Anyline, a global leader in AI-powered mobile data capture, is disrupting industries by enabling instant scanning of everyday data with smartphones.

In an era where data is king, Vienna-based Anyline aims to carve out a significant niche, transforming everyday data capture into a seamless, mobile-first experience. What began as a computer vision research project, exploring the intricate ways machines could ‘see and interpret the world’, has blossomed into a global commercial platform.

This evolution was driven by a clear recognition of how urgently businesses across various sectors needed reliable, efficient and mobile-first data capture solutions. Anyline’s innovative approach now empowers frontline workers across diverse industries, from the complexities of logistics and the precision of manufacturing to the dynamic environments of retail and public safety and, notably, the high-stakes world of the automotive sector.

“Anyline was founded with the vision of making everyday data – like barcodes, serial numbers, IDs and tyre codes – instantly scannable using nothing more than a smartphone,” explained Peio Elustondo, VP of Inside Sales and Growth Marketing at Anyline. “We quickly saw how urgently businesses needed reliable, mobile-first data capture. The demand was undeniable, and our technology provided a straightforward, scalable answer.”

The company’s advanced AI-powered technology is now extensively deployed in over 100 countries, serving a distinguished roster of leading brands such as Discount Tyre, a giant in the automotive aftermarket; PepsiCo, a global food and beverage leader and IBM, a technology and consulting powerhouse. Elustondo highlighted their core mission, which remains steadfast despite their expansive growth, “Whether it’s helping technicians inspect tyres, retailers manage inventory or police verify vehicle data, our mission remains the same: to empower frontline workers with smart, scalable technology that makes everyday tasks faster, more accurate and more efficient. We believe in putting powerful tools directly into the hands of those on the ground, enabling them to work smarter, not harder.”

Anyline’s global footprint and tangible impact speak volumes, with millions of scans performed each month and a continuously expanding ecosystem of enterprise partners who place their trust in its software to digitise critical operations in the field, at the point of action.

REVOLUTIONISING TYRE INSPECTIONS WITH TIREBUDDY

One of Anyline’s most impactful and strategically significant innovations in the automotive space is TireBuddy, a dedicated mobile application meticulously designed to streamline the often-cumbersome process of tyre inspections. Traditional manual methods, which have long been the industry standard, are frequently plagued by inconsistencies, subjective interpretations and outright errors. These issues present a significant and persistent challenge for businesses striving for efficiency and accuracy.

“Tyre inspections are often manual, time-consuming and prone to errors – from misreading DOT codes to inconsistent tread depth checks,” Elustondo noted, painting a clear picture of the industry’s struggle and underscoring the dual nature of the problem. “The challenge is not only speed but also standardisation. Without reliable digital tools, even experienced technicians can struggle to deliver consistent results, especially under pressure or in high-volume environments.”

TireBuddy directly and comprehensively addresses these pain points, bringing powerful, AI-driven capabilities directly to the workshop floor, all without the need for expensive, dedicated hardware.

“It was built specifically for the needs of independent tyre dealers and service teams who want to modernise their workflows without investing in costly hardware or infrastructure,” Elustondo stated, highlighting the app’s accessibility and cost-effectiveness. The app empowers technicians to effortlessly scan and capture crucial data points such as DOT codes, tyre size, brand and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) instantly.

Furthermore, TireBuddy provides precise tread depth measurements through a guided mobile workflow, ensuring that tyre health is assessed consistently and accurately, eliminating the need for traditional, often inaccurate, physical gauges. Remarkably, all of this critical data capture and verification happens in under a minute per tyre, with the results being rigorously AI-verified for unparalleled accuracy and reliability.

“All of this happens in under a minute per tyre and the results are AI-verified for accuracy and reliability,” Elustondo confirmed, emphasising the speed and precision that define TireBuddy.

He then explained the broader and more profound benefits that extend far beyond mere operational efficiency, “Beyond just speed and convenience, the true value of TireBuddy lies in what it unlocks. It gives technicians a digital record of each tyre’s condition, streamlines compliance documentation and enables more transparent conversations with customers about when a tyre truly needs to be replaced. This boosts customer trust and opens the door to more confident service recommendations.”

