If life was like the movie Cars, then cars, semis, and heavy equipment could make a technician’s life a lot easier by telling them what’s wrong.
Instead, all we get is a “check engine” light or some other vague indicator that could mean…well…anything.
Luckily, diagnostic software is here to bridge the language barrier between a technician and the vehicle they’re trying to fix. It’s not just for commercial vehicles, either—reliable heavy equipment diagnostic software can make diagnosing issues with your clients’ heavy machinery simple as pie.
Fullbay is all about making life easier for heavy equipment technicians and shops. That said, our software solutions focus on tracking, invoicing, and efficiency—not diagnostics. Still, you can—and should!—utilize our suite alongside the features provided by dedicated diagnostic software.
Keep reading to learn all about what makes heavy equipment diagnostic software so crucial in this day and age.
So, What’s Heavy Equipment Diagnostic Software?
Maybe it goes without saying, but diagnostic software is a cornerstone of any modern repair shop. When you have access to this software and related equipment, you’ll be able to figure out why a piece of equipment’s “check engine” light has turned on and diagnose any other problems it might have encountered.
But most diagnostic programs are designed with automobiles in mind—meaning they won’t be much help if your shop focuses on heavy equipment. You need a specialized tool to determine what problems these machines have.
Heavy equipment diagnostic software is built to help your technicians quickly and easily understand problems with construction machinery and other types of heavy equipment. As a result, it should be included in every heavy-duty inspection your shop offers.
(Of course, this software will go even further towards improving your inspections when you combine it with Fullbay-powered electronic checklists!)
Common Features of Diagnostic Software
Your diagnostic program of choice should do all the things you need it to do. Conveniently enough, we’ve compiled a list of these features!
When shopping around for diagnostic software, make sure the program you’re looking at offers these capabilities:
- Code reading. The ability to read fault codes is at the heart of any successful diagnostic program, whether it’s designed for automobiles or heavy equipment. Before anything else, your diagnostic software must be able to read these codes and offer relevant troubleshooting advice.
- System performance measurement. While reading fault codes is an essential part of any diagnostic software, the best programs in this niche go above and beyond. For example, some diagnostic tools allow technicians to measure and track the performance of the systems that power a piece of heavy equipment.
- Technician assistance features. In the world of heavy equipment diagnostics, technician assistance should go further than a user-friendly interface. Your diagnostic program should also offer system and wiring diagrams to help techs perform repairs.
Other Factors to Consider
That should just about cover what you need from your diagnostic software itself. Still, you should also put some thought into how your program of choice will interact with the real world. When your techs are working on heavy equipment, it’s crucial to consider:
Unpredictable Environments
Unlike diesel repairs, repairing heavy equipment will almost always require your techs to leave the shop. These repairs typically take place off-road, and you might have to deal with mud, rain, and other natural obstacles. That means your diagnostic software should be ready for anything—even a lost internet connection.
Mobile Functionality
Can you imagine your heavy-duty technicians lugging a full desktop computer and monitor to a remote job site? (You should—it’s a surprisingly funny mental image.)
But in all seriousness, the nature of this work means your best bet is choosing a mobile-friendly program. And while cloud-based software is more popular than ever these days, your heavy equipment diagnostic solution needs to be capable of working offline, too.
Durable Hardware
This isn’t something you’ll need to think about when buying software, exactly, but it is an essential concern that’s closely related to this topic.
Heavy equipment repairs can require your techs to travel just about anywhere in your service area. That means it’s smart to have technology that can stand up to any environment you can think of. Consider investing in rugged cases for your techs’ phones or laptops.
Make Life Easy For Your Techs
Whether you’re working on “normal” automobiles, semi trucks, or heavy equipment, the first step in any successful repair is figuring out what’s wrong. When you research and invest in heavy equipment diagnostic software, your technicians will be even more efficient, productive, and accurate as a direct result.
While diagnostic software for heavy equipment can significantly improve your shop, this isn’t the only software your digital-age garage should take advantage of. Once your technicians have used your diagnostic equipment to find the issue at hand, they can switch to Fullbay’s software to benefit from our guided service order workflow.
Whether you plan to use Fullbay heavy equipment repair software on its own or with heavy-duty diagnostic software, be sure to sign up for a demo today!
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