Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 42

Why a " connected shop "
means a smarter shop
Leveraging modern diagnostic tools can
help you navigate today's highly complex business.
By Scott Brown,
Technical Editor

N

early two decades ago, the phrase " the connected shop " emerged,
supported by a new standard called " iShop " . The discussions focused
on how digital assets could be leveraged to bring information, tooling,
parts, and other metrics together to support higher levels of efficiency
in the workshop.
A few years later, when I was attending
opportunity for us as professional autothe annual AAPEX show in Las Vegas,
motive service providers. However, with
I saw this concept presented for the first
the internet at the consumer's fingertips,
time. The demonstration consisted of
they can quickly attempt to upgrade their
shop management systems, shop service
knowledge at anytime. This is why we
equipment, and information service proas service professionals should be previders. The demonstration focused on a
pared to provide accurate knowledge and
technician tasked with a wheel alignment
information seamlessly when the need
receiving vehicle information populated
presents itself.
straight from an SMS work order.
The connected shop is supported
SHOP MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
through standards developed through
In 1986, I was working in a shop that was
the Automotive Aftermarket Industry
contemplating a transition from handAssociation (AAIA), who would later
written work orders to a computer-based
become the Auto Care Association.
system. At that time, personal computers
Today, the iShop standard helps supweren't that popular. For anyone with a
port a multitude of system integrations
lack of computer experience, the thought
focused on improving efficiency with
of implementing such a change was quite
the tasks we perform in and around the
scary. Ultimately, the shop adopted the
workshop daily. This article will focus
new technology and we were on our
on several real-world examples and share
way to introducing automation into our
daily routines.
some concepts you may want to consider
Looking back, many of the solutions
adopting within your operation.
There's no question that the autothe SMS provided forced the shop to
motive service business is complex.
adopt new methods to bring it all togethTransactions with today's consumer
er. Soon, we would come to realize that
continues to evolve. In my opinion, the
many of those systems were written by
consumer's lack of knowledge in regard
folks that really didn't understand the
to complexities their vehicles possess is
shop workflow.
a huge challenge. Whenever I am preToday, the market has come a long
sented with challenges, I try to look at
way, resulting in several SMS platform
the bigger picture in search of opportools that let workshops save time and
tunities. This lack of knowledge on
communicate more effectively with
the consumer's behalf presents a major
their clients. Back in my early days, the

42

PTEN

DECEMBER 2020

www.VehicleServicePros.com

SMS we were using were client-based.
To use them, a special application had
to be installed on each machine. Modern
cloud-based applications only require a
web browser. All of your data is stored
off-site, so you can access your information anywhere in the world.
Another cool thing about these
cloud-based apps is that they provide
the freedom to adapt to your workflow.
For instance, you could perform vehicle
inspections with a dedicated tool that can
attach digital information to the work
order. In some cases, the SMS may allow
for a solution where the inspection is
embedded right inside of the work order.
Attaching pictures, images, and more is
often supported as well. Additionally, the
cloud-based system has come in hand for
us even when there is a power outage and
or internet failure which we've experienced on a few occasions. With a laptop,
tablet, or phone connected via 4G, we
could keep on working. In the past, we
were subject to not only zero access, but
potential loss of data.

DIAGNOSTICS

Diagnostics continue to play an important role in the repair process, though
customers have difficulty understanding
them. In my shop, we're highly successful at selling analysis time up front. We
provide the customers with a high-level
list of tasks we're agreeing to perform
in order to potentially resolve an issue.
Once the customer sees the list of operations, they soon begin to realize the value
of the diagnostic service.


http://www.VehicleServicePros.com

Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020

Editor's Note
Featured New Products
Tool Briefing
2020 Top 100 Products
Tool Reviews
Category Spotlight
Marketplace
Big-Time Boxes
Guide to Diagnostic Processand Tools
Why Shops Need a Diagnostic Process
How to Establish a Step-by-Step Diagnostic Process
Data From a Distance
Developing a Diagnostic Game Plan
Tips for Maximizing Scan Tool Sue
Beyond the Repair
Products
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 1
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 2
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 3
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 4
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 5
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 6
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 7
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Editor's Note
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 9
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Featured New Products
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 11
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 12
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 13
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 14
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 15
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 16
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 17
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 18
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 19
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 20
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - RSC1
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - RSC2
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 21
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 22
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 23
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 24
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 25
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Tool Briefing
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 27
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 28
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 29
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 30
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 31
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 32
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 33
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 2020 Top 100 Products
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 35
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 36
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 37
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Tool Reviews
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 39
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 40
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 41
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 42
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 43
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 44
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 45
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Category Spotlight
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 47
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 48
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 49
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 50
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 51
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 52
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Marketplace
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Big-Time Boxes
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 55
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 56
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Guide to Diagnostic Processand Tools
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 60
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 61
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Why Shops Need a Diagnostic Process
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 63
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - How to Establish a Step-by-Step Diagnostic Process
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 65
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Data From a Distance
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 67
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 68
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 69
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Developing a Diagnostic Game Plan
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 71
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 72
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Tips for Maximizing Scan Tool Sue
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 74
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 75
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Beyond the Repair
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 77
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - Products
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 79
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 80
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 81
Professional_Tool_And_Equipment_News_December_2020 - 82
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