Shop Owner / Technician
Shop productivity and profitability is a critical topic because demand for aftermarket service work is growing, but the number of bays and qualified technicians is not. More than 50% of a technician’s time is spent searching for information about the vehicle or the service work to be performed. Shops equipped with I.SHOP enabled systems and equipment experience higher sales per day and greater volume per technician.
What is iSHOP?
i•SHOP is an open technology standard that lets unrelated computer-based products and services in an auto service facility work together as one seamlessly integrated shop information system.
How does i•SHOP Benefit a Repair Facility?
When a shop is equipped with certified i•SHOP shop management systems (SMS), diagnostic machines and information servers, all the data needed to service the vehicle is available at the fingertips of technicians and service writers, increasing their productivity.
More Benefits for the Repair Facility
- Shop productivity increases dramatically with integrated shop equipment by allowing the technician to view needed information right from their bay.
- i•SHOP integration enhances communication with the vehicle owner, enabling the service writer to use multiple information sources to effectively demonstrate how the job was done.
- iSHOP saves time and reduces wasted effort, leading to increased bay utilization, greater technician productivity and improved customer satisfaction.
- Having a fully integrated auto service center means improved efficiencies in all areas: greeting the customer; developing a work order; performing diagnostics; scheduling service; parts procurement; technicians' access to repair information; and invoicing.
Who are the i•SHOP Participants?
Many of the leading suppliers of shop diagnostic and repair equipment, management software and information services offer products that are certified to be i•SHOP compliant. That means a shop can begin to network these products and enjoy the benefits of electronic shop integration. To see a list of i•SHOP participants and the Certified Products they offer click here.
What does i•SHOP do?
i•SHOP technology “tells” various computers in the shop how to communicate with each other, even when they are supplied by different companies. This means that once a piece of information exists, it can be shared and viewed at other computers in the shop. This saves needless and non-productive re-keying of information about the customer, the vehicle and the work performed. In addition, information created in the back shop, such as alignment results for example, can be shared and saved on the shop management system in the front shop. The interconnectivity of i•SHOP allows the technician to remain focused on vehicle service and adds productivity to the shop operation. For a brief demonstration of how i•SHOP works, click here.
What does it cost to put i•SHOP in my SHOP?
i•SHOP technology is available in the latest release of many products from several of the leading makers of shop equipment, management software and information services. In most cases there is no additional charge for the i•SHOP capabilities. As with any network, it takes two or more computers (servers or clients) to communicate via i•SHOP so your next shop equipment or software purchase could be your first step to an i•SHOP-enabled service facility.
What other equipment do I need for my shop?
Your shop equipment and systems can communicate with each other either over a wired or wireless shop network. At a minimum this involves running network cable and router hardware (or a wireless access point and wireless receivers). If you do it yourself the cost is a few hundred dollars. If you have a computer vendor or consultant do the work it may run a thousand or more.
Will i•SHOP continue to evolve?
i•SHOP was originally released in 2001 and connected shop management systems, “big box” diagnostic equipment and information servers for parts & labor and service repair. All computers were required to run Windows operating software on a PC. In 2004, version 2.0 added the ability for equipment in the back shop to send the results of a diagnostic or service procedure to the shop management system for storage along with the customer’s service record.
The latest version of i•SHOP was released in July 2006 and represents a modern new technology based on XML and Web services. This removes the requirement that the computer be running Windows. In fact it removes the requirement that all of the equipment be a computer at all. Version 3.0 supports the growing number of hand-held scanners and other diagnostic devices that run off of imbedded processors. The newest i•SHOP is also ideally suited for sharing information across the Web. Learn more by reading a story from the Aftermarket Insider (Aug/Sept 2006 edition).
In 2010 i•SHOP evolved further to address the opportunity represented by vehicle Telematics (the Connected Car). An alliance of i•SHOP participants (ALLDATA, Carma Systems, Garage Operator, Hunter Engineering and WHI Solutions) developed and successfully demonstrated the ability to communicate with a Telematics device in a moving vehicle and perform remote diagnostics. The technology required by an i•SHOP Telematics Server will be used to extend the standard and included in a version scheduled for release in 2011. For a look at what’s coming see www.aftermarket.org/tomorrow.
When you think of all the wasted time in the repair process, while employees are waiting for something to happen so they can go to their next task, it starts to become clear how elimination of just a part of this lost time can quickly lead to improved efficiencies.
Look for shop equipment and systems that are i.SHOP Certified. Insist that your vendors adopt the standard to help make your shop more productive and profitable. Invest in i.SHOP Certified products as a way to increase your shop’s efficiency and customer satisfaction
Contact Us:
To learn more about the iSHOP initiative, or to learn how to become an active participant in the specification, contact the iSHOP Project Manager at: ishop@aftermarket.org.