The importance of trend awareness
Martin Brown, director of innovations at Repairify, reckons trend awareness is key when it comes to calibrations and diagnostics.
Although commercial vehicles serve as the backbone of many fleets, like any vehicle out on the road there is always the risk of accidents. However, to mitigate collisions, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are now commonplace. If the vehicle is involved in an accident any issues with the ADAS systems will need to be diagnosed and then calibrated back to the manufacturer’s requirements in order for the vehicle to be safe out on the road.
There is a big focus on diagnostics, software and calibrations and there are several trends that workshops and their management teams should be aware of.
Diagnosis and calibration
The first is bringing diagnostic and calibration work in-house. In previous years this type of work would need to be booked into a dealership or have a third party complete the work, but it could add days to a job. This outsourcing was because businesses were not equipped with the correct tools and skills to conduct the work on-site.
However, this has started to change as we move towards 2025. There is a definite shift in businesses’ understanding that this work is a growing opportunity for them and that they can bring it in-house. This has removed the need to outsource, which, in turn, makes the work both time and cost-effective.
The second trend is that businesses are investing in products that are simple to use, providing peace of mind to the user and keeping pace with technology. An example from Repairify’s portfolio is Remote Services. This service has been designed and developed with the user in mind, ensuring calibrations and diagnostics are carried out as easily and efficiently as possible.
The offering provides garages and body shops with access to every OEM manufacturer diagnostic tool alongside an IMI-trained technician to assist remotely without repairers having to buy the tools themselves. Even for a thorough pre-scan, Repairify’s technology has shown its importance in identifying faults that wouldn’t be picked up by aftermarket tools with no access to these modules.
Finally, training is vital. The constant evolution of technology and the growth of ADAS features means more and more vehicles require calibrating with OEM tools. These tools require certain knowledge and skills, which is why businesses are investing in training.
This can be done via a recommended training provider such as the IMI and equips the technicians with the required knowledge and skills to keep in pace with the ever-evolving work that comes onto the workshop floor and the technology within the vehicles coming off the production line. In addition, with the upskilling of the work force, it links back to the first trend which is businesses keeping diagnostics and calibrations jobs in-house rather than outsourcing the work.
As technology continues to evolve, it is more important than ever that businesses are aware of these changes and have action plans to ensure that they are abreast of developments so they are able to provide the requisite work and services.
