PPG has announced it will begin a phased multi-year rollout of its LINQ connectivity platform in early 2022.
According to PPG, its global body shop customers will be able to streamline their entire repair process using the cloud-based platform and its interconnected digital hardware, software and services, leading to results that are more consistent and cost-effective.
The company said LINQ will also provide customers with the opportunity to improve the sustainability of their day-to-day operations and reduce their environmental impact with features that optimise product consumption and waste reduction. Additionally, the PPG LINQ platform includes end-to-end digital tools designed to increase throughput and improve profitability by minimising human error and increasing efficiency during the entire repair process.
According to PPG, its Moonwalk automated paint mixing system for refinish body shops marked the first of many customer centric innovations that fall within its digital ecosystem “powered” by LINQ.
PPG used cross-industry expertise in automotive coatings and digital colour matching technologies to develop the platform, which it said is designed to improve all aspects of the customer experience, partner relationships, and internal body shop operations.
“At PPG, we see and recognise how digital solutions are transforming customer experiences and business operations all around us,” said Chancey Hagerty, Vice President, Global Automotive Refinish at PPG. “Customers demand easy, seamless digital interactions, and advances in connectivity, automation and artificial intelligence have transformed how businesses drive their operations.”
PPG said it created LINQ specifically to go beyond the body shop environment to directly connect repair facilities with key industry stakeholders like distributors, manufacturers, insurance companies and end users. The platform’s streamlined body shop processes and communication tools will improve partner relationships with distributors, increase “customer intimacy”, and enhance visibility with aftermarket partners to help inform decision-making and expand business opportunities.
“Since we place our customers at the heart of everything we do, it is incredibly important to us that we enable them to be a part of our digital journey,” said Denise Lu, Global Marketing Director, Global Automotive Refinish at PPG. “We are heavily invested in providing sustainable and technologically advanced solutions to create the body shops of tomorrow, which is a tremendous testimony to PPG’s dedication and commitment to serving our customers on a global scale.”