US start-up PartPic offers users an easy way to find and order the miscellaneous mechanical parts they need to replace.
Rather than physically searching for obscure car parts or mechanical components at brick-and-mortar suppliers or scouring online catalogues, PartPic allows users to search for the part by inputting photographs they take of it with their smartphones.
Partpic combines its own image-recognition software with a centralised digital database of supplier catalogues to make parts quickly and easily searchable via smartphone, and match users with suppliers from whom they can order the part.
The image recognition software can be easily integrated into suppliers' existing Web sites or applications, says PartPic, and it works on unmarked parts as well as those that are labelled or barcoded.
The service aims to not only save customers time and effort in sourcing parts, but improve suppliers' efficiency and reduce their expenditure arising from incorrect orders.
"Incorrect orders can account for up to 9% of a company's yearly revenue loss, and are largely due to communication errors at purchase," says PartPic.
Currently in beta phase, PartPic's algorithms are correct with their first match about 80% of the time, according to Wired.
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