Discount Tire Co., the country's largest independent tire dealership, is rolling out a mobile tread depth detection system across its nearly 1,100-store footprint.
The system - which Tom Williams, chief experience officer, Discount Tire, calls a "game-changer" - allows technicians to complete a tread depth check in under five seconds per tire.
Previously, Discount Tire technicians "measured as many as 12 different spots" on tires "for tread depth and used a pen and paper to record each DOT code," according to Discount Tire officials.
Using the new system, they "simply swipe each tire to check for tread depth and scan the DOT code with the tool’s camera in real-time, enabling them to assist more customers, reduce wait times and provide a more positive customer experience."
A color-coded chart indicates safety levels of tire tread depth to let technicians know when new tires are needed. Discount Tire technicians can show scan results directly to customers.
"This information and the guidance of Discount Tire’s experts can help customers confidently make the safest decisions for their vehicles. The mobile solution also integrates with Discount Tire’s technology system to help eliminate other paper-based processes, such as automating the creation of customer profiles."
Discount Tire plans to leverage Anyline's scan software to eliminate other paper-based processes and help automate the creation of customer profiles.
The tread depth scanning technology is based on Zebra Technologies' Android-based TC75X mobile computer and was co-developed by Anyline and Accucode.
