There’s more to the typical roadside service call than meets the eye, says Goodyear, and it aims to smooth things out. Before, during and after service calls, tire technicians must jot down detailed notes by hand while communicating to their employers, customers, and dispatchers by phone, which can open the door to mistakes and miscommunication, and create frustrating billing issues.

Goodyear’s new Smart Tech app was developed to minimize these problems, the company says.

Available for both iPhones and Android devices, the app features buttons that technicians push to keep all parties informed of their location, activities, and progress, from the moment the call is accepted to the moment the technician returns home after having helped the customer’s truck return to service.

All necessary information – including the service call’s roll-time – is electronically and automatically sent to the customer. There’s no need for writing, memorization, or phone calls, says Goodyear, which saves time and helps eliminate expensive errors.

Through the Goodyear-Fleet HQ Tire Pix program, the app allows technicians to take photos of truck tires that were replaced, plus unit numbers and truck licence plates. These images are uploaded to a secure portal, where they can be viewed by customers.

At any time during the process, both the fleet and servicing dealer can check the status of the service call, giving both parties full transparency.