This digital record not only enhances internal record-keeping but also serves as a powerful tool for customer education, allowing technicians to visually demonstrate wear and tear and clearly justify service recommendations, thereby fostering greater confidence and loyalty. Because TireBuddy is mobile-based and cloud-connected, it also integrates seamlessly into existing backend systems – whether those are inventory management platforms, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools or point-of-sale systems. For businesses, this translates into a cascade of benefits, superior data quality, a significant reduction in manual errors and enhanced overall efficiency across their entire operational spectrum. Ultimately, TireBuddy empowers tyre shops of all sizes, from small independent garages to large chains, to offer a more modern, professional and data-driven customer experience – a capability that is fast becoming essential in today’s increasingly competitive and digitised service landscape.

ACCURACY AND IMPACT ACROSS INDUSTRIES

Anyline claims its AI-powered visual inspection offers a significant and demonstrable leap in consistency and reliability when compared to traditional manual methods. The inherent variability in human performance, particularly in repetitive and detailed tasks, often leads to discrepancies.

“Manual inspections often vary from technician to technician, especially when it comes to tasks like reading DOT codes or estimating tread depth. Our technology standardises these processes, capturing data instantly and removing the risk of human error, typos or misinterpretation. This means every inspection, regardless of who performs it, adheres to the same high standard of accuracy,” said Elustondo.

While acknowledging that real-world factors such as challenging lighting conditions or extreme tyre wear can influence accuracy, he assured that “our tools are continuously trained and tested on a wide range of conditions to ensure performance is reliable in the environments where they’re used most. The result is not only faster inspections, but repeatable, verifiable outcomes that technicians and service managers can trust implicitly.”

The profound impact of solutions like TireBuddy is clearly evident in Anyline’s impressive client base, which spans a wide array of automotive industry players, including leading automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), extensive aftersales networks and crucial logistics providers. One of their most significant and long-standing partners is Discount Tyre, which stands as the largest independent tyre and wheel retailer in the US.

Discount Tyre leverages Anyline’s cutting-edge technology to streamline their tyre inspection processes and digitise key vehicle data across their vast service network, significantly enhancing their operational efficiency and customer service.

“Our ability to serve both independent dealers and enterprise-scale players is a key strength. Whether it’s through our TireBuddy app or via custom integrations using the Anyline SDK, we help clients bring mobile inspection capabilities directly into the hands of technicians – no matter the size or complexity of their operation. This flexibility ensures that businesses of all scales can benefit from our advanced AI,” averred Elustondo, highlighting Anyline’s versatile approach.

Beyond the automotive sector, Anyline’s solutions are also used by government agencies for vehicle data verification, rental fleets for efficient vehicle check-ins and commercial vehicle operators seeking to improve safety, compliance and overall operational efficiency through AI-driven inspections. This broad applicability underscores the universal need for accurate, mobile data capture.

A GLOBAL FOOTPRINT AND FUTURE VISION

Anyline’s global reach extends significantly to India, a market Elustondo described as “important for us – both in terms of talent and innovation partnerships.”

He highlighted a particularly significant collaboration that exemplifies Anyline’s impact in the region: a partnership with Tata Power Delhi Distribution (Tata Power-DDL). Through this collaboration, Anyline launched an industry-first mobile meter reading solution utilising OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and AI-powered anti-spoofing technology. This innovative solution was deployed across North Delhi, dramatically improving billing accuracy, reducing non-technical losses and streamlining field operations for an astounding 1.9 million metres.

“That collaboration showcased how AI and mobile data capture can solve real-world infrastructure challenges at scale,” Elustondo added, pointing to the measurable impact on operational efficiency and data quality. This project marked a pivotal moment, being the first time Tata Power-DDL had adopted mobile OCR for utility meter reading, demonstrating a clear shift towards digital transformation in critical infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Anyline remains steadfastly committed to its software-first approach, a strategic decision that deliberately avoids the need for specialised, proprietary hardware.

