New Cat Remote Services reduce equipment diagnostics and update time to improve jobsite efficiency

Caterpillar introduces a new suite of Cat Connect technology that offers remote equipment diagnostics and software updates to reduce machine and engine downtime and increase jobsite efficiency

New Cat Remote Services include two key offerings – Remote Troubleshoot and Remote Flash – that leverage telematics data to allow Cat dealers to remotely keep customers’ equipment operating at maximum production and efficiency.

“A machine or engine not at work isn’t making money for the customer, which cuts into the company’s profitability for the job. Remote Services provide a solution to more effectively and efficiently maintain equipment,” says Herwig Peschl, Caterpillar global marketing manager. “Customers can continue to use their assets while the dealer reviews and diagnoses a fault code from the office. In many instances, if a repair is required, the dealer can then dispatch the right technician with the right parts and tools to fix the machine or engine right the first time, saving time and money.” 

Remote Troubleshoot

New Remote Troubleshoot analyzes real-time asset data, so the dealer can run diagnostics testing on the connected product and pinpoint potential issues. This saves the dealer technician travel time to the jobsite and eliminates equipment downtime during diagnosis. The machine or engine continues to do its job throughout the process, so jobsite productivity doesn’t suffer.

Once the cause of the fault code or alarm has been identified, the dealer could possibly resolve the issue remotely, saving time, money and the inconvenience to the customer’s production schedule. If a repair is necessary, dealer technicians are dispatched to the jobsite with the correct information, parts, tools and instructions to make the repair, in the shortest time possible and when it’s convenient for the customer. Remote Troubleshoot helps dealers resolve issues more quickly with less product downtime.

Remote Flash  

Remote Flash conveniently ensures Cat equipment operates with the most current version of on-board software, so the products deliver high performance, maximum efficiency and minimum downtime. This new Cat service enables remote updates to the software of a connected machine or engine, at a time convenient to the operation, without the need for a service technician to visit the jobsite.

With Remote Flash, Cat customers receive notification from their Cat dealer, or in some instances, directly from Caterpillar, when a new software update is available for a piece of equipment. Machines or engines can then be updated at the jobsite without waiting for a dealer technician to arrive and install the update. This ensures the benefits of the software updates are realized as soon as it’s convenient for the customer.

Once a customer receives the flash-file push notification for a targeted product, the authorized user simply confirms the machine or engine is ready to begin the flash, initiates the process and confirms the post-flash performance.

Currently Cat Remote Troubleshoot is available on Next Gen excavators, and Cat Remote Flash is available on Next Gen and 336F XE hydraulic excavators, M3 Series motor graders, L and M Series medium wheel loaders from the 950M to the 972 XE models, and 10 models of Oil and Gas engines. The new Remote Troubleshoot and Remote Flash work for Cat machines or engines with an on-board PLE641 or PLE742 card and telematics 2017B software or newer. More equipment will be eligible for the Remote Services offerings with future updates.