Innovation Award Winner Profile: Launch Tech BST-360 Bluetooth Battery Tester
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Q: What makes this product innovative?
A: The Bluetooth BST-360 is a product that was designed to be practical, usable, and accurate. The reason this product is innovative is due to streamlining the age-old charging system tests that traditionally required multiple tools and was a timely process. This BST-360 Bluetooth battery tester and charging system tester is an evolution in efficiency because it allows the technician or even the consumer, a do-it-yourself customer, to perform three tests in minutes and it delivers the report via Wi-Fi e-mail. There are two medians that the BST-360 can be used. It can be used by technicians that have a Launch X-431 tool. There is an app for BST-360 on that tool, or it can be used by anyone who has access to an Android or iPhone phone, and they can download the BST-360 app and still perform the test.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating this product?
A: Here at Launch, due to our ambitious product goals and product development philosophy, the inspiration was to create a product that was easy to use, accessible, and relevant. Modern vehicles that are on the road today are so wired with technology and sensors and modules. Whereas in the old days, you had a battery, an alternator, and a starter, and the battery didn't really have much stress on it. If the battery was low, you would get it down to slow, kick the car, and then kick start it, and within a couple of minutes, it’s back to full charge.
Nowadays, vehicles have various electrical systems to sustain the vehicle and the vehicle's drivability in terms of efficiency and performance. As a scan tool manufacturer, we feature an array of diagnostic tools ranging from do-it-yourself to professional tools. The BST-360, the inspiration for creating this tool, was aimed at assisting the professional level tech in the busy shop environment.
Q: How will this product improve the lives of technicians and shop owners?
A: It's Bluetooth for one, so that's the latest technology that everyone demands in all their gadgets and devices. Additionally, 10-15 years ago, when a car came in with electrical faults or suspected battery issues, it was a process of checking three elements – the alternator, the starter, and the battery to come up with a conclusive diagnosis. Sometimes it could take up to an hour to two hours. You would have to pull out the battery tester, which was a separate tool. You would have to test the alternator and there are different methods of testing the alternator. You'd have to check the starter, so the BST-360 basically streamlines those three tests. The technicians are able to perform that within minutes and instead of taking notes on a notepad, they have that report that can be shared with others in the shop or can be shared with the customer. It's just a lot more efficient in terms of how everything is done, from the diagnostics to the final communication with the customer.
Additionally, it's able to accommodate 10 international battery standards, so that will also make it easier for the shops and technicians because what's happening nowadays is people are buying batteries online. Sometimes there might be a different battery standard that's manufactured in a different country, but it's still able to work. So, the BST-360 is able to check those standards.
Q: What has been the feedback from technicians who’ve purchased this tool?
A: Technicians have expressed nothing but positive feedback just due to the ease of use and the rapid diagnostic test results. When they’re troubleshooting vehicles with high-level electrical issues and it's not a battery or starter or charging system. The BST-360 provides them with a path of repair because it delivers those three tests, so they're able to eliminate, “Well, it's not the battery, it's not the starter, it's not the alternator.” Their feedback has been very positive, and a lot of technicians use this tool daily in their arsenal.
