Having access to OEM repair information has many benefits for those in the collision repair industry. Not only does it ensure a vehicle is repaired properly for the customer, but it can also potentially limit liability for a body shop and the insurance company, according to Satwinder Mangat, president of ALLDATA, an AutoZone Company.

Established in 1986, ALLDATA provides OEM service and repair information to more than 400,000 technicians in 115,000 repair shops worldwide. Over the years, the company has expanded its product line to include factory-correct diagnostic, repair and collision information, business tools and support services for the automotive service and collision industries.

During the 2018 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV, Autobody News sat down with Mangat and the ALLDATA team to learn about one of the company’s newest products, ALLDATA Diagnostics, which was introduced to the market in October 2017. They also shared information about some of the other solutions they offer customers.

The ALLDATA Diagnostics scan tool enables shops to turn their Android or Windows 10 tablet into a professional-level scan tool. One of its unique features is the integration of repair information from ALLDATA Repair or ALLDATA Collision within the tool. As a result, shop owners, service writers and technicians can perform pre- and post-scans with exportable reports, and the codes link to ALLDATA’s OEM repair information and procedures. A recent development to ALLDATA Diagnostics this year is QuickScan, which allows technicians to run a full-system vehicle scan report with just one click.

“All of this data gives shops the information they need to create detailed estimates the first time,” said Mangat, who has three decades of experience in the software industry and holds six technology patents. “Following OEM procedures helps ensure that vehicles are repaired back to pre-accident OEM condition, a requirement being mandated more and more often by insurers and OEMs.”

Rather than having to purchase the device, collision repair shops pay a monthly subscription fee for either ALLDATA Repair or ALLDATA Collision Advantage and receive unlimited pre- and post-scans with no per-scan charge. Part of the subscription fee also includes free software and data updates as wells as the Vehicle Connection Interface (VCI) device that attaches to the vehicle’s OBD port.

“There are a lot of scan tools on the market,” said Mangat. “Our goal wasn’t to introduce another scan tool. The goal was to start integrating the repair information within the scan tool.”

He said the integration makes it very convenient for shops to access OEM information and allows technicians to print out the reports to attach to the claim. This can help limit liability by demonstrating that the repair has been done properly. Also, by pre-scanning the vehicle with the ALLDATA Diagnostics scan tool, Mangat said shops can provide the necessary documentation to insurance companies to get paid for the work that was completed.

“Shops need to get paid for what they do, and we want to make sure they have the documentation to prove it to the customer and also to the insurance company,” said Mangat. “We’re also helping shops be more profitable because they are getting paid for what they are repairing.”

ALLDATA Repair provides shops with online OEM repair information with factory-direct diagrams, repair procedures, TSBs and DTCs. Mangat said the product offers up-to-date repair information, fast navigation, unedited OEM information and tech-verified repairs.

ALLDATA Collision also offers unedited, factory-direct mechanical repair information. In addition, it includes OEM procedures such as sectioning and structural repairs, handling of new materials and panel removal and replacements.

ALLDATA Collision Advantage is a combination of ALLDATA Collision and ALLDATA Estimate Integration. It integrates with the three major estimating systems—Audatex, CCC and Mitchell—and provides line-by-line repair information. ALLDATA Collision Advantage can analyze an estimate and then display OEM procedures and alerts, vital repairs and manufacturer positioning statements. Mangat said that identifying the required repairs helps shops save time as well as improve operations by ensuring the estimates are more accurate.

In 2017, the ALLDATA Collision Advantage product received the SEMA New Products Showcase award in the Collision Repair and Refinish category. This year, the company received two innovation awards from PTENmagazine: one for ALLDATA Diagnostics in the Scan Tools category, and one for ALLDATA Collision Advantage in the Computers and Software category.

Product Demos:

Paul Marshall, senior product manager of ALLDATA Diagnostics, demonstrated a full vehicle scan during the 2018 SEMA Show.

Mark Schaben, regional sales manager, collision sales, demonstrated ALLDATA’s Collision Advantage product.