Getting Started in ADAS Business: A Comprehensive Guide

April 20, 2022
10:00 am

Table of Contents

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re interested in getting started in ADAS calibration business. This is a burgeoning industry, and there’s plenty of room for new businesses to enter the ADAS services market. However, getting started in ADAS business can be daunting — especially if you don’t know where to begin. In this article, we’ll provide essential steps for starting your ADAS calibration services business.

Research the Market for ADAS Calibration Services

As ADAS and autonomous driving technology have become increasingly prevalent, so has the need for accurate and reliable ADAS calibration services. However, few auto shops offer calibration services in-house and even fewer standalone calibration centers are up and running. As such, those looking to enter the market for ADAS calibration services should carefully consider the current landscape and opportunities for growth.

There are a few key things to keep in mind when researching the market for ADAS calibration services:

The size of the potential customer base — The density of the population will largely determine this in your service area. Do you notice a lot of newer cars? This is a good sign that there is a demand for ADAS calibration in your area. ADAS technology has been available on many cars within the last ten years and all new passenger vehicles from September 2022.
The level of competition — This can vary greatly depending on the location and size of the market. Be sure to check out the competition and see what they’re offering. Research where local calibration providers are and what vehicles they service to ensure your location is not already oversaturated.
The average price point for services — This is perhaps the most crucial factor to consider when entering the market. Be sure to charge a competitive price that will allow you to make a profit while still providing value to your customers.
The geographical location of potential customers — This will help you determine the best location for your business. Are there any particularly underserved areas?

By keeping these factors in mind, you’ll get a good sense of the market for ADAS calibration services in your area. Then, you can begin to formulate a plan for getting your ADAS business off the ground.

Determine What Vehicles You Will Calibrate

If you are opening a calibration center to provide ADAS calibration services to your existing auto shops or your dealership, you already have an idea of the kinds of vehicles you plan to service. If not, you will need to decide on the kinds of vehicles you will provide calibrations for. This helps determine what equipment you will need to purchase, among other considerations.

Some shops will provide ADAS services for specific OEMs, while others will provide ADAS services for all makes and models. While you can choose to stick with the big brands that drive the highest volume of ADAS services like Toyota/Lexus, Honda, and Subaru, you may be missing out on incoming revenue by excluding other auto brands. However, the more brands you provide services for, the more equipment you will need to purchase and training you will need to provide for your staff.

Find an Appropriate ADAS Calibration Site/Facility

When starting an ADAS calibration business, one of the most important things to consider is finding an appropriate facility to house your business. There are a few essential requirements that the site must meet to be suitable for an ADAS calibration business.

Adequate Space — First, it must have enough space to accommodate the equipment and vehicles that will need calibration. Bays of at least 30 feet x 50 feet are ideal for handling most vehicle calibrations.
Power Supply — Second, the site or facility must have a power source to support the equipment. This is typically a three-phase power supply, but it can vary depending on the specific needs of the business.
Fast Internet Access — Third and perhaps most importantly, you will need to ensure that there is adequate and fast internet access. This means a minimum of 30mps, upload and download. Additionally, if you have unreliable internet, you’ll need a hot spot for dynamic calibration. This is necessary for downloading updates, and software patches, and for accessing calibration procedures information and data online.
Floors and Flooring — Fourth, flooring must be completely level and made of a material that can withstand the weight of the vehicles and equipment. This is typically concrete, but other materials may be suitable depending on the business’s specific needs. One of the most popular and functional choices is epoxy resin. However, all materials used must be low-gloss, nonreflective, and low-maintenance cleaning.
Ventilation — Next, adequate ventilation must ensure that fumes and exhaust from the vehicles do not build up inside the facility.
Accessibility — Finally, the site or facility must be easily accessible for both employees and customers. This includes things like having a loading dock or garage door to facilitate the movement of vehicles in and out of the facility.

Once you’ve found a suitable building, you can set up your business. However, understand the facility requirements and get the necessary permits before starting any work.

