Diagnostics 32 www.aftermarketonline.net MARCH 2025 Think innovation to revolutionise workshops AI tools and remote diagnostics offer a potential solution to the automotive skills shortage, says Thinkcar UK While the skills shortage continues to impact the automotive sector, innovative AI-enabled diagnostic tooling and increasing demand for remote support is revolutionising the way garages work — and Thinkcar UK says these trends are set to accelerate as the sector moves towards 2030. Alex Gillbanks, MD of Thinkcar UK, said technology is changing the way technicians work, both in terms of what they face on the ramp and the tooling they use to deal with this. Staffing remains a major issue for garages though. The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) ‘Automotive Vacancies Report’ showed there were 20,000 vacancies across the sector last September, equating to 3.5 for every 100 employees. At the same time, the number of available jobs fell, compounding pressure on workshops. Job postings dropped by 38% between July 2023 and July 2024 according to IMI’s ‘Labour Market Report’. New tech offers a solution. AI has forged new pathways across countless sectors, and this is increasingly the case in the automotive aftermarket, thanks to Thinkcar UK. “The AI-enabled tool range we launched in 2024 is set to expand rapidly over the next few months,” Gillbanks said. “This will revolutionise the sector.” The THINKTOOL Euro 399 14-inch diagnostic device was the first tool launched from the range. “The 399 has been designed with a unique, optimised UI interface and operates on the powerful THINKCAR TCOS operating system,” said Gillbanks. “It also offers split screen capability and provides dual vehicle diagnostics via an additional vehicle communication interface (VCI). “Thanks to this, mechanics will be able to work on two vehicles at the same time, effectively doubling output.” These innovations will continue to change the way independent garages work. Gillbanks said garage owners know that the rising tide of vehicle technology has been slowly drowning technicians in ever-more complex problems — but these solutions will change the game. Visit https://www.thinkcar. uk for further information. Cloud-based battery diagnostics software startup volytica diagnostics has won an award for its E-health Charge system, developed in collaboration with MAHLE Aftermarket. The Germany-based firm took away first prize at in the startup session at the recent Automobilwoche Congress in Berlin. The system combines realtime battery diagnostics with EV charging, delivering accurate insights into battery health, performance, and residual value in just 15 minutes — a game-changer for any entity involved in buying, selling, or servicing EVs. This innovative tool empowers lessees, dealers, workshops and other industry stakeholders to ensure reliable service in today’s rapidly evolving automotive sector, the firm said. Using advanced analytics and algorithms from daily field data, volytica’s software provides insights into battery degradation, health status, anomalies, and safety risks. Claudius Jehle, CEO of volytica diagnostics, said the firm’s award underlined the importance of battery diagnostics in the automotive industry. Game-changer for battery diagnostics
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