Volvo Trucks Uses Smartphones to Provide Service Instructions in Workshops

In a move that is targeted at improving the company’s aftersales services, Volvo Trucks is currently testing the use of smartphones - a consumer-based technology- in their workshops. As the amount of information the technicians need to digest is so diversified and constantly rising, Volvo Trucks thought smartphones could be an ideal mean to ease that process.

"Smartphones are user-friendly devices that can assist our technicians at work while offering our customers better support," said Bengt Persson, Senior Vice President Quality and Technical Support at Volvo Trucks. "Customers' demands for profitability also mean that we must constantly look to develop our skills and become more and more efficient."

With this new concept, the chassis' unique instructions will be easily accessible on a technician's very own smartphone. The information can be delivered either as text or through images and animations.

The benefits are many, as the Swedish manufacturer claims. One such advantage among others is the ability of images and animations to overcome language barriers. Mobile smartphones also allow technicians easy access to the most up-to-date service instructions.

"It's great that new technologies can be used to improve and develop our work," said Mattias Roos, a service technician at the Volvo Truck Shop in Gothenburg, who has tested the application. "The concept is very time efficient and extremely user friendly."

Last spring tests were conducted among service technicians in China and Sweden, with both reporting positive results. Now Volvo Trucks and Volvo IT are continuing their work to further develop and customise the application.

"The use of smartphones in service centres is an interesting solution, which will improve efficiency and ensure the quality of our aftersales services. We therefore have great hopes of launching the concept in the near future," concluded Persson.