Service and Parts Business

Service Manager Bulletin
TITLE:

Volvo Cars Global VIDA Wi-Fi Service
GROUP:

NO:

ISSUING DEPARTMENT:

CAR MARKET:

00

355

Service Operations

United States and Canada

REVISIONS:

ISSUE DATE:

STATUS DATE:

Bulletin has been completely re-written

2019-02-19

2022-04-29

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“Right first time in Time”
FUTURE CHALLENGES
As car sales continue to increase, we foresee a growing capacity issue in our workshops. This is in part
due to a shift from primarily mechanical repairs to more software downloads.
Today a typical retailer may have one or two work bays designated for software download and the
rest for mechanical repairs. Going forward this will switch. Currently, VIDA diagnostics and software
downloads tie up a bay unnecessarily.
As a mandatory workshop service and as included in the Retailer Standards, VIDA Wi-Fi offers the
capability to connect to vehicles in the service drive, the work bays, and even the parking areas outside.
WiFi Introduction Video: http://volvolearning.info/vida/vida2018/vida_wifi_apr2018.html
WiFi Advantages Video: http://volvolearning.info/vida/vida2018/vida_wifi_may2018.html
Simply put, VIDA Wi-Fi offers convenience and added efficiency.
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Customer vehicles can be read out and diagnosed more quickly, without interrupting any ongoing
service work.
In many cases, software downloads may be performed in selected outdoor vehicle service parking
areas, provided there is power available for a battery maintainer at that area and is within excellent
signal range of an outdoor AP install location.
There will no longer be a need to move cars in out of your work bays. Your technicians can spend
less time moving vehicles and more time repairing them.

Produced and printed in the USA and available as an electronic document.
© 2022 VOLVO CAR USA, LLC

Service Manager Bulletin 00-355
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There will no longer be a need to connect and disconnect cables.
With less wires, you will have a cleaner and safer work area.

The Wi-Fi signal meter in VIDA can be a helpful indicator to see if a car is out of range or if there are
any major issues with the Wi-Fi services at your retailer. If the Wi-Fi signal strength status is too low
(Poor), or not available, then a wireless software download should not be attempted.
*Wi-Fi signal strength alone is not a predictor of a successful software download. Channel utilization
and interferences also have an equal if not greater affect. Please consult with your IT Professional.

For the customer, they can receive a diagnostic readout without an appointment, and get immediate
answers to any worrisome questions. They are more likely to book a follow-up appointment right then
and there.
Ultimately they will experience a smooth, quick and professional diagnostic and repair process that
builds confidence and trust.
OVERVIEW
VIDA Wi-Fi is a service developed by Volvo Cars. By design, we have created a Wi-Fi system with an
encrypted and secure handshake between SPA, CMA and future vehicles and Volvo’s backend servers.
The specially configured access points are the “gateway” that enables this connectivity. This is the
reason existing access points cannot be used.
VIDA Wi-Fi vehicles will only authenticate to a RADIUS server, located “in the cloud”, via the Volvo
Wi-Fi access points. This is for obvious security reasons. Likewise, only encrypted vehicle data will be
carried over the VIDA Wi-Fi system.
The Volvo Cars Diagnostic Wi-Fi (VCCarDW) is used in the workshop, where custom configured
access points (APs) will be strategically mounted inside and outside of your service drive areas and
the workshop. These access points will receive the signal from the vehicles and connect them to all the
VIDA clients.
*When connecting to vehicles in the Showroom for service work, the Showmode device should be
disabled.
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2022-04-29

Service Manager Bulletin 00-355
CONNECTING TO A VEHICLE
When the technician or Service Advisor slowly clicks the remote lock button (3) times, about one second
between clicks, the connectivity module in the vehicle recognizes the sequence and searches for a preconfigured access point on your network.

Once found, the vehicle will appear on all VIDA clients in the Workshop. Vehicles will remain visible
under the Connected Vehicles tab for approximately 20 minutes, or until a diagnostics session is started.
Once a technician connects to the vehicle it locks in and will show as Busy to the other VIDA users.

It may be common to see vehicles appear and disappear that are not in for service. The practice of
searching for a vehicle by clicking the lock button is strongly discouraged. This practice increases the
utilization across the access points and can diminish the Wi-Fi performance.
The last four (4) digits of the VIN are purposely hidden as an added safeguard, but also to ensure the
technician selects the correct vehicle to service. When the user clicks the Connect button, a pop-up
window will appear requesting these four digits.
*Hint – Writing the last 4 digits of the VIN, on the customer key tag, is a simple workshop process
change that will ensure whoever has the key, has the ability to read out the vehicle.

2022-04-29

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Service Manager Bulletin 00-355
Users can perform up to (5) simultaneous software downloads or diagnostic readouts with each VIDA
client.
The goal of the VIDA Wi-Fi service is to provide a predictable, stable and secure wireless environment
for the vehicles in a workshop scenario to connect to. It is intended to provide opportunities for you to
increase the efficiency of your workshop.
Every retailer should easily see the opportunities for process changes in their daily routines.
Some early adopter ideas:
1. Writing the customer’s name and last four digits on the key tag.
2. From the Service Drive, have the Service Advisor click the remote, and then text message a
technician asking them to Connect and read out the vehicle.*
3. Rearrange your daily parking areas, and designate Diagnostic and Software Download only parking
spaces. For a small investment, electrical outlets can be added to these areas to support the battery
maintainer.
4. Vehicles that are sold can have PDS software downloaded to them without interrupting the daily
work in the workshop.
5. Campaigns and recalls can be handled in a smarter way.
6. Consider these and other ideas during your VRE Construction projects.
*Be sure to always disconnect the vehicle from VIDA to prevent unwanted Wi-Fi connections and
customer concerns.
Warranty
With the implementation of the Learning and Technology fee (U.S.) and Technology Integration fee
(Canada), all costs for VIDA and the VIDA Wi Fi service have been bundled. The warranty for the
access points now falls under the manufacturer warranty for the access points, themselves. It is with
these changes, that the original Wi-Fi Service agreement is terminated.
Support
For instances where:
1- VIDA Wi-Fi is being installed and implemented for the first time or
2- Retailer wants to relocate the access points or
3- Retailer wants to expand or remove coverage area, please email the Volvo Digital Team at
[email protected]
For troubleshooting issues or poor VIDA Wi-Fi performance, please contact Volvo Dealer Support
1-800-432-6645.

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2022-04-29