Innovative Technologies Revolutionizing Auto Repairs

From revolutionising in-shop and on-site services to providing better and faster digital customer experiences, technological advances are transforming the repair industry at large.

For example, predictive maintenance assists auto repairers to find and report mechanical failures before they occur – such as fixing a timing belt and water-pump ahead of imminent breakdown. This reduces repair costs, conserves inventory stock, and enhances the level of services.

AI-Powered Diagnostics

Historically, auto repair shops have had a bad reputation when it comes to trust. Twice in my life I’ve had dealerships take advantage of me. Shops have also suffered because the processes and pricing mechanisms behind repair orders have been largely opaque to the customer. In response, technology-enabled innovations work both ways, altering customer expectations such that shops are able to provide more detailed information about what they’re doing and why, and break down the pricing for their customers.

Telematics technology offers remote technicians an ability to interface with a vehicle’s control modules to diagnose its issues and, in many cases, to carry out repairs, even when the vehicle is not in the shop. This accelerates diagnostics while simultaneously reducing customer downtime – a genuine win-win for improved service quality and efficiency.

To remain competitive and offer the best in automotive service, it is essential that investment is made on new technologies, many of which are on the cusp. If you would like more information about how these innovations can be used to optimise productivity, accuracy and customer satisfaction, contact Conceptual Minds today.

3D Printing

Mechanics can now print custom parts directly instead of having to order them, meaning that customer downtime can be eliminated, with shipping and waiting eliminated entirely out of the cost.

Thanks to 3D printing, technicians can rapidly produce manufacturing aids – jigs and fixtures, for example – to aid in assembly, and this helps companies avoid the expense of standard tooling while saving even more waste than a conventional process can.

Nevertheless, due to quality control issues and standardisation challenges, large-scale implementation of 3D printing in auto repair remains an unrealised dream. The new IBIS 3D Printing in Auto Repair Task Force, which is made up of a number of industry leaders, will address these and other issues that might inhibit the use of 3D printing in MRO. The team will also establish appropriate training for repair facilities that want to adopt the cutting-edge technology.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) technology has now become a key tool within the automotive industry, from creating AR-based training sessions to support remote expert functions during repairs. AR applications range from education to expert support during repairs.

Automotive Augmented Reality Market to 2025The automotive augmented reality market will grow in great pace reaching $7B in 2025.AR technologies can be used in vehicle production on each step to increase efficiency, improve quality and cut the costs.

Using AR, a technician can view high-definition visual displays of a digital repair manual and schematic overlaying an actual vehicle, thus dramatically reducing the likelihood of mistakes and enhancing precision.

AR might also be able to spot elements that warrant attention and steer the technician’s focus, which could eliminate a substantial amount of time spent on a task and speed up the timing of the repair cycle.

On-Demand Services

Innovative technologies turn auto repair shops into highly productive, customer-friendly machines. Employ advanced paint-scalage technology, for example, to mix and match colours for the perfect finish. Go a step further with 3D printing for replacing car parts and you can further improve productivity, attract customers and ramp up your business.

But augmented reality tools also play a role in repairing cars, by displaying instructions for mechanics while they are working on the vehicle. AR works by overlaying digital information on top of a real-world environment, giving technicians access to instructional manuals and wiring diagrams through computer screens in phone handsets.

Telematics systems let mechanics track a vehicle’s health and performance in real time, helping them identify and solve potential problems before they rise to the level of bigger expenses for the driver, meaning less downtime for the vehicle, and less cost for repair. Data analytics can help shops more effectively manage inventory, uncover new opportunities for revenue, and provide other insights that allow for franker, friendlier communication with customers.

Automation

Innovative approaches to car repairs are making jobs faster and easier, improving the customer experience for consumers, introducing efficiencies to the industry, and setting new standards and opportunities into the market.

Machines looking after machines seem like a good approach, whether they’re automating things as simple as tire rotations and oil changes, or making the repetitive, physically taxing grunt work more conducive to human technicians’ strengths.

The vehicles are becoming integrated into the digital ecosystem thanks to telematics technology, which enables them to transmit real-time performance and health data to repair shops for preventive maintenance activities and streamlining costs. This makes for optimised inventory management, and automated updates about repair progress to keep the client informed.

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