According to Stefan Saul, Head of Sales and Product Management Service at Bosch Rexroth, in practice, maintenance technicians usually look after machines from different manufacturers and years of manufacture. Each machine has its own user interface and diagnostic menus. In future, Rexroth wants to simplify the maintenance of such heterogeneous machine parks with the Digital Service Assistant, which can be downloaded free of charge. The app uses the company's internal WLAN to access the controllers in encrypted form via WPA2. The installation effort required to use this function is manageable: the controllers must first be online via WLAN. In a second step, the data that can be read out is then defined. To ensure data security, the connection to the machine is encrypted and the app does not have write authorization.

The maintenance technician uses the app to either call up the electronic type plate of the component, scan a QR code or the individual serial number. This allows them to order the right spare part or initiate a repair order at the machine. The app also allows the operator to contact local Bosch Rexroth service specialists in the event of a fault. Geotagging is used to determine the nearest Bosch Rexroth service branches and offer them for selection. Maintenance staff can contact the drive and control system manufacturer's helpdesk directly and receive free support by telephone or Skype in the local language.

The DSA is also available as a white-label version and can be integrated as a modular component with all functions into the OEM's own service tools. This allows OEMs to integrate the functions of the DSA into their own app and, for example, link their own contact data with geotagging.

Bosch Rexroth is not alone when it comes to the service app. When asked what specifically distinguishes the Lohr-based company's approach from that of other control system manufacturers, Stefan Saul replies: "We are the only provider to offer wireless access to the fault memory, component identification and ordering as well as a local service contact bundled in just one app."