Joining competitor Mitchell, Solera last week announced it would in early 2018 sell a new scanning system to U.S. collision repairers and mechanics.
One version of the Audatex Vehicle Health Check device involves a Bluetooth OBD-II dongle which feeds data into an app on a technician’s smartphone or tablet.
“Users can quickly perform full system scans and produce a comprehensive health report which includes confirmed fixes from the Identifix platform,” Audatex wrote Oct. 31.
Another version also throws in “a ruggedized and warrantied” tablet and access to Identifix DirectHit and its library of OEM documents and “millions of industry confirmed fixes.” According to Audatex, more than 60,000 repair facilities have contributed to Identifix.
Tablet users also receive access to the International Automotive Technicians Network message board leveraging more than 80,000 technicians’ knowledge; a repairer can also pay to use the the actual Identifix repair hotline.
“Since I’ve been using Identifix, the shop’s diagnostic time has been cut by at least 70 percent,” Miner’s Auto Repair owner Rick Miner said in a statement. “The great thing about Identifix is that it helps us zero in on the system causing the problem, and with the added OEM features, I have all the information I need in one place.”
Audatex also stressed the relevance of the Health Check product to the collision repair industry.
“The collision industry is facing an emerging landscape where the complexity of electronic systems diagnostics and subsequent repairs are superseding that of the hard parts, requiring new tools and solutions to stay accurate and efficient,” Audatex wrote. “Extending beyond typical code reading technology, estimators and technicians need to understand probable causes and proven repairs in order to reduce expensive and timely sublet operations.”
Audatex’s latest revision to its Database Reference Manual, dated Sept. 18, declares scanning and calibration to be not-included, manually entered procedures. It also states some of the OEMs’ demands with regards to diagnostics.
“As the growing population of smart cars and ADAS equipped vehicles (Advance Driver-Assisted Systems) escalates, so does the need for an advanced solution to properly diagnose the systems when those vehicles have been in an accident and require electronics or mechanical repair,” Audatex collision repair services Vice President Don Mikrut said in a statement. “This Vehicle Health Check provides the automotive repair industry with the ability to confidently scan, diagnose and confirm the full health of those cars’ electronics.”
Mitchell announced in June that it would leverage Bosch technology to sell a new “Mitchell Diagnostics” scan tool, and so Audatex’s announcement leaves CCC as the only major estimating service without its own branded diagnostics device.
However, CCC instead last week announced a new way for CCC ONE users to receive data from multiple other companies’ scan tools, including OEM devices and telematics-based diagnostics.
“Easy access to multiple scanning solutions is critically important for the collision repair community and our ability to properly and efficiently diagnose vehicle damage,” LaMettry’s Collision operations President Darrell Amberson said in a staetement.“We applaud CCC for developing a solution that will enable us to use the solution(s) that are best for our business and the job at hand.”
Shop and insurers could both have records of the work that had been done, the information provider said.
“The interface will enable CCC repair facility customers to view the results of diagnostic scans from their selected solution provider(s) directly in CCC ONE, significantly improving the efficiency and transparency of collision repair scanning,” CCC wrote in a news release. “Repairers using the solution will have the ability to share the results of their vehicle scans with insurers on CCC ONE, providing a verifiable record of the scan completed by the repairer. Notably, the interface will be available to OEM scan tool providers, aftermarket providers, and even telematics-based diagnostics solutions.”
More information:
“Audatex Launches Vehicle Health Check”
Solera/Audatex, Oct. 31, 2017
Audatex Database Reference Manual
Audatex, Sept. 18, 2017
“CCC Introduces Open, Integrated Solution for Collision Repair Diagnostic Scanning”
CCC, Oct. 31, 2017
Featured images: Joining competitor Mitchell, Solera last week announced it would in early 2018 sell a scanning system, Vehicle Health Check, to collision repairers and mechanics. (Provided by Solera)