Marc Rosone is global director of product management and marketing for Robert Bosch LLC, Automotive Service Solutions, with responsibility for the Bosch, Robinair and OTC brands. Rosone is responsible for international oversight of A/C tools and equipment. He joined the service solutions business in 1997, acquired by Bosch in 2012, and has since served in a variety of sales and product management roles within the company. Rosone earned his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. and is a member of the Auto Care Association’s Tool & Equipment committee, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
Rosone’s heavy focus on air conditioning service, special tools and equipment category expansion, and OEM warranty cost reductions as a product manager has helped secure multiple OEM endorsements resulting in Robinair standardization within every dealership across the following makes: GM, Nissan, Audi, BMW and Honda.
Shop Owner: As Bosch, what are the benefits that go along with being both a global OEM supplier and an aftermarket manufacturer?
Rosone: Bosch is in it for the long haul in that the company is dedicated to automotive, from vehicle system and component design through vehicle service needs and the training to support both. Bosch is in a strong position in the aftermarket due to having OEM level parts that are placed on all automobiles to one degree or another, and the understanding of how to service those parts and vehicle systems. For some, it may only be a part or two such as an oxygen sensor or a fuel injector. For others, it may include complete fuel delivery or braking systems. Within Bosch Automotive Aftermarket, we’re able to link service tools and equipment to parts categories to offer a technician solutions on both fronts. We can offer brake rotors and pads alongside pullers, brake service and measurement tools. Or more simply, headlights and the trim tools needed to remove body panels quickly and without damage or replacing clips. No company in the world is better positioned globally than Bosch to move forward in the automotive industry both at an OEM and aftermarket level, and it’s exciting to be a part of a dedicated and winning team.
Shop Owner: Both your Bosch and OTC brands are key players in automotive diagnostics. What is the current state of vehicle diagnostics and what is the future?
Rosone: Automobiles are becoming increasingly sophisticated in order to provide a simpler, safer and connected experience for motorists. Today’s automobile is, in reality, a computer on wheels. As vehicles continue to be more complicated and eventually autonomous, technicians and shop owners will have to follow suit in order to effectively deliver tomorrow’s shop services.
Shop owners and technicians are responsible for educating themselves and understanding new technologies for vehicle diagnosis and repair, and they’re looking for that training. Our challenge as Bosch is to provide them with the training and a user-friendly diagnostic and repair experience as the sophistication of tools and systems continues to increase. Ease of use is vital in order for shop owners to be productive and to efficiently and reliably serve their customers.
Our recent update to the Android-based OTC Encore scan tool is a prime example of how we continuously strive to provide technicians with sophisticated tools that are extremely user friendly. With the launch of Encore’s re-engineered software, Bravo 2.0, we took the existing strengths of our diagnostics programs and overhauled them. The end result is a faster, more integrated and intuitive user interface, expanded coverage, and bug fixes.
We also announced the “Diagnostics for Life” program, for Encore, providing technicians a lifetime hardware warranty as long as an active diagnostic subscription is maintained. We’ve also expanded technical service hours to make support available during the workweek and on nights and weekends, to ensure technicians have the information and support they need when servicing their customers’ vehicles.
Shop Owner: What is Bosch doing to help technicians and shop owners stay current on all of the rapid technology changes within the industry?
Rosone: Training has always been important in our industry and will continue to become even more imperative in the coming years. Remaining current and educated on new systems and equipment is an industry-wide challenge that Bosch takes seriously.
We have expanded our technical support team in the field to include training and garnering product feedback so that we’re able to implement changes on new products in order to meet and exceed expectations of shop owners and technicians.
Bosch regularly hosts training webinars and seminars to update technicians and shop owners on new systems and equipment. Part of our responsibility as a tool manufacturer is to ensure our products are being used correctly. A major part of that is providing resources that help train technicians on how to work faster and smarter using our tools. The relationship doesn’t stop when they buy from Bosch. The relationship continues until they hang it up and pass their tool on to the next generation.