Complete Necessary Facility Upgrades

After finding a suitable site or facility, the next step is to complete any necessary facility upgrades. To ensure that your facility can support ADAS calibration, there are a few key upgrades that you’ll need to complete:

Install a high-power computer system — this is to run the ADAS software and calculation algorithms.
Install a stable power supply — if the facility comes with a single-phase power supply, you’ll need to upgrade it to a three-phase power supply.
Inspect walls for interference — before setting up, ensure that all the walls won’t interfere with the calibration process. Metal walls will need to be moved or replaced with a non-metal material and painted in a neutral color.
Ensuring level flooring — you must identify all low spots. You must fill and level and coat with epoxy to ensure an even surface.
Set up proper lighting — this is necessary for both the calibration process and the safety of employees and customers. Ensure that the lighting is bright and evenly distributed throughout the facility.
Install an environmental chamber — this helps to simulate different driving conditions and test the calibration of the ADAS system.
Next, organize tools and equipment — once you have all your calibration tools you’ll need to organize and safely store them. This includes calibration targets, tools and equipment to protect your environment, and more.
Finally, you’ll need to install a vehicle lift — this allows you to position the vehicle safely and securely while it’s being calibrated. Some OEMs require the use of a lift for proper calibration procedures.

By taking care of these necessary facility upgrades, you can ensure that your business is able to support the most accurate ADAS calibrations possible.

Select ADAS Calibration Equipment & Diagnostic Tools

A wide variety of ADAS calibration equipment is available on the market. This makes it challenging to know which ones are right for your business model. The first step is to understand what your business needs to calibrate ADAS systems properly on the vehicles you plan to service. Once you have a clear idea of your requirements, you can narrow down your options.

There are a few key pieces of ADAS calibration equipment that are necessary for any ADAS business:

ADAS Diagnostic Tablets — these are used to run the software that will be used to calibrate the ADAS system. It’s important to select models that are compatible with the equipment you’re using. You should also ensure that the software is easy to use and offers all the features you need.
ADAS Calibration Targets — these are used to calibrate ADAS sensors. There are many different types of calibration targets for ADAS systems. These vary depending on the OEM, the model year, and other factors.
ADAS Calibration Fixtures — are used to secure and center calibration targes and reflectors to the vehicle during the calibration process. They also must be a precise distance from the ground, the car’s ADAS cameras, and other sensors.
ADAS Calibration Kit Accessories — this includes digital inclinometers, digital protractors, around view camera targets, trihedral reflectors, reflective metal sheets, metal cones, window calibration tools, floor mat calibration targets, and doppler simulators.

By taking the time to carefully select the right ADAS calibration equipment and software tools for your business, you can ensure that your ADAS system is calibrated correctly and performing at its best.

Train Staff to Perform ADAS Calibrations

For ADAS calibration, businesses need to ensure that their staff is adequately trained to provide the best possible service. This includes understanding how to use the software and tools, as well as being able to perform the calibration procedures and diagnose, repair, and replace faulty ADAS sensors.

Your staff should know how to:

Recognize ADAS-equipped vehicles
Secure vehicles in place
Adjust the settings on the software
Properly position the vehicle during the calibration process
Recognize the different types of calibration targets and know how to use them

There are many ways to train your staff on ADAS calibration.

One option is to send them to specific training courses offered by your ADAS software and equipment manufacturers. These can be costly, but they will ensure that your staff is properly trained to use your products.
Another option is to have your staff shadow another technician who is already experienced in ADAS calibration. This is a more hands-on approach that can benefit both the trainee and the trainer.
Finally, you can create your own training program in-house. This option requires more time and effort, but it can be customized to fit the specific needs of your business.

By ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, businesses can provide a higher level of service and satisfaction for their customers. In addition, it will also help to reduce the risk of errors and accidents during the calibration process.

Select ADAS Business Management Software

As a business owner, it’s crucial to handle all the moving parts of your company. However, it can be difficult to stay organized with so much to keep track of. That’s where business management software comes in.

ADAS calibration business management software can help you manage your inventory, track sales and customers, and even generate reports. In addition, this type of software can also help you automate tasks such as invoice generation and customer follow-up. As a result, ADAS business management software can save you considerable time and stress.

