SEMA has a way of reminding everyone in the automotive industry why they got into this business in the first place. Between the custom builds, new tools, and conversations with people who also consider buying another project car a reasonable investment, there’s plenty to keep your attention. However, somewhere between admiring the fabrication work and reconsidering your choice of walking shoes, there’s also an opportunity to find solutions that can help with the work waiting back at your shop.

At SEMA 2026, ALLDATA is showcasing new Diagnostic Intelligence™, which brings artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostic guidance and repair information into one streamlined workflow. Making its SEMA debut, the solution addresses a familiar challenge for technicians: figuring out where to start when the vehicle’s symptoms don’t offer an obvious direction.

A Better Starting Point for the Next Diagnostic Challenge

As you may have encountered, a lot of vehicles arrive at your shop with an intermittent complaint, several trouble codes, and a customer who already bought the part they’re convinced will fix it. Before that box gets opened, someone still needs to verify the concern and determine whether the suspected component has anything to do with the problem.

Diagnostic Intelligence helps technicians begin that investigation by bringing AI insights, probable causes, known fixes, community posts, and links to OEM articles together through a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) or symptom search. Having those resources within reach helps technicians get to testing sooner, while the decisions about what to check and what the results mean remain in their hands.

If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t just ask a general AI tool, ALLDATA Diagnostic Intelligence is built specifically for automotive diagnostics. This new diagnostic solution connects AI-assisted guidance with relevant tests and OEM service information, helping technicians move from a possible cause to the procedures needed to investigate it. After all, seeing “the chatbot sounded pretty sure” on a repair order probably won’t reassure a customer that their vehicle is in good hands.

Supporting the People Doing the Work

For newer technicians, seeing possible causes alongside suggested tests and OEM procedures can help explain why a particular check matters. Experienced technicians benefit from easier access to relevant information, giving them more time to apply the judgment they’ve developed over years of diagnosing problems.

In a busy shop, that support can matter well beyond a single repair order. Most teams have an experienced technician who doubles as the unofficial help desk, usually while trying to finish a difficult job of their own. Giving other team members a stronger starting point can help them approach that person with more useful questions and a clearer account of what they’ve already checked. Anyone who has rebutted with, “What have you tested so far?” several times before lunch can probably appreciate the difference.

See the Bigger Picture at SEMA

While Diagnostic Intelligence is a great reason to swing by the ALLDATA booths, ALLDATA is also showcasing developments that support the work surrounding the repair. Shop Manager Pro™ enhancements, for example, include online appointment booking and a new QuickBooks® Online integration, while new features from Repair Planner™ help collision facilities strengthen repair documentation. Visitors can also explore Specifications Quick Reference, which puts commonly used vehicle specifications within easier reach in ALLDATA Repair® and ALLDATA Collision®. For shop owners walking the show, a useful question to carry into any demonstration is where the product would fit into a normal workday. Think about the jobs that hold up your schedule, the information your technicians repeatedly search for, and the tasks that keep someone at a keyboard when they could be helping a customer.

Make Time Between the Builds

Visit ALLDATA in North Hall, Booth 11145 or Upper South Hall, Booth 31061 for a Diagnostic Intelligence demonstration and a closer look at the latest solutions. You can also stop by Duralast’s Central Hall, Booth 20351 for hands-on product displays, exclusive offers, and free Duralast giveaways.

By the end of SEMA, you’ll likely have a phone full of photos, tired feet, and plenty of ideas for your shop’s next steps. While Las Vegas offers countless ways to try your luck, investing in a reliable solution that helps technicians at every skill level diagnose more efficiently puts the focus on measurable returns through time saved and improved productivity.