The digital workshop

The digital workshop

The smartphone in the car will change your company in the next few years," promises Neofitos Arathymos, Managing Director for Technology, Safety and Environment at the Central Association of the German Motor Vehicle Trade, or ZDK for short. It is not only automobile manufacturers and insurance companies that have the greatest interest in personal driver data, which reveals everything about the duration of use, the service frequency, but also the driving style of the individual customer. The workshops, which have to make greater efforts to serve each individual customer in view of the decreasing repair and maintenance costs, should also take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalization. “Ten years ago we enforced at EU level that automobile manufacturers must make their repair and maintenance information available to all market participants, including all independent workshops,” explains Andreas Westermeyer, speaker at the Federal Guild for Vehicle Technology. Federal Guild Master Friedrich Nagl adds: “Between us, the path from the theoretical legal basis to practical implementation is often a very long one.” The problem that arises for workshops: Since manufacturers are constantly adapting their repair instructions, a workshop that follows instructions that are already outdated can be prosecuted for any resulting damage. “We have therefore developed a practice-oriented solution that gives workshops direct access to the current repair data,” says Westermeyer.

ACCESS TO THE HOLY HOLY HOLY

“Classic diagnostic devices provide good data, but not up to date,” explains speaker Westermeyer. They also reach their limits when coding control devices and do not inform the user about current recalls. “Together with the company Adis Technology, which specializes in testing and diagnostic solutions for mechatronic systems, and the measurement technology experts from Graz-based AVL Ditest, we have now developed a universal tool with which workshops can directly access the manufacturer databases,” says Westermeyer. EuroDFT is the name of the package consisting of a PassThru universal adapter, a fully equipped laptop and software, which not only allows you to retrieve the latest repair and maintenance information directly from the manufacturer, but also diagnoses, coding and programming with the original software. “Since every manufacturer has their own database system, implementing access is a real challenge,” says Westermeyer. Eleven major European brands are currently connected, specifically VW, BMW, Opel, Vauxhall, Škoda, Mercedes, Seat, Audi, Ford, Mini and smart. Toyota, Lexus, Kia and Hyundai will follow soon. “The EuroDFT system is currently in particular demand from body shops,” says Westermeyer. The reason: Access to the on-board electronics is absolutely necessary to change the windshield or bumper on current vehicle models. Further information about the EuroDFT package can be found on the website www.eurodft.com.