Pave, an inspection tool that appraises vehicles in real-time, has been launched by MJB Automotive Solutions.

The consultancy and training company specialising in used vehicle retailing, was founded by Marcus Blakemore who has more than 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry.

MJB Automotive Solutions offers tailor-made remarketing, refurbishment and retailing expertise to OEMs, contract hire companies, rental operators and fleet managers wanting to save money in the used vehicle retailing and supply chain management process.

Developed in Canada, Pave, is an open API self-inspection solution that turns any phone into a professional inspector in one click, says Blakemore.

It enables customer guided professional inspections and extensive inspection reports that are can be fully integrated within businesses and their current technology.

Blakemore, who was the MD of Gain Solutions when it was bought by Dekra in 2018, believes Pave has the potential to completely change how vehicles are inspected.

“I spent a lot of time looking at how inspections could become smarter, more efficient and fulfil the needs of leasing companies that are changing the way they remarket vehicles."

He explained: “I looked at a lot of different solutions but the one that stood out was Pave for several reasons. Number one is the people that developed it are automotive people and they absolutely get the requirements.”

Social distancing laws and reduced travel has created new challenges for the remarketing sector, especially when it comes to completing field-based inspections.

Blakemore says that the move to digital remarketing had already started to gather pace but the pandemic has only acted to fast-track this trend.

He said: “The leasing company can send the driver the inspection request 30 days out with a link in a text message that they open in their browser that connects to their camera.

“It then guides them around the vehicle to take 13 pictures, with an overlay on each shot to help them capture images correctly.

“The system then creates a condition report, identifying any damage, the repair method and it’ll give the vehicle a grade.”

A quick check of the report is then carried out by a team of field-based inspectors which Blakemore says give Pave 90% accuracy – much higher than the 60-70% accuracy achieved when he used field-based inspectors alone.

He also says that it can prove useful to fleet decision-makers wanting company car drivers to update them on their vehicle’s condition and for monitoring grey fleet vehicles.

Early feedback has been “incredibly positive”, according to Blakemore, with many commenting on the simplicity, speed and ease of the software.

“We can offer fleet and remarketing decision-makers the latest in automotive solutions,” he said. “Our AI-based real-time inspection software is just one example of how we can develop efficiencies and save them time and money.

“Remarketers and dealerships have had to adapt, push through and survive the pandemic and Pave offers such an opportunity to continue to operate." efficiently.”