Innovation Award Profile: Snap-on APOLLO+
Q: What makes this product innovative?
A: For starters, this product's packed with a lot of great features and software like the SureTrack top repairs graph. This particular feature provides a technician with a graph by mileage of the parts and procedures used to fix that specific code or symptoms. It lets the technician see what has worked for others in that specific situation; it really gives them that guidance. It also includes SureTrack Real Fixes, which shows you what works for other techs based on expert knowledge from professionals who have seen and solved the same vehicle issues that they might be working on. These are both great time-saving features that can help the tech start in the right direction. The other thing is technical service bulletins and having the ability to see those right on the tool. This is OEM information that is confirmed, verified repair information that is filtered specifically to the vehicle and code they're working on, so they don't have to waste time searching for those bulletins.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating this product?
A: The APOLLO+ is an evolution of the APOLLO families, and this continues the legacy that we've built on for many years. Snap-on has been in the diagnostics business for well over 30 years, and we want to continue that tradition by building really solid products that are designed for the shop environment with the features and the software that technicians need to get through the jobs at hand. This is one more platform that we know is robust, that will stand the test of time for technicians and shops.
Q: How will this product improve the lives of technicians and shop owners?
A: APOLLO+ is a great product for up-and-coming technicians who are looking to start their diagnostic career and maybe aspire to be a lead technician or maybe a shop owner. The APOLLO+ is going to help them focus on the job and improve productivity by providing the information that they need right away, right there on the device, making them much better at diagnosing and fixing cars properly, and increasing their acumen so that they can become great professionals in the field.
Q: What has the feedback been like from technicians who have purchased this product?
A: Feedback has been great. It's been very positive. A lot of them enjoy the time-saving features. They have all the coverage they need to work on and fix vehicles. We want them to fix every single car, so we give them the most coverage available so they don't have to turn any jobs down.
Q: Is there anything else our readers should know?
A: APOLLO+ includes the Fast-Track Intelligent Diagnostics workflow that helps technicians follow a comprehensive diagnostic process. They don't miss any steps, making sure that they can properly diagnose and not waste time on different things that are probably not relevant. This includes Smart Data, which delivers code-based data lists and highlights PIDs that are out of range, so the techs don't have to remember all this information or step away from the vehicle to go look for that information. It's all right there in the tool. We want them to be productive right there in front of the car, get everything they need, and go on to the next job.