GaragePlug Acquires AI Platform Freshreview

GaragePlug, an automotive service digitalization company, has acquired Freshreview, an AI-based reputation and review management platform, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition was announced on March 3, 2025, in Bangalore.

The deal integrates Freshreview's AI-powered review management capabilities into GaragePlug's Connected Operations Platform, allowing automotive service centers to manage operations, marketing, and reputation in one system. Freshreview's entire team will join GaragePlug's engineering and product divisions.

"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.

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

The automotive service industry has long faced challenges with customer trust and reputation management. Many service centers struggle to collect, respond to, and leverage online reviews effectively. This acquisition aims to address these pain points by making reputation management part of the standard service workflow.

GaragePlug provides automotive service networks with a digital platform that handles scheduling, invoicing, workflow automation, and analytics. The company focuses on giving service center headquarters operational control and business intelligence across their networks.

Freshreview specializes in helping automotive businesses convert online reviews into growth opportunities through sentiment analysis, review collection, and AI-driven features.

Prasanna, Managing Partner at Upekkha, which is associated with both companies, called Freshreview "a fantastic addition to the vertical AI suite that GaragePlug are building."

The automotive service sector has been gradually digitizing operations over the past decade, with increased focus on improving customer experience through technology. Industry analysts note that reputation management has become particularly important as consumers increasingly rely on online reviews when selecting service providers.