PORSCHE ADOPTS 'AUGMENTED REALITY' SERVICING TECH

Tech Live Look connects dealers with experts

Porsche Cars North America is adopting so-called augmented reality technology in its service centres in the USA. The technology is designed to improve service quality and expertise.

The tech combines lightweight smart glasses with a software platform provided by Atheer Inc. The glasses include high resolution projection tech, an autofocus camera and a powerful LED light. Technicians in the service centres don the specs and then connect to Porsche's Atlanta, Georgia based technical team. The support team can then see exactly what the technician is seeing in real time.

Porsche says the system allows both parties to quickly identify and resolve technical issues. It can also help decrease problem resolution time by up to 40 per cent, based on the findings of a pilot program undertaken in July 2017 at eight Porsche dealerships in California, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Washington, along with one in Canada.

Tech Live Look, as it's known, can do much more than just provide real-time video capability. It also allows the technical support team to take screen shots or send technical bulletins and instructions onto the projection surface of the glasses while the service technician is working on the vehicle. Porsche says this type of information exchange is far more efficient than sending emails and photos or explaining complex technical issues over the phone.

“Our main goal is to provide a better overall experience for our customers. Tech Live Look allows us to be more efficient and helps get vehicles back in the hands of our customers faster, all while still delivering exceptional service quality” explained Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of PCNA.