Autodata was very much looking to the future in its presentations at the recent Automechanika event. The company says that too many workshop owners, managers, and technicians fear that the rapid rate of vehicle evolution will be detrimental to their workshops, when in fact they should be looking forward to the new opportunities new technology brings.

The data provider was trying to highlight actions garages need to take now to stay ahead of the game and one of the key factors in this is training. Autodata say with an objective training plan that covers new and emerging vehicle technology, workshops can become more competitive and sustainable. Fully prepared workshops that communicate effectively are more likely to build profitable relationships with customers that will be confident about the workshop’s skills and services.

Autodata says embracing new tools is also key. Whether it be a digital torque wrench or using mobile devices to search for technical data, new technology can increase efficiency in workshops, enabling technicians to service and repair more vehicles per day, thereby increasing the workshop’s revenue.

Autodata is a leading automotive technical information provider, supplying service and repair data to a very high percentage of workshops. Its workshop application supports all major smart/mobile devices, which means technicians can improve their efficiency by accessing information on the spot with their phone or tablet, rather than taking valuable time going back and forth from a desktop computer.

Tom Endean, Global Head of Marketing at Autodata, said, “The competition between independent workshops and OEM workshops will continue to grow. However, vehicle manufacturers don’t have the resources (workshop location and workforce) required to look after the millions of vehicles on the road.” He continued, ”Aftermarket businesses like Autodata and industry associations like the ADPA are working to ensure that independent workshops will be able to access the information necessary to effectively service and repair connected and autonomous vehicles. It’s up to workshops to ensure that they have the skills and the tools required to professionally service and repair all types of vehicles on the road.”