While vehicle lifts might be stuck inside collision facilities, they are no longer required for many measurement procedures to be performed. Since the late 2010s, cutting-edge measuring systems providers have begun delivering products that allow vehicle measurements to be made precisely and efficiently from wherever a vehicle should happen to be. Measurement systems had gone ‘all-terrain.

When AccuVision-3D, Arslan Automotive Canada’s much-touted 3-D measuring system, was introduced to the North American market in June 2017, it was rightly seen as a game changer. 

The system needs no targets, lasers, arms, magnets, cables or adapters. Measurements typically take less than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The system works if the car is on a jig or bench, on the floor or on a lift in any position. It could even be used if the floors are uneven. 

As Arslan’s founder joked: “For all I care, it could be on a rotisserie, and we could still measure it!” 

This business wasn’t the only major alignment equipment provider to see the advantage of all-terrain measuring. The latest version of the Spanesi Touch electronic measuring system can measure a vehicle on any lift, frame rack, bench or on the ground. During the repair process, the Touch provides live pulling information, showing the technician straightening operations results in real-time. 

With FenderBolt, which is the latest version of the Matrix repair analysis software, the already mobile Matrix Wand Measuring System’s hardware could send back its information to a remote computer location, having uploaded it directly to the cloud. 

Since 2020, the advantages of these all-terrain solutions became increasingly apparent. As the world became averse to close contact, the ability to work outdoors, or in non-specialized areas of a business, unnecessary contact is limited. Of course, contact-free procedures also mean businesses can save on transportation and storage fees. 

As a result of this realization, many of the most significant enhancements to alignment and measuring systems from multiple providers have come from cutting down on hardware requirements and offering the possibility to work with less interpersonal interaction—and with in-house accuracy.