In the automotive industry, a secure gateway is a system designed by the vehicle manufacturer to protect a car’s internal systems from unauthorised external access. It also prevents aftermarket tools from gaining entry to sensitive data and software within the vehicle.
From a technology standpoint, secure gateways are becoming commonplace in vehicles and access to them is being made harder by the manufacturer.
This is totally understandable because the data within these vehicles is a commodity, and it has led to dealers being very reluctant to release the software that can make the relevant diagnostics available. This means technicians are now hamstrung when it comes to the work they can perform, and, in turn, hampers their ability to diagnose and repair the vehicle to the standard it was when it came off the production line.
This results in the vehicle being off the road for a longer period of time, which is not what the customer or the business wants.
In addition, it is important to remember that there is a financial cost to the repairer because the inability to access secure gateways to do the work restricts revenue streams and drives more work to the main dealers.
However, to combat this financial pinch, repairers are looking for an effective solution that will enable their technicians to easily access secure gateways and perform their jobs effectively.
This is where Repairify’s products and services come onto a business’ radar. Our technology offers garages and bodyshops access to every OEM manufacturer diagnostic tool as well as the support of a fully trained OEM technician for remote assistance without having to purchase the expensive tools themselves, especially when working on multiple brands.
Although secure gateways play an essential role in safeguarding vehicle data, their impact extends beyond just protection because they have an effect on the claims and repair process. Since secure gateways can be locked to allow only specific tools to interact with them, businesses lacking the proper access are forced to outsource work to dealer sites equipped with the correct tools. This not only increases key-to-key times, but it can also lead to delays of several weeks before a vehicle is serviced.
Secure gateways will continue to protect vehicle systems and data. However, it’s crucial for technicians and businesses to understand the limitations of access and ensure they have the right tools and solutions to perform the necessary work efficiently and effectively.
