Last year, Launch Tech USA announced a new real-time telematics platform called GOLO. The OBDII dongle, combined with a new LAUNCH Android-based scan tool tablet and mobile app for vehicle owners, would allow shops to provide an aftermarket connected vehicle platform to their customers that allows advanced, remote diagnostics. The GOLO dongle communicates with the driver's phone, and can then provide a direct connection to the scan tool at the shop. The system is now shipping.
Harlan Siegel, Launch's vice president of diagnostics, spoke to Aftermarket Business World about the GOLO solution.
How will the shops use GOLO?
What we have coming to market is different than any other telematics offering out there. This gives the independent repair shop the opportunity to take advantage and compete in the new connected car world.
The shops have many options in selling GOLO to their customers. They can offer it at a discount with a service, charge a monthly fee or give it away as a new customer promotion. All the car owner needs is an Apple or Android Smartphone. The shop’s customer simply downloads the app, and if a check engine light or driveability issue occurs, they can do automatic inspection that generates a diagnostics report that can be sent to their repair shop.
Additionally, the customer can reach out to their shop from the app via text or speech directly to the Launch Android scan tool. The shop can then do a remote diagnosis, which the customer can accept or reject, and diagnose the vehicle exactly the same way as if the car were in their shop, but from hundreds of miles away. This includes read and clear enhanced codes along with live data in all modules, makes and models.
How have repairers responded to the system so far?
We already have shops asking for hundreds of these GOLO units. You can give peace of mind to the car owners, and that's an incredible benefit. The shops are also able to market directly to their customer base of GOLO vehicles. You can text them through the app about specials or promotions, or push reminders out to them about maintenance.
What are some of the key challenges in getting shops and consumers to adopt this type of solution?
It's not the things you usually hear about, like privacy. One reason is that we don't require an extra data plan for the device. It uses the vehicle owner’s Smartphone data plan, nothing extra. We're also not just doing generic OBDII. The shops are looking at OE-level enhanced data, all codes in all modules on all makes and models. Nobody else is doing this.
Does this type of solution still require a lot of consumer education?
There needs to be education, but here's the cool thing: if you are a car owner, you're already accepting education and sales pitches from the Verizon store or Best Buy. If you get that from your trusted shop owner or technician, that's taking it to another level. This is not just putting your information out there for someone in a call center. This goes straight back to somebody you already trust. For the shop, this is a wonderful way to ensure customer retention. GOLO is a way of connecting the repair shop to their customer that includes features beyond diagnostics.
The benefits are going to need to be explained. We're helping shop owners by providing videos they can play in the waiting room, tri-folds, and other marketing materials for consumers. We want to help them create awareness, so that maybe it’s the customer who comes to them looking for this solution.
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