GaragePlug Acquires AI Platform Freshreview to Enhance Reputation Management in Automotive Services

• ByStartupStory     |    March 3, 2025

GaragePlug, a leading digitalization platform for automotive service centers, has announced the acquisition of Freshreview, an AI-driven reputation and review management platform, for an undisclosed amount. The strategic acquisition aims to integrate Freshreview’s AI-powered capabilities into GaragePlug’s Connected Operations Platform, enabling service centers to seamlessly manage operations, marketing, and reputation within a unified system.

As part of the acquisition, Freshreview’s entire team will join GaragePlug’s engineering and product divisions. The move is expected to enhance how automotive businesses handle online reviews, customer sentiment analysis, and reputation management—key factors influencing consumer trust in service providers.

“Auto service is all about trust—once customers find a reliable workshop, they usually stick around. But these days, trust depends heavily on online reputation, which many brands ignore,” said Shubhra Srivastava, CEO of GaragePlug.

Freshreview, founded by Bhavya Purana Hosadurgam, specializes in leveraging AI for sentiment analysis, review collection, and customer engagement. By joining forces with GaragePlug, the company aims to make online reputation management an integral part of the automotive service workflow.

“People pick service centers based on trust. If your online reviews are not credible or easy to find, you are invisible,” said Bhavya Purana Hosadurgam, Founder of Freshreview.

The automotive service industry has long struggled with maintaining customer trust, with many service centers finding it difficult to collect and respond to online reviews effectively. The integration of Freshreview’s AI solutions into GaragePlug’s platform seeks to address these challenges, allowing service centers to convert online reputation into business growth.

GaragePlug’s platform already provides automotive service networks with features such as scheduling, invoicing, workflow automation, and analytics. By incorporating Freshreview’s AI-powered tools, the company aims to strengthen operational control and business intelligence for service centers.

Prasanna, Managing Partner at Upekkha, an accelerator associated with both companies, praised the acquisition, stating, “Freshreview is a fantastic addition to the vertical AI suite that GaragePlug are building.”

The automotive service sector has been rapidly digitizing over the past decade, with a growing emphasis on enhancing customer experience through technology. Industry analysts highlight that reputation management is now a crucial aspect of service center operations, as consumers increasingly rely on online reviews to make informed decisions.

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