Peterbilt to have AR tool for dealer service techs

A new Augmented Reality (AR) tool will soon be made available from Peterbilt Motors Company for dealer service technicians to both innovate dealer service and improve customer uptime.

As of March 31, 2022, the company said 200 of its ARTech AR tool will be available at dealer locales.

The AR tool uses 3D and augmented reality views of chassis-specific Peterbilt trucks, and existing service systems like PACCAR Solutions Service Management to provide dealer service technicians with a faster means to visualize major truck systems with access to related technical documentation and diagrams—all via an Apple iPad. 

“We analyzed technicians’ pain points and focused on key technologies required to put all of the correct and pertinent data from multiple databases in one single location at their fingertips,” said Peyton Harrell, Director of Dealer Development for Peterbilt. “The result is our ARTech tool, which transforms 2D technical information into a 3D image by placing full-scale objects on top of the real environment. This technology provides technicians a type of X-Ray vision to help improve diagnostic and repair times. Dealerships who are using ARTech in their service bays have reported a 15-20 percent improvement in service repair times.”

Peterbilt noted that AR and its software, hardware and architecture is well-positioned to fill the void between the technical data from engineers and the service technicians that need the data to troubleshoot and perform repairs.

The ARTech tool will allow technician to explore and understand the objects in the most efficient way for them.

“Instead of having to carry a laptop, an adapter and other tools to be able to pull information up on a laptop, now you're carrying an iPad with all of the information in one convenient location. This has been a huge time-saver in pinpointing and troubleshooting codes and issues, speeding up the process and getting our customers’ trucks back on the road as quickly as possible,” said Mike Lacey, Western Regional Product Support Manager at Ohio Peterbilt.

Peterbilt worked alongside analysts, visionaries, designers, developers and architects to create the AGTech tool, and then tested it at select Peterbilt dealerships.

“Our goal is to drive uptime for our customers using a wide variety of technologies, and we can do that with ARTech by empowering technicians who are working on our equipment,” said Jason Skoog, Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR Vice President. “This technology spans the gap between 2D technical data trapped on paper or on screens and the real vehicle in the service bay. Our ARTech augmented reality tool is giving technician’s quick access to the information they need when they need it the most—right next to the truck in the service bay.”

Peterbilt’s rollout of ARTech builds on the expanding comprehensive suite of uptime services offered on its vehicles and supported through the fastest-growing dealer network in North America.