Internet News Canadian Tire Partners with AAIA on iSHOP initiative Online system enables consumers to diagnose mechanical problems, obtain estimates for repairs

Canadian Tire has dedicated three fully equipped service bays for the testing of iSHOP standards at its Retail City facility in Toronto, a 150,000 square-foot retail test laboratory. iSHOP is an open shop integration standard that permits computer-based products and services in an automotive service facility to operate as completely integrated system, allowing technicians to access all necessary information to complete a repair from any workstation. The service bays will be the first fully functional integrated shop environment featuring the latest service and repair tools and diagnostic equipment from iSHOP participants, including Snap-on, SPX, Vetronix, ALLDATA, Hunter and Autologic. iSHOP is the result of the Shop Integration Task Force, coordinated by AAIA’s Electronic Commerce Committee. The technology was developed by Snap-on, the Enterprise Alliance, ASA-Net in Europe and others from around the world to create a single integrated standard.

Consumers will be given access to the same estimating systems used by automotive professionals in a licensing agreement between Fixthiscar.com and automotive data supplier MOTOR Information Systems, a division of Hearst Business Publishing. Fixthiscar.com is a comprehensive, web-based software solution providing consumers with a system to diagnose mechanical problems and obtain estimates for automotive repairs. MOTOR Information Systems’ automotive guides are used by mechanics and auto repair shops throughout the world to estimate parts and labour pricing for automotive repairs. Consumers will be able to diagnose mechanical failures specific to any brand of car manufactured since 1992 and obtain precise estimates for parts and labor. Fixthiscar.com plans to launch the website during the fourth quarter, 2000.