Digital Service Business Data Instead of a Workshop Visit After the Defect

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dataTec AG

Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

SIMTOS (Seoul International Machine Tool Show)

Instead of reacting only after a defect, workshops are expected to act before problems arise in the future. With new digital services, Volkswagen is increasingly focusing on data-based maintenance and connected fleets in the commercial vehicle sector.

Volkswagen aims to organize the maintenance of its commercial vehicles more data-driven and is relying on a cooperation with the Danish company Connected Cars A/S. The goal is to continuously monitor vehicle conditions in the future and plan service work as much as possible before a failure occurs.

As part of the collaboration, telematics hardware and digital workshop services will be integrated into existing fleet management systems. Vehicle data, error codes, and maintenance notifications can thus be exchanged in real time between the vehicle, workshop, and operator. Commercial customers, in particular, are expected to benefit from reduced downtime and better-scheduled service intervals.

Predictive Maintenance Becomes a Business Model

The move demonstrates how much the automotive business is currently changing. While production and sales were the main focus in the past, digital services and data-driven service offerings are becoming increasingly important.

The idea behind it is simple: If a system detects irregularities in brakes, batteries, or the drivetrain at an early stage, workshop appointments can be scheduled, spare parts procured, and unplanned downtime avoided. For fleet operators whose vehicles are in daily use, even a single breakdown can cause significant costs.

At the same time, new revenue models are emerging for manufacturers. Those who have access to vehicle data can offer additional maintenance services, tie customers more closely to their own service network, and expand the aftersales sector in the long term.

Not a Revolution, But the Next Stage of Development

Despite the phrasing in corporate announcements, this is not a fundamental reinvention of the industry. Condition monitoring, remote diagnostics, and digital service platforms have been standard practice for years among many commercial vehicle manufacturers.

What is new is primarily the closer integration of different systems. Vehicle data is no longer viewed in isolation but directly connected to workshops, spare parts logistics, and fleet management. This creates a seamless digital ecosystem designed to automate and accelerate operational processes.

According to David Bailey, this development reflects a broader shift in the automotive industry. Collaborations between vehicle manufacturers and technology companies are increasing because data and connectivity are becoming central competitive factors.

Who Owns the Vehicle Data?

However, with technological development, the discussion about data sovereignty and market structures is also growing. If maintenance information is provided exclusively through manufacturer-owned platforms, independent workshops could be at a disadvantage in the future.

Fleet operators benefit from greater transparency and more efficient processes, but at the same time, their dependency on the respective manufacturer's service ecosystem increases. Control over vehicle data is thus becoming a strategic factor—almost as important as the vehicle itself.

The Path to True Predictive Maintenance

Whether the new systems will truly enable full predictive maintenance remains to be seen. True predictive models are based on extensive operational data and statistical analyses that can determine the failure probabilities of individual components.

Many solutions in use today still operate predominantly on a rule-based approach: They detect known error patterns or report threshold violations but do not necessarily predict the actual time of a defect.

The cooperation nevertheless shows where the industry is heading. In the competition of the future, it will no longer be just engines, ranges, or payloads that matter, but increasingly the quality of digital services that connect vehicles, workshops, and operators.