Ortho, which made its debut at AAPEX 2022, is the first voice assistant purpose-built to drive efficiency in auto repair.
Powered by MOTOR’s OEM database and housed inside a rugged tablet, Ortho offers a handsfree, fast data lookup experience.
By just saying “Hey Ortho” and asking a question, technicians get access to hundreds of specs (e.g., torques, measurements), fluid details (e.g., capacities, types), diagrams (e.g., mounting points), and maintenance intervals, all specific to the vehicle being worked on in the bay.
“We built Ortho with a laser focus on saving meaningful time in the shop, tapping into voice technology’s inherent advantages - speed of input, hands-free use, and a distraction-free interface,” said Nithya Thadani, CEO of RAIN Technology, Inc., the parent company of Ortho and a renowned voice technology innovator. “With an aging fleet of vehicles on the road and an enduring technician shortage, auto repair pros are some of the most in-demand professionals in any industry - they deserve well-designed, tech-forward solutions to maximize their productivity on the job.”
Ortho allows technicians to stay right in the bay, moving from question to answer in under five seconds, the company noted.
“In co-creating Ortho alongside technicians and shop owners, we designed an experience that keeps technicians in flow, limits task-switching that can result in lost productivity, and presents only the information requested to minimize distraction,” said Kim Conti, Ortho vice president of product.
Answers are displayed clearly on-screen for ease of glancing, and read aloud through text-to-speech. Ortho’s intelligence in the automotive repair domain enables intuitive clarifications (e.g., if a user asks for a brake pad discard thickness, Ortho will confirm: “did you mean front or rear?”) and natural, conversational language from users.
Ortho’s capabilities are applicable to a number of different aftermarket service segments, from independent mechanical repair facilities to quick lube and tire shops to service franchises, all of which are already using the product. Ortho includes a 30-day free trial, offers flexible pricing models for individuals and shops, and comes with a voice-optimized tablet and accessories.
