How Artificial Intelligence Can Transfigure Auto Care Services

Mahmud Kotebagil Jul 12, 2021

Artificial intelligence, also known as ‘AI’, is emerging as a game-changer across industries. It is a technology that grants computers the ability to learn and respond to themselves and fulfill tasks without any human intervention. AI has made tremendous strides in recent times and is now anticipated to have a long-lasting impact on all major sectors, including the automotive repair industry as well.

The auto repair industry has always been agile and adaptable to change. However, the next wave of tech is expected to be the most disruptive change ever witnessed. The current rate of change has been accelerating at a remarkable speed and shop owners who can survive and thrive need to adopt new ways of managing business and maximizing their profits to remain competitive.

How AI is Transforming Auto Care Services

AI solutions have the ability to detect and identify damaged parts in a vehicle, determine the severity and type of damage caused, apt vehicle repair operations, and draw up a pre-estimate for the customer within few seconds of receiving photographs of the damaged vehicle.

The AI technology speeds up the process of filing claims after accidents occur. Using this technology to automate a visual task is an instantaneous way to provide insurance to customers with relevant information about the extent of damage caused. Image classification AI saves time for customers and even reduces uncertainty in an already stressful time.

Moreover, robots are bringing about optimisation and reshaping production and processes in innovative new ways. One useful application of AI is to develop the capability to triage post an accident, but insurance companies can even use AI to help prevent accidents altogether.

After the machine vision algorithm has assessed the auto damage, the customer can take a call on whether to have their vehicle repaired immediately or wait for some time. For those who wish to go ahead with the repair, AI can assist them right till the time they pick their vehicle up from the auto repair shop. Alongside, the driver can receive a list of repair shops nearby, with the help of a different machine learning algorithm, which may be more experienced, for instance, in servicing a particular type of vehicle and may have more positive online reviews.

AI-based solutions also provide a fully digitized experience to the consumer. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, digital experiences were considered nice to have, especially the ones which eliminated in-person contact. Now, touchless interactions have become essential. The new touchless claims allow consumers to gain complete control and swiftly initiate a claim with their insurer or provide the required images to the mechanic so that they can easily order parts and schedule repair from any location. This instantaneous initiation of claim lets repairers generates a preliminary estimate for the claim, while also ensuring the vehicle is repairable. At the same time, insurers are also able to act swiftly for reviewing and authorizing the repair.

Repair information and driver-assist expertise have become common in most auto repair shops, and with the incessant evolution of AI technology at an accelerated rate, technicians can diagnose and repair increasingly sophisticated computer systems.

Even the methods by which cars are inspected are dramatically changing. Just like medical professionals employ smart machines for performing diagnoses quickly and more accurately, so too can auto repair technicians become more efficient through the use of new tools and systems which cut admin, check-up and diagnosis time to remain competitive and meet the effects of the ever-growing lack of techs and greater overhead.

AI technology also levels the playing field for all drivers by developing risk profiles on the basis of drivers’ individual risk factors identified by big data. Instead of relying on drivers’ history to set premiums, AI looks at a number of less-obvious factors which then predict how safe a driver is likely to be on the road, thus mitigating the risks of accidents occurring.

Summing Up

Technology, and specifically, artificial intelligence (AI), is not only becoming highly advanced with passing time but is even becoming more and more ingrained in various aspects of our daily lives. As a result, AI has also come to play a major role in auto repair industry. By revamping and overhauling the operations, the technology is expected to significantly change the face of the auto care industry before we know it.