You may be tired of hearing all the ways AI is poised to replace jobs, transform society, and fundamentally change the way we do routine tasks. But whether we like it or not, it’s making advancements in every sector and industry – and cars are no exception. This time, it’s offering a solution that can help car dealerships conduct routine vehicle inspections. The best part? It may only require a simple digital tool to bring your dealership up to speed.
How AI is disrupting the traditional vehicle inspection
In the past, vehicle inspections have been a manual process that takes time and is subject to error. A vehicle inspector (typically a mechanic or used car manager) has had to visually inspect the car for any scratches or dents, check for mechanical issues, etc before putting a number on a car. But AI is here to change that by adding advanced automation and algorithms that have the capacity to initially help detect exterior vehicle damages/issues without error.
AI is being trained to memorize patterns in various vehicle structures to better identify irregularities beyond what the human eye can discern. This can help save time and resources, but also ensures that small areas of damage never go unseen, as they can eventually lead to bigger issues when they are not caught. Tools like ClearCar can detect a range of issues, including structural problems and dents, using a 360-degree visual evaluation.
What technology is involved in this AI advancement?
A range of AI technologies are involved in getting a comprehensive assessment of a vehicle. This includes computer vision that can see and interpret images and data, machine learning models that can memorize normal conditions of endless vehicle models, feature extraction that can analyze irregularities against the standard to identify issues, deep learning that can ensure intricate analysis of complex situations, IoT sensors which automate the process, and data analytics that can process all the inspection data to tell a story.
How does the process work?
The process is intricate and technologically advanced, but put simply:
- First, AI will collect data about the damage using vehicle sensors (could be as simple as photos from your smart phone).
- Then, the data moves to processing using computer vision techniques.
- Machine learning models are able to then detect the vehicle parts and any irregularities by comparing the patterns against the established normal standards.
- Data interpretation and analysis to assess the severity of the issues.
- AI systems are integrated with maintenance databases and logs to help with automatic reporting.
- Assess liability and recurring issues.
- Implement feedback to the AI system to refine the algorithm.
How can this AI technology be applied for car dealer trade-ins?
There are several use cases that we can point to in order to show how AI vehicle inspections can be applied and used in real world examples. For example, the automated visual inspection can be used to identify scratches in the paint, simple wear and tear, or concerning dents and damage that could have consequences down the road. Additionally, predictive maintenance models can help interpret historical information and suggest future concerns and issues that may arise so that car dealers– know what potential issues a car might bring when they take it in for a trade in. And while this may sound like an expensive technology to incorporate into your dealership, it can be as simple as a digital tool that allows customers to upload photos for the AI to scan and analyze.
Embrace AI transformation with ClearCar
ClearCar uses AI to detect vehicle damage based on customer photos, allowing for more accurate inspections that reflect the car’s actual condition.
How does it work?
- Our user-friendly process starts with ClearCar Capture. Customers receive a link to submit self-guided photos they take using their phone. These pictures show the vehicle in its true current condition.
- ClearCar’s AI then scans the photos for signs of damage.
- The photo is tagged for the dealer’s review, calling attention to scratches, dents, or rust with a highlighted outline, along with a report summarizing the size and severity of the issue.
- With this information, a car dealer can quickly assess the vehicle and make an offer to a customer.
Interested in learning how AI can help you increase your productivity and accuracy? Sign up for a demo with ClearCar.
Sources
Barhate, Pritam. 2024. “Revolutionizing vehicle inspections: The role of AI in damage detection.” Mobisoft. Retrieved November 20, 2024. https://mobisoftinfotech.com/resources/blog/role-of-ai-in-vehicle-inspection-process
