOM-FUNNEL

Tekmetric vs a dedicated return tracker

For Tekmetric shops that want CSV-first activation without another integration project.

BOTTOM-FUNNEL

Vendor portals vs one shelf

For multi-vendor teams tired of jumping across portals to keep credits moving.

THE CLEAR CHOICE

Ready to stop the leakage?

Start free for up to 10 cores — no credit card, no DMS integration, no IT ticket. Some pilot shops identified missed credits in the first week, but results depend on volume, staffing, and follow-through.

Recovery, savings, and timing figures are estimates based on pilot/customer data and workflow assumptions. Actual results vary based on vendor policies, parts volume, process discipline, staffing, and return timing. CoreBack Ledger does not guarantee any specific credit recovery outcome.

30-day money-back guarantee · hello@hourlyroi.com