Make the i·SHOP Standard Work for You

There's good news for consumers, shop owners and vendors alike. The advent of the i·SHOP industry-wide standard for the integration of computerized shop equipment promises to revolutionize the entire repair process. In an integrated repair shop, all the PC-based systems and equipment can "talk to each other" and share what they already know about the customer, the vehicle, and the service work being performed. The integrated repair shop is certainly the wave of the future and takes advantage of technology standards developed by the Technology Standards and Solutions Committee of AAIA.

What is i·SHOP?
i·SHOP is an open standard that lets unrelated computer-based products and services in an auto service facility work together as one seamlessly integrated shop information system. (more)

i·SHOP Benefits for the Repair Facility:
When a shop is equipped with certified i·SHOP shop management systems, diagnostic machines and information servers, all the data needed to service the vehicle is available at the fingertips of technicians and service writers. (more)

i·SHOP Benefits for the Equipment Manufacturers and Software Providers:
Vendors who engineer their products around open industry standards like i·SHOP can devote more resources to adding valuable features and functionality that contribute higher return on investment for their customers. Equipment manufacturers and software providers benefit from i·SHOP's single universal standard interface language. As i·SHOP continues to evolve, all vendors will benefit from improved technology and interconnectivity. Vendors who build i·SHOP into their products assure their customers of freedom to choose the best products and solutions for their business needs.

i·SHOP Participant File Download site (ID and password required):
To enter the i·SHOP download page click here. To send a request to find out how to become an active participant in the i·SHOP standard click here.

i·SHOP Participants List
Click here to see a list of i·SHOP participants.

More About i·SHOP
The integrated shop concept is driven by the industry. Providers of software, information and equipment have joined together to drive, practice and promote the i·SHOP concept. As an industry initiative its strength is derived by it participants. To learn more about how you can become involved in one of the most significant automotive service industry standards, contact the i·SHOP Project Manager at ishop@aftermarket.org.

The i·SHOP version 1.0 specification, released July 2001, defines a set of interfaces with their associated properties and methods to share information between the Shop Management Server, the Parts & Labor Information Server and the Repair Information Server and the defined server clients.

Building on the strengths of the first specification, i·SHOP version 2.0 provides more robust interface standards in the areas of Parts Information, Parts Line filtering, Parts Buyer's Guide, Specification Data, Parts Photos, Supply Chain Stocking Locations and a XML based Diagnostic and Inspection Results Information. The version 2.0 speciation was released in August 2004.

More Benefits for the Repair Facility
Shop productivity increases dramatically with integrated shop equipment by allowing the technician to view needed information right from their bay. i·SHOP integration enhances communication with the vehicle owner, enabling the service writer to use multiple information sources to effectively demonstrate how the job was done.

Today, it would be hard to find an automotive repair shop that didn't have a computer. In fact, most have several PCs and computer systems on-site. They include the shop management system, the electronic parts and labor rate information system, the service and repair information system (such as ALLDATA or Mitchell), and a variety of PC-based diagnostic, alignment and back shop equipment. Throughout the repair process, shop managers, service writers and technicians are required to re-enter the information about the customer, vehicle and the service work being performed into the various computer systems. Each machine performs the job it was designed for very well, but the input and output of information is completely dependent on the operator because the data is held captive in the computer. Neither the shop nor the customers get the full benefit of the sophisticated computer equipment available.

i·SHOP delivers these benefits because shop management information is available anywhere on the network, catalog and repair information is available in the back shop and diagnostic results are available to the front shop. i·SHOP eliminates redundant re-keying of information about the customer, the vehicle and service repair order. i·SHOP saves time and reduces wasted effort, leading to increased bay utilization, greater technician productivity and improved customer satisfaction.

Having a fully integrated auto service center means improved efficiencies in all areas: greeting the customer; developing a work order; performing diagnostics; scheduling service; parts procurement; technicians' access to repair information; and invoicing. When you think of all the wasted time in the repair process, while employees are waiting for something to happen so they can go to their next task, it starts to become clear how elimination of just a part of this lost time can quickly lead to improved efficiencies.

Contact Us:
To learn more about the i·SHOP initiative, or to learn how to become an active participant in the specification, contact the i·SHOP Project Manager at: ishop@aftermarket.org.

The i·SHOP project is sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). AAIA is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose member companies manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. The organization is comprised of manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturer's representatives and other companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket. For more information about AAIA, please visit www.aftermarket.org.

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