Guild 21 held a conference call today with Fred Iantorno to discuss where emerging technology would bring the automotive repair industry in the next three years. Iantorno, the vice president of VeriFacts Automotive, gave insight to all different facets of tech-related questions throughout an hour-long interview.
In every topic discussed, Iantorno seemed to be most excited about the further industry-application of 3D printing. He described the current uses — custom vehicles construction with some MSOs dabbling in small-parts printing — but said that future practicality will turn every enterprise, including home workshops, into factories. Though most people may be familiar with polymer 3D printing, Iantorno said that silver and aluminum “inks” are already in use today.
Iantorno added, “but a lot of work would need to be done before I trusted a 3D printed part!”
In the case of 5G networks, Iantorno stated that it can no longer be considered an emerging technology.
“The tech is here,” he said. “The number of connected devices already exceeds the number of humans on Earth. In the next few years, it’s estimated that there will be 1,000 devices per person, and this new network infrastructure is going to cut the amount of time in our industry wasted with bad connections.”
During an audience survey throughout the conference call, 42 percent admitted to not having complete Wi-fi coverage at their facilities, to which Iantorno said could be remedied with 5G networks.
Artificial intelligence was another area of technology that Iantorno claimed had well already “permeated the industry.” Aside from the usual contenders such as AV’s and assistant software, he said he was particularly focused on shop application of A.I. In conjunction with virtual and augmented reality devices, Iantorno predicts repair facilities being able to train technicians to use devices in advance of the facilities actually owning them.
“It’s not something you need a working knowledge of to appreciate,” Iantorno said.
Iantorno also spoke to the future role of Blockchain, which allows the protection of documentation through every step of the repair process all the way to final evaluation. Acting as a distributed digital ledger, if someone makes any changes to an owner’s data, it would provide full transparency.
Iantorno stated that even without realizing it, collision repair facilities are “well on their way to a connected shop.”
Guild 21 will be holding its next conference call in October, which will be an education piece. The guest speaker has yet to be announced.
