If you’re looking at workshop software in New Zealand, you’ve probably come across SAM. It’s been around for over three decades, powers a significant chunk of NZ workshops, and it’s Kiwi-owned. So is Hoist. Two New Zealand options, with very different approaches to the same problem. Here’s how they differ and which one fits which workshop.
Full Disclosure
We built Hoist, so we’re obviously biased. We’ll try to be fair about where SAM has advantages; they’ve been doing this for 30 years and we respect that. But take our perspective with appropriate salt.
The Background: Two Different Eras
SAM by Auxo Software
SAM was built by the TSI Group and has been New Zealand’s incumbent workshop software for decades. The Motor Trade Association (MTA) bought the SAM and Systime businesses in December 2020 and rebranded them as Auxo Software in 2021, which tells you how embedded SAM is in the NZ motor trade.
SAM is desktop-based software designed primarily for medium to large workshops. It’s comprehensive, and it has been refined over decades of real-world use. Auxo describes SAM (and its dealer product, Orion) as running a large share of NZ workshops and dealerships.
Auxo also sells webSAM, a browser-based version of SAM, and a newer cloud product called Auxo Workshop aimed at smaller teams. If you’re a smaller operation, Auxo Workshop is the like-for-like cloud comparison; more on it below.
Hoist
Hoist is new. We started in 2024 in Upper Hutt, built for the New Zealand market from day one. We’re cloud-based, designed for simplicity, and focused on workshops that want modern software without the complexity of enterprise systems.
We don’t have 30 years of features. What we do have is a clean slate: no legacy code, designed for how workshops operate today.
| Aspect | SAM (Auxo) | Hoist |
|---|---|---|
| Company Origin | New Zealand (MTA owned since December 2020) | New Zealand (Upper Hutt) |
| Years in Market | 30+ years | New (2024) |
| Platform | Windows desktop (plus browser-based webSAM and cloud Auxo Workshop) | Cloud-based (any browser) |
| Target Workshop | Medium to large | Any size |
| Accounting | Xero integration | Xero integration |
Desktop vs Cloud: The Core Difference
The biggest technical difference between SAM and Hoist is how they run.
SAM: Desktop Software
SAM is installed on your workshop computer. Your data lives on that machine (or your local server). This approach has been the standard for decades, and it comes with certain characteristics:
- Works offline: if your internet goes down, SAM keeps running
- Data stays local: some workshop owners prefer keeping data on their own hardware
- Requires installation: IT setup needed, runs on Windows
- Updates need installing: you control when updates happen
- Access from one location: primarily used from the workshop computer (remote access possible but needs extra setup)
Hoist: Cloud Software
Hoist runs in your web browser. Your data lives on cloud servers and is the same on every device:
- Access anywhere: works in the browser on any phone, tablet or computer with internet (workshop, home, on the road)
- Automatic updates: always running the latest version
- No installation: open browser, log in, done
- Automatic backups: no local backup procedures to worry about
- Requires internet: there’s no offline mode, so it needs a connection
Pricing Comparison
Monthly Cost
SAM / Auxo Workshop
Contact for quote
Auxo Workshop from $99+GST/mo
Hoist
$140 + GST/month
Every feature included, 3 users included
SAM Pricing
Auxo doesn’t publicly list SAM pricing; they provide custom quotes based on your workshop size and requirements. Contact them directly for accurate pricing.
Their cloud product, Auxo Workshop, starts at $99 + GST per month for the Essentials plan (2 users) plus $19 per additional user. webSAM (their browser-based SAM) is $99 NZD/mo for one user plus $19/mo for additional users. Both figures are from Auxo’s public pages as at July 2026; check their site for current numbers.
Hoist Pricing
Hoist is $140 + GST a month, 3 users included, $10 a month per extra user.
Worked example at 5 users: webSAM $99 + 4 × $19 = $175 a month; Auxo Workshop $99 + 3 × $19 = $156; Hoist $140 + 2 × $10 = $160. The gap is the per-seat charge, and it grows with your team.
Hoist has a 14-day free trial with no card required. Auxo Workshop lists a free trial on Capterra; for SAM and webSAM, ask Auxo.
Feature Comparison
SAM has three decades of features built up. Hoist is focused on core functionality done well. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | SAM | Hoist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Management | ✓ | ✓ | Both solid |
| Customer Database | ✓ | ✓ | Both solid |
| Vehicle History | ✓ | ✓ | Both solid |
| Rego Lookup | ✓ | ✓ | Both have plate lookup; Hoist’s pulls from official NZ vehicle records, including WoF expiry |
| Xero Integration | ✓ | ✓ | Both integrate |
| Parts Supplier Integration | ✓ | Roadmap | SAM has supplier integrations (ask Auxo which). Hoist: purchase orders, multiple suppliers and supplier bills today; supplier catalogue ordering is on the roadmap, not live |
| Time Clocking | ✓ | ✓ | Both have it |
| SMS Reminders | Ask Auxo | ✓ | Hoist: WoF/CoF/service reminders by text and email, SMS templates. No bulk marketing sends |
| Stock Management | ✓ | ✓ | Hoist: reserve on job, purchase orders from low stock, stocktake, price matrix |
| Cloud Access | Via webSAM / Auxo Workshop | ✓ | Hoist cloud-native |
| Works Offline | ✓ | ✗ | SAM advantage |
Where SAM Wins
SAM has been in the market for over three decades, and that experience shows. MTA ownership means they’re deeply connected to the NZ motor trade; they’ve been listening to Kiwi workshops for 30 years.
Desktop software has a real advantage when your internet is unreliable. SAM keeps running even when your connection drops, which matters if you’re in a rural area or just have a dodgy ISP. The software is also battle-tested at scale: some of NZ’s largest workshop operations run on SAM.
SAM has supplier integrations that Hoist doesn’t yet (ours are on the roadmap). If you rely on ordering parts from inside your software, that’s a real SAM advantage today.
Where Hoist Wins
We built Hoist from scratch in 2024, so we didn’t inherit legacy code or old design decisions. The interface is clean and modern, designed for how people use software today rather than adapted from something built in the 90s.
Cloud access changes how you work. Check job status from home, update a quote from your phone, or pull up a customer’s history at the parts counter. Your data is the same on every device, and backups are handled for you.
The learning curve is shorter. We focused on doing the core things well rather than cramming in every possible feature; in our experience most workshops are booking and invoicing within their first day or two. And when you need help, you’re talking to the people who built the software.
Who Should Choose What?
SAM makes sense if...
You’re running a larger operation with high job volumes, you need offline capability because your internet isn’t reliable, you order parts from inside your software today, or you simply prefer desktop software that you install and control locally.
Hoist makes sense if...
You want simplicity over exhaustive features, you use Xero for accounting, you need cloud access from anywhere, you don’t want to deal with IT management or software installations, and you prefer a modern interface that’s quick to learn.
What About Auxo Workshop?
If you’re a smaller workshop, Auxo’s cloud product is the closer comparison to Hoist than desktop SAM. From Auxo’s public pages (July 2026): Essentials from $99 + GST a month for 2 users plus $19 per extra user, browser-based, Auckland-headquartered support with staff in NZ and Australia, and a free trial listed on Capterra. Feature details (Xero, rego lookup, reminders) aren’t spelled out publicly, so ask Auxo and compare side by side. There’s a fuller three-way table, and what moves when you leave desktop SAM, in SAM workshop software alternative for NZ workshops.
Try Before You Decide
The best way to choose is to run your own jobs through the software for a week. Hoist has a free 14-day trial with no credit card required, and we can load your customer and vehicle records into it.
Try Hoist Free