How to Install Flow
Visit the Google Play Store on your compatible Android tablet to install Flow.
Improvements to data and media synchronization functionality:
Visit the Google Play Store on your compatible Android tablet to install Flow.
Flow accelerates delivery of services by automotive, photography and videography professionals to service and inspect more vehicles faster, to invoice customers, and to automate key processes before, during and after servicing a vehicle.
But why the name “Flow”? Because everyone who has done the job on-the-lot knows that to rock 100 vehicles in a day, you must bring two things to overcome the gravity and inertia of business as usual at a dealership (i.e. weather, “recon constipation,” lost keys, M.I.A. vehicles, flat tires, dead batteries, yadda, yadda, yadda):
First, you gotta Hustle (with a capital H). Slow down, slack off, get side tracked or let up, and a record setting day simply can’t. Said another way, you better keep moving or the real money won’t drop.
But just as important to knocking down 100 vehicles in a day is to connect your Hustle with flow. Flow is what dealerships, when. Flow is knowing the service ready vehicles. Flow is being able to do everything to the vehicle all at once (photos, labels, status, invoice, et all) to avoid double taps. Flow is being able track your work and to bill effortlessly. Flow is synching to the cloud as you go, not after you get home at night. Flow is working smarter, not just harder every day. Flow is lot services, accelerated.
For an optimal experience with Flow, AutoUpLink Tech recommends Android tablets with the following characteristics and specifications:
Minimum version of the Android Operating System: 10.0. All other Android OS versions earlier than 9.0 are no longer supported by AutoUpLink Tech.
The Android OS and tablet must be compatible with and connected to the Google Play Store (as opposed to Amazon’s Android OS tablets).
Some users who print Buyer's Guides from Flow sporadically observe that the printed label has page margins and spacing between printed lines that result in the printed label appearing a bit too small for the 8.5" x 11" paper. While everything prints and is legible, some users prefer that the Buyer's Guide content use all the available space on the printed page. This behavior is due to how the Android OS and any third party print manager apps render the PDF when it leaves the app and transfers to a printer. You can optimize Buyer's Guide printing to avoid this behavior by purchasing and installing a third party Print Manager app called "Printer Share". Our internal testing confirmed that this app did visibly improve the printed Buyer's Guide content and alleviated the concerns related to layout on a printed page.
We strongly recommend the use of Android tablets that meet the following specifications:
Android OS versions 14 or 13
Depending on your printer brand, your tablet brand and the Android OS version installed, you will likely need to install the appropriate printer manufacturer app before printing window labels. There are numerous third party print services, including apps from major manufacturers like HP. Once installed, printing window labels is seamless.
While you can purchase any Android tablet that supports the recommended hardware specs above, AutoUpLink Tech’s testing of numerous tablet manufacturers and models identified the following “editor’s choice” manufacturers currently manufacturing Android Tablets that are compatible with the GooglePlay Store:
The following tablet models were particularly impressive and have provided a superior experience to users thus far:
And don’t forget accessories like screen protectors and cases to extend the longevity of your assets in the field (it’s rough out there!), lanyards, straps, etc.
Your credentials (username & password) to Flow are the same credentials (single sign on) that you can use to VIN Studio, IIM, DPC or AutoUpLinkUSA.
To sync / copy photos effortlessly from an external camera (i.e. DSLR or point-and-shoot camera) to the Flow app, you may need to adjust default or custom settings on your camera. Whether a camera is old or new, default factory settings on some cameras have been proven to either prevent photos from syncing to the app, to sync some photos for one vehicle to another vehicle, or to sync the correct photos out of order to the vehicle. Not cool.
Here are a few camera settings that we have found that can prevent this type of experience:
Synchronize Clocks |
The camera’s clock needs to be in sync with the tablet’s clock. And ideally, the clocks on each device would be in sync to the second. The further out of sync that the two clocks are, the higher the probability that you will experience photos syncing to the wrong vehicles in a single photo shoot. While you can correct mismatched photos manually in the app, it’s much easier to get it right the first time! Take time before photographing vehicles to synchronize clocks! |
MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) |
Media Transfer Protocol is the USB connection Setting that is required for syncing successfully between devices. If the MTP setting in not active, the option in Flow to import photos from the camera will not show as available (the app will not “see” the camera when you connect it to your tablet via USB cable). Most cameras should default with MTP active, or the cameras should automatically sense the need to use this setting when a camera connects. However, Sony is an example of a camera brand where this automatic handling was not the case, and a Sony camera user may have to activate the MTP setting on his/her camera. To activate MTP on a Sony camera, navigate the camera’s settings like: Menu —> Settings → Main Settings → USB Connect Setting. There should be three USB connection options:
"MTP" is the proper selection. |
HDR Setting |
We recommend capturing photos in "HDR" mode, which typically produces well balanced (think lighting), high definition photos. The majority of digital cameras and SmartPhones provide an optional HDR mode setting you can activate. Geek out here. |
Photo Aspect Ratio |
Photos do not need to be in a specific ratio to sync and upload. While 4:3 is the standard aspect ratio in our systems, a 3:2 photo will still be processed as is, and the system will maintain the ratio once synced. |
Photo Resolution |
Set the photo resolution to be 1600 x 1200 in your camera. It is recommended that users not take photos in a higher resolution than 1600 x 1200, since they will be resized. Why is this an issue?
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Our testing revealed that inexpensive tablets priced below $249 tend to have hardware components that do not perform admirably or don’t have important hardware components (i.e. camera, a video chip / card, etc.) that improve the user’s experience. Therefore, we strongly recommend users avoid such “low-end" or "entry level" tablet hardware from any manufacturer priced typically below $249. AutoUpLink Tech will not officially support low end tablets because issues were observed with app performance on such tablets that could not be corrected. Standard tablet hardware priced above $250 generally performs much better and users will not experience such issues.
Avoid Amazon tablets because while the OS is a derivative of Android, the Flow app will not be available in the Amazon app store, which is separate from the GooglePlay store.
Flow is compatible with any modern (i.e. currently manufactured) laser jet or laser printer for printing window labels. Any printer that the Android operating system is currently compatible with will be compatible with Flow. Therefore, you may print window labels using WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC or any other protocol that the Android OS and your printer support.
The older your existing printer, the less likely Android itself will be compatible with your existing printer, and if the OS isn't compatible with your printer then Flow will not be able to "hand off" the window label print job to your printer. AutoUpLink Tech will not support legacy printers for the Flow app, and we reserve the right to refuse to address support inquiries related to printers that are not compatible with the Android OS itself, which includes "legacy printer hardware" that is no longer manufactured or supported by its manufacturers.
AutoUpLink Tech's ongoing internal testing and field tests have found the following printers perform well both in dynamic, outdoor field environments and in a static office setting for use with the FLOW app(s):
These printers printed flawlessly (thousands of times) both window labels and work summaries from the app on-the-lot. While these are not the only printers you can purchase and use with FLOW, add these printers to your shopping list if you don't already have a preferred printer model or preferred manufacturer.
Own an Epson Printer? We have one in our office. Getting an Android tablet to print to an Epson printer is like eating a waffle in one bite. Some folks can pull it off, but the rest of us struggle. Our development team proved and verified that Epson's printing app as of March 2017 has known issues that Epson is working to address in a future release of their printing app. Just expect that label printing from Flow to an Epson printer will be imperfect until your printer manufacturer (Epson) steps up and releases a new version of their printer software.
Need help, assistance or just want to chat? SShout out to (704) 896-6141 or email support@autouplinktech.com. #SharingIsCaring