As AI, data and connected technologies move rapidly into automotive aftersales, Autotech Connect is calling on the aftermarket to focus on where technology can deliver tangible productivity gains – giving skilled technicians faster access to knowledge and expertise while reducing the administration surrounding the repair.
The role of AI in the workshop was firmly on the agenda at Automechanika Frankfurt last month, where automotive and technology leaders discussed applications ranging from AI-assisted search and guided diagnostics to predictive maintenance and remote diagnostics.
The conversation reflects a wider shift in how AI is being viewed, with Government research reporting that 75% of businesses already using AI had seen improved workforce productivity.
For Darren Dowling, Client Services Director at Autotech Connect, the opportunity for the aftermarket is to translate this rapidly evolving technology into practical applications that make better use of skilled technician time.
“The aftermarket doesn’t need more technology for technology’s sake. It needs technology that gives skilled technician time back to the workshop,” he comments. “That doesn’t mean being cautious about technology. Quite the opposite. It means being ambitious about where we use it and clear about the outcome we expect it to deliver. The opportunity now is to apply these emerging capabilities where they can make a measurable difference to the working day.”
Recent industry research reinforces why technology and access to information are becoming increasingly important alongside skills. LKQ Euro Car Parts research found that nearly nine in ten independent garages had turned away or referred at least one EV or plug-in hybrid enquiry during the previous six months. While a range of factors were involved, 27% cited concerns around accessing diagnostics for newer EV brands as a barrier to further investment.
“Training remains fundamental,” Darren continues, “but having the skills to carry out a repair is increasingly only one part of the equation. Technicians also need the right information, data and, sometimes, specialist expertise at the point they need it. As the range of vehicles, technologies and systems entering workshops expands, we can’t expect every technician to retain everything they might potentially need to know.”
Bridging technology and the workshop
This is the premise behind Autotech Connect. Launched three years ago as a brand of Autotech Group, Autotech Connect combines automotive expertise with technologies from specialist hardware and software providers to develop practical solutions around the workforce and operational requirements of automotive businesses.
Rather than being tied to one technology, its approach centres on three objectives: access knowledge, access expertise and reduce administration.
This can mean using AI-supported tools to retrieve information from approved technical sources without lengthy manual searches; connecting technicians remotely with specialist expertise through hands-free technology; or using AI-assisted voice reporting and digital workflows to capture job information and documentation as work is carried out.
“Our role is to bridge the gap between what’s becoming possible through technology and what will actually make a difference in an automotive environment,” explains Darren. “We understand workshops and aftersales operations, while the specialist technology companies we work with bring expertise in their respective fields. We bring the two together, configure the technology around the requirement and then test and refine it with the people who are actually going to use it.”
Crucially, the technology is designed to support rather than replace technician expertise as Darren explains: “If the physical task takes five minutes but finding the information needed to carry it out takes 20, the opportunity isn’t necessarily in making the repair faster. It’s about reducing the time surrounding it.
“The same applies to expertise. The person with the answer doesn’t necessarily need to be standing next to the vehicle. Connected technology can extend the reach of an experienced technician across different sites or locations, while digital workflows can reduce the time spent completing documentation after the job.”
Proving the productivity gain
For Autotech Connect, the value of these applications ultimately has to be demonstrated in live automotive environments.
Recent workshop trials involving Autotech Connect technology have seen manual technical information searches which previously took 20–30 minutes reduced to seconds or minutes. AI-supported reporting saved around five minutes per report, while remote technical support enabled some repairs to be completed hours or days sooner.
The results reflect the approach Autotech Connect has taken since launch: identify the operational challenge, bring together the appropriate technology and automotive expertise, test it in the real world and measure whether it delivers.
“There’s no shortage of impressive technology available,” Darren concludes. “The challenge is making it relevant. Technology has to earn its place in the workshop. It has to solve a genuine problem, work for the people using it and deliver a measurable benefit.
“AI and connected technology aren’t going to remove the need for skilled technicians. But if we can give them faster access to knowledge, connect them with expertise when they need it and reduce the administration surrounding the job, we can make better use of those skills.”
