Adding videos and images

(If enabled)

'Inspection Cam' and 'Visual MPI' are integrated into Technician Inspection and allow the Technician or other authorized user to add images and videos to the inspection, concern or recommendation . The Service Advisor can view the attachments when reviewing the recommendations, and the customer can view them from either the MPI PDF or the Digital MPI message (if Digital MPI is enabled at your dealership).

Inspection Cam can only be used for adding images. Visual MPI can be used to add both videos and images.

Note: Inspection Cam uses any camera that is integrated with the user's current device (i.e. tablet, laptop or desktop). Visual MPI uses the camera in either the current device or a separate mobile device. In both cases, no additional app is required.

 

Note: Inspection Cam is not available for inspection-level media.

To add an image to the inspection item using the camera in the current device, open the associated inspection window i.e. click on the line item, or click a red or yellow condition code.

Click the "Camera" icon to open an Inspection Cam window.

On the camera window:

  1. Click "Camera View" to change which camera you are using (if more than one camera is available on the device).
  2. To take a picture, position your camera shot then click "Capture". You can have a maximum of five images associated with the inspection line.
  3. For each picture taken, a thumbnail appears in the photo gallery. Click a thumbnail to expand the image. You will be able to link it to a recommendation or delete it, as shown next.

  1. To return to 'capture' mode at any time, click "Camera"
  2. Click "Delete" to delete the image.
  3. (Optional on this window) To link the image to a specific recommendation, click "Select Recommendation" . The current recommendations for this inspection item appear in a list. Select the appropriate recommendation for the image. Note that you can also link an image to a recommendation in the inspection window as described later.
  4. Click another thumbnail to work with that image.

When you are finished, click "x" at the top to close the camera window. The images now appear in the inspection window.

 

To add a video or image to the overall MPI, use the QR code at the top of the Inspection tab as described in Adding Inspection-Level Media. It will not be associated with a specific recommendation.

To add a video or image to an inspection item using Visual MPI, use the QR Code that appears when a red or yellow condition code is selected as shown below. The QR code is unique to the inspection item.

The QR code can either be scanned from a separate mobile device in order to capture and upload media from that device, or it can be used to add media from the current device .


A separate mobile device can be used to capture the video or image then upload it. The mobile device’s camera can generally be used so no separate app is needed.

Note: If using the Camera app to scan the QR code, the following software versions are fully supported: iOS 11 or later; Android 9.0 or later. It may be necessary to enable the Camera app for QR scanning in the device’s Settings.

To start the capture:

  1. Scan the QR code using the mobile device’s Camera app (or other QR scanner app).

  1. After scanning the code, tap Open “dealer-fx.com” in Safari at the top of the Camera app screen. This opens the Visual MPI Upload Media window.



    For easy reference, it shows the MPI header information (e.g. RO and Tag) as well as the inspection item if applicable.

  1. Tap Capture Media to see the options:

    • Photo Library - select to add an existing video or photo from this device.

    • Take Photo or Video - select to launch the Camera app (see Step 4)

    • Browse - select to add an existing video or photo from this device's files.

  1. If the Camera app is launched, take the video (it can include audio) or photo, then accept the capture (e.g. ‘Done’, ‘OK’, ‘Use Video’). This closes the Camera app and returns you to the Visual MPI Upload screen. The media file will be waiting to be uploaded:

  1. Review the video or image as needed using the Play button

    To delete and try again, use the Delete icon

  1. Tap Complete to upload the media file. Note the progress indicator:

A single media file can be a maximum of 1.5GB. An error message appears when uploading if it is larger.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you forget to tap Complete, your media file will not be uploaded, and will be overwritten by your next capture. Remember to always tap Complete first!

 

  1. To add more videos or images, tap +Add Media from the confirmation screen:

When all media files have been uploaded, simply close this window and return to Technician Inspection.

Note: Visual MPI media files are uploaded to the Cloud. Any copy kept on the device can be deleted.

 

To add videos or images from the same device you are currently using (i.e. a desktop, laptop or tablet), simply click/tap on the QR code. The Visual MPI Upload Media window opens in a separate browser tab:

Click/tap "Capture Media" to see the options available on this device:

  • Select the device's file manager to upload an existing media file.

  • For tablets, choose the Camera and/or Camcorder app to record a new video or image.

Continue to review and upload the file as described in Adding media using a mobile device

 

Recommendation-level media from both Inspection Cam and Visual MPI appear at the bottom of the Recommendation window and are added to the MPI in the same way.

  1. If the media files from Visual MPI do not immediately appear in the Recommendation window, click “Refresh”. This will always be necessary if the Recommendation window is left open while capturing and uploading.
  2. Link each media file to a recommendation using the drop-down list beneath it. Only one image or video can be linked to each recommendation.
  3. Delete any media files you don't want to keep. Those that are not linked to a recommendation still remain with the inspection item but will not appear on the MPI PDF and will not be sent with a Digital MPI (DMPI) message.
  4. Complete any further recommendation information as described in Adding recommendations then click "Save". The window closes and you can continue with the inspection.

Note: If the dealership is configured to require an image or video for 'Red' inspection items, a message appears if you try to save without one attached to each recommendation. If there are more than five recommendations, only five need to be linked.

A thumbnail of the media file and an embedded url are included on the MPI report PDF on the last page. The customer can view the image or video by clicking on it. Refer to Generating the MPI report for an example.

 

  • The first time you launch Inspection Cam or Visual MPI in the current device, you will see a message from your browser asking you to allow the application to use your device's camera. Check "Always allow" so the message does not appear each time.
  • An image or video can be added to any inspection line, even comments.
  • An inspection line can have a maximum of five images and videos. An error message appears if a sixth file is attempted. All images are not required to be linked to recommendations.
  • All Technician, Service Advisor and Dealer Administrator users can add, delete or retake images and videos prior to the inspection being in 'Ready for Processing' status.