TRANSFORMATION AS AN OPPORTUNITY: CONTINENTAL SUPPORTS PARTNERS WITH NEW SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS

Mastering complex technology, driving digitalization and becoming more sustainable – these are the topics on which Continental will focus for its workshop and aftermarket partners at this year’s Automechanika in Frankfurt. The technology company will present suitable solutions at the leading international aftermarket trade show – including SINDRI, the new, digital, direct vehicle acceptance tool for workshops, the virtual repair support service “Remote Expert,” and a study carried out on a drive belt made from sustainable materials. Other services and products that make everyday workshop tasks easier, more efficient and profitable can be seen from September 13 to 17 at booth FOR.0 A03 in the forum on the Frankfurt exhibition grounds.

“What has been the case for automakers for a while is now coming to workshops: Technologies are changing rapidly and placing new demands on repairs, and megatrends like sustainability are presenting workshops and retailers with new challenges,” says Peter Wagner, Head of the Automotive Aftermarket business segment at Continental. “In the future, success will only come to those who change at the right time and invest in knowledge as a resource for their business. Knowledge is becoming the new key currency in the aftermarket. This is why services that make the workshop fit for the upcoming changes are playing an increasingly important role. We accompany our partners on their route into the future with our technical know-how and operational management, complemented by our innovative and broad product portfolio from a single source.”

Digitalized vehicle acceptance with SINDRI – smart, comprehensive and customer-oriented
SINDRI shows how digitalization helps make workshop processes more efficient. Designed for tablets, the app enables convenient and customer-oriented direct vehicle acceptance. Until now, workshop employees have carried out a visual inspection and taken notes on a piece of paper – but SINDRI digitalizes the process and looks deep inside the automobile. After an automated vehicle scan, all the data is summarized in a compact overview – so possible issues and upcoming services can be discussed with the customer and order approval can be obtained. The app receives data on a compact readout device that accesses the control units via the OBD II interface. SINDRI makes data available much faster than conventional methods so that it can be used in parallel with a visual inspection. The workshop employee quickly gets a much more comprehensive picture of the car’s overall condition. This transparency increases customer trust and enables the workshop to generate important additional business.

A study carried out on a sustainable belt
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the automotive industry, not least due to the climate crisis. According to Continental assessment, sustainability will even become considerably more important in the aftermarket due to the customers’ desire to make more and more areas of their lives sustainable. Continental used a drive belt prototype study to show the potential for more sustainable materials and processes and what could be possible given the technological state-of-the-art. The belt consists of reinforcements from renewable sources and rubber compounds that do not have any fossil contents. Sustainable materials were also used in the manufacturing process. “Belts are among the most common wear parts, so they're important components for contributing to greater sustainability in the spare parts business. We are material specialists for rubber, and our expertise has evolved over more than 150 years. We also use this know-how to drive the topic in the aftermarket. A sustainably produced belt like this has the potential to reduce the CO2 footprint by around 50 percent,” says Karim Fraiss, Head of Product Line Management Automotive at Continental’s Business Area Power Transmission Group and responsible for the development of drive belts.

Faster repair and fit for new technologies – thanks to digital tools
At Automechanika, Continental will also showcase its latest digital services for more knowledge and faster repairs in day-to-day workshop tasks, like the new virtual repair support from the Continental Aftermarket Customer Service. Continental's workshop and product teams will soon be available to answer questions from workshops and retailers via video call. This will make it easy to solve problems in the vehicle and clarify questions about a spare part – without time-consuming research in operating manuals. Workshops will only need a smartphone or tablet with an internet connection.

www.continental.com