Since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, there’s been difficult reading about the automotive industry and the widespread impact of the virus. What the pandemic has necessitated is an accelerated shift towards automation and digitisation. The automotive industry has been heading towards this shift for some time. In the past few months, other industries have also been affected.

Processes, like automated vehicle inspections in OEM production and the finished vehicle logistic supply chains, that reduce the reliance on human interaction and consider the latest guidance on things like social distancing are now more critical than ever. Though for different reasons, our customers have known this for some time, and over the past seven years, DeGould has successfully deployed automatic vehicle inspections for leading OEMs so they can redeploy headcount into higher-value tasks.

Using AI for vehicle inspections and damage detection instead of relying on a human resource means finding defects can be quicker, simpler and more effective. As well as having tangible business benefits hitting the bottom line.

As OEMs plan to ramp up their production, we are in wide-ranging discussions on how best to integrate our Auto-scan technology. Our growing product range offers several options, from standalone and modular drive-through booths best suited to vehicle liability handover points to upstream and over conveyor systems optimised for plant quality gates.

All our Auto-scan range uses our latest patented technologies, capturing the highest quality images, up to 240mp, using sophisticated lighting, camera technology and software. These market-leading images then act as the enabler for our superior artificial intelligence.

Where physical interactions are being reduced, there is a growing need for digitisation, and the DeGould global inspection database and digital vehicle passports are being more widely deployed. More and more customers and departments are requesting increased capacity to the DeGould dashboard for real-time vehicle statistics, condition reports and metrics. As a result, we are releasing more features to support this demand and being customer-led in the system’s evolution.

The operational downturn in system use over the past few weeks allowed us to focus purely on R&D. This focus has created both a positive outlook and a forward drive, particularly in our AI capabilities. Within this time, we have made use of our three million-plus vehicle inspections to date, pushing the boundaries of what we can detect automatically in automated vehicle inspections. Our R&D acceleration means we are releasing more exciting products in the second half of the year, with our focus dedicated to industry 4.0 installs and methodology for manufacturers and their supply chains.

As DeGould transitions from pioneering disruptors in this space to established approved suppliers for multiple global customers, we have fundamentally changed the way OEMs inspect vehicles.