There are several aspects of your ADAS services business where a software program will be beneficial, including the following:

Appointment Scheduling

Another important aspect of any business is scheduling appointments. To keep your customers happy, you need to be able to schedule appointments in a timely and efficient manner. ADAS business management software can help you automate this process by keeping track of your appointments and sending reminders to customers, including auto shops that will routinely use your calibration services for multiple vehicles.

Estimating

Quickly identifying ADAS-equipped vehicles and their ADAS calibration needs is vital to accurate and timely estimates. Your business needs estimating software that handles ADAS.

Workflow Management

Software should guide you through the entire calibration workflow.

Inventory Management for ADAS Parts

One of the most important aspects of any business is inventory management. To stay profitable, companies need to carefully track their inventory levels and ensure that they always have the right products in stock.

ADAS business management software can help you automate this process by keeping track of your inventory levels for replacement parts and notifying you when stock is running low.

Record-Keeping

As a business owner, you need to be able to generate reports to track your progress and make informed decisions about your company. ADAS business management software can help you create reports on all aspects of your business, including inventory levels, sales, customers, and more. In addition, this type of software can also help you keep track of important documents such as invoices and contracts. You need a record of what you did and that you did it right. This is important for liability purposes.

Invoicing & Customer Follow-Up

Finally, ADAS business management software can also help you automate the process of invoice generation and customer follow-up. This type of software can generate invoices automatically and send reminders to customers when their payments are due. In addition, this type of software can also help you keep track of your customer relationships and follow up with them on a regular basis.

When selecting a software solution for your business, consider your specific needs and requirements. This will ensure that you choose a well-suited solution for your business and provides the features and functionality you need.

Plan for Ongoing QA & Auditing

When it comes to quality assurance and auditing, it’s vital to have an ongoing program in place to avoid potential issues down the road. By regularly reviewing your processes and procedures, you can identify potential problems early on and take corrective action to prevent them from becoming bigger issues.

QA helps ensure that products and services meet the highest quality standards. At the same time, auditing provides an independent assessment of a company’s compliance with laws, regulations, and industry best practices.

While QA and auditing are often seen as separate functions, they are actually closely linked. A strong QA program helps to identify potential issues before they cause problems, while auditing can verify that corrective actions have been taken to address those issues. Finally, by regularly auditing your operations, you can ensure that you are meeting all the requirements necessary to maintain your certification or license.

In short, an ongoing QA & auditing program is essential for any organization that wants to avoid potential problems and maintain a high level of quality.

Arrange Ongoing Technical Support

Any business owner will tell you that having access to reliable technical support is essential to keeping their operation running smoothly. Unfortunately, in today’s increasingly complex and interconnected world, technical problems can quickly spiral out of control, causing major disruptions and expensive downtime. That’s why it’s so important to have a trusted partner who can provide ongoing technical support, give expert advice, and provide prompt resolution when problems arise.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a technical support provider.

First, choose a company with a good reputation and track record. There’s nothing worse than dealing with a company that is constantly difficult to work with or continually putting off resolving your issues.
Second, make sure that the company you choose has experience working with businesses in your industry. They should understand the unique challenges you face and be able to provide tailored solutions.
Finally, be sure to ask about pricing and package options. You don’t want to be caught off guard by unexpected fees.

By keeping these things in mind, you can be sure to find a technical support provider that will be a valuable partner in keeping your business up and running.

Open your Own ADAS Calibration Center with Help from Car ADAS!

As you can see, getting started in ADAS business is a significant undertaking, but with the help of Car ADAS Solutions, we can guide you through every step of the process.

From researching the market and finding an appropriate facility to selecting calibration equipment and software tools and training your staff on how to use them, we are here to support you.

So don’t hesitate to contact us today to start on this exciting new venture in the automotive industry. We can get your calibration center up and running in 45–60 days. Take the first steps toward owning an ADAS calibration center today!

Read More: ADAS Planning for Dealerships

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