Appraising Vehicles on the Fly with Mobile VIN Scanning
Over the past few weeks we’ve discussed apps that are used internally in the retail industry for the inventory management, procurement and self-checkout processes, and today we’re going to switch gears by diving into how people are utilizing mobile VIN scanning in the automotive industry.
How are VIN numbers used?
VIN numbers are used for a variety of purposes, with the most common being vehicle appraisals and looking up vehicle history information. Usually VIN numbers are scanned occasionally, and by a variety of employees. By empowering your employees to be able to scan a VIN directly from any smartphone device, you can drastically reduce the hardware costs associated with dedicated scanners or the labor costs involved with manual look ups.
Here’s a look at the typical processes which involve VIN scanning:
1) Scan a VIN to retrieve car values from 3rd party data provider
2) Scan a VIN to verify that a car has not been stolen
3) Scan a VIN to retrieve vehicle history including mileage rollbacks, past owners and more
Example Application: iTronic
For illustration purposes, let’s have a quick look at an innovative customer app called iTronic, which provides a smartphone-based VIN scanning solution based on Scandit’s advanced barcode scanning technology to car dealers. iTronic provides users with access to detailed car history information through CARFAX, and provides car value data from reputable sources such as NADA, The Market Report, Galves, KBB and Black Book. Additional features include Visual Record, which allows you to take a picture of the vehicle and store it, market reports, and price comparison features.
Smartphone-based Scanning vs. Traditional Scanning
One main advantage of using Scandit’s cross-platform barcode scanning technology for smartphones and tablets over using laser-based scanners or other dedicated barcode scanner hardware is that sales staff, employees and even customers do not need to carry a dedicated scanning devices but they can install and use the VIN scanning app directly on their own smartphone. And due to Scandit’s broad platform and device support, professionals who work in a “bring your own device” environment can rest assured that the VIN scanning will work well with the widest possible range of iOS and Android smartphones, including those that lack autofocus.
Step by Step Guide for Smartphone-based VIN Scanning
So you’re convinced, it’s time to utilize a VIN scanning app, what needs to happen next?
1) Decide if you want to use an existing solution (like iTronic), hire a solution provider to build one, or build one in house.
2) Decided which platforms you’d like the app to run on.
3) Assess which systems you need the app to work with. Do you need vehicle history information from CARFAX? Or valuation data from Kelly Blue Book? How will this connect to your local network? What kind of database does the app need?
4) Identify the features you need, and find the best software components for the job.
(Our Barcode Scanner SDK is perfect for VIN scanning).
5) Build and test your app (or watch it being built).
6) Deploy and Enjoy.
Need help making a decision? Our sales staff is here to help. Contact us for more information.
Stay tuned for more usage scenarios including ticketing and point of sale coming soon!
