Aftermarket that encompasses vehicle service and parts sales plays a vital role from the moment any vehicle is delivered to the customer till it is scrapped or recycled. It is also another stream of business for the vehicle makers and parts suppliers. When the new vehicle sales dip, triggered by an economic downturn or other factors, the aftermarket soars, fuelled by the need to maintain existing vehicles.
As the global pandemic reduced opportunities for training, garages are keen to maximise revenue opportunities for their recovery. As a result, there is a backlog of training, and garages playing catch-up have heightened sensitivity to costs, availability, and travel.
Addressing this concern is Delphi Technologies, now part of the BorgWarner family, with its new e-learning platform. Called Delphi Technologies Academy, it aims to make the training process more accessible than ever to enhance skills and keep up to date with the latest technological developments.
The platform, launched this month, significantly enhances the company’s existing training portfolio and underlines its near-unique status of transferring its learnings from being an OEM supplier to the aftermarket.
The Delphi Technologies Academy directly addresses these issues by providing access to training materials on any device, including smartphones, and at a more convenient time – even at the point of use where critical technical information is needed.
Eliminates Space Constraints
As the training can be consumed in any location, the space limitations of classroom-based learning are eliminated, opening the door for many more people to benefit.
The platform’s on-demand nature also opens other opportunities. For example, a workshop technician confronted with an issue with a sensor or any such thing could consult an online video and be back to work in minutes.
Currently present in over 150 countries with a global network of over 2,750 service centres, Delphi Technologies aftermarket provides OE specification end-to-end solutions from components to sophisticated software solutions. It covers a wide range of portfolios, including gasoline fuel systems, diesel fuel systems, maintenance solutions, engine management and vehicle electronics, backed by OE-level diagnostic and test equipment, training and technical information.
Curriculum
Developed over the last 12 months, the course leverages the increased desire for ‘blended learning’ where delegates can complement hands-on classroom-based training with virtual tuition. Besides, it also works to overcome some of the challenges that the aftermarket experiences when attending traditional off-site training.
The academy covers a wide range of vehicle systems and technologies, including ADAS, exhaust after-treatment, diesel systems, petrol systems, vehicle electrics and chassis systems.
In addition, there are multiple training modules dedicated to hybrid & electric vehicles where the need for aftermarket training is at an all-time high due to the increasing adoption of these new breeds of vehicles.
The academy covers the complete spectrum of topics, from instruction videos on safely lifting a hybrid/electric vehicle to detailed overviews of the latest OE systems.
Individual Needs
The e-learning platform has, at present, eight training categories that collectively offer over 200 courses, delivering a combination of theory and how-to videos. Each course is designed to cater to a wide audience’s needs, from apprentices starting their careers to experienced master technicians. This flexible course design makes them suitable for those approaching a topic for the first time and those looking to update their knowledge with the latest practices.
Delphi plans to add new modules every three to four weeks. In addition, the digital nature of the platform has allowed the company to introduce new features that help delegates engage with the course interactively. For example, diagnostic training is aided by an engine simulator that allows users to replace or isolate different components in a virtual environment to help identify the root cause of an issue.
Additionally, the system’s primary interface can be personalised for a particular brand or business whose delegates are undergoing training.
The academy also acts as a central hub for the blended learning format, providing everything from a calendar view of available courses to automated access to course notes. More complex topics, such as electric vehicle maintenance, are unlocked only once users have progressed through any required foundation courses.
The e-learning will help the participants on many counts as it, in addition to training, tests practical skills through the engine simulator and also pinpoint knowledge gaps to prioritise training topics.