“Our focus is on delivering AI-powered software solutions that run seamlessly on everyday mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This software-first approach eliminates the need for specialised hardware, making our technology far more accessible, scalable and cost-effective for users around the world. It means businesses don’t have to invest in new, expensive equipment; they can leverage the devices their teams already use, significantly lowering the barrier to adoption,” Elustondo affirmed.

This philosophy ensures that Anyline’s solutions are not just technologically advanced but also practically viable for a wide range of businesses globally.

The company’s future plans involve a continuous and ambitious expansion of its AI-powered capabilities specifically tailored for the automotive industry. “Expect more integrations, real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance features – all accessible via mobile,” Elustondo revealed, hinting at a future where vehicle maintenance is more proactive and data-driven. These advancements promise to further empower technicians with instant insights, enabling them to identify potential issues before they escalate and provide even more precise recommendations to customers.

The company shared that TireBuddy, in particular, stands as a powerful testament to its responsiveness to genuine industry needs and its ability to rapidly develop and deploy effective solutions.

“One development we are especially proud of is TireBuddy. It was built in direct response to feedback from the field, where independent dealers and service teams told us they needed a faster, more accurate way to assess tyre health without investing in expensive equipment or retraining their teams. We listened and we delivered,” Elustondo stated.

The app’s success has been resounding, with positive feedback echoing across the industry. “The response so far has been incredibly positive. Dealers are telling us it is improving the professionalism of their service while also reducing the friction that often comes with inspection-based upselling. It transforms a traditionally manual process – DOT code reading, tread depth measurement, VIN capture – into a digital workflow that’s intuitive, consistent and verifiable. It helps technicians provide clearer documentation, make more confident recommendations and ultimately earn greater trust from customers,” Elustondo said.

He envisions TireBuddy as far more than just a single product: “We see TireBuddy not just as a product, but as the foundation of a broader ecosystem of AI-powered tools designed to support the future of vehicle service – where data, transparency and customer trust take centre stage. This is about building a more efficient, reliable and customer-centric automotive service industry for tomorrow.” 

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Yokohama Rubber has established a new research and development centre in Hangzhou, China, as the Japanese tyre maker seeks to strengthen localised product development and speed up response times in the Chinese market.

The new facility, named Yokohama China Technical Center, began operations in May within the company’s new passenger car tyre plant in Hangzhou, which started production in November 2025.

The company said the centre would enable the local development of products specifically for the Chinese market, from initial research through to completion, helping to accelerate product launches and improve responsiveness to regional demand.

The centre will consolidate R&D functions for Yokohama Rubber’s tyre and multiple business divisions in China, while expanding engineering staff and testing facilities. Its activities will include tyre development, raw material analysis and evaluation, supplier audits, and mould drawing preparation.

Yokohama Rubber said the new operation would also support research into new raw materials and the development of local suppliers in China.

The company currently operates tyre plants in Hangzhou and Suzhou, alongside multiple business plants in Hangzhou and Weifang.

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Chhattisgarh-based technology company Aarika Innovation has introduced KoolWheel, an automated tyre water spray cooling system manufactured in India.

The product is designed for freight vehicles and school buses to manage tyre overheating caused by road surface temperatures.

The system uses IR (infrared) temperature sensors, a 5-bar pump and solenoid valves to spray a mist on tyres when temperatures exceed a threshold. The hardware operates on a 12V setup and includes a controller that requires no driver intervention. Dashboard indicators and buzzers provide alerts regarding system status and temperature levels.

The company has introduced two variants of the product for KoolWheel Freight, which is designed for trucks, trailers and multi-axle vehicles, covering up to 22 tyres across six axles. And KoolWheel SchoolSafe, which is developed for school buses and coaches, featuring a 50-litre stainless steel tank and an automatic shutoff to prevent battery drain.

The company states the system can reduce tyre temperatures by up to 25deg Celsius and extend tyre life by up to 35 percent. The technology is intended to reduce the risk of blowouts and maintenance costs for fleet operators. The product is currently available in markets including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana.

Swayam Agarwal, Founder, Aarika Innovation, said, “KoolWheel has been created to solve a very real problem faced by Indian transporters and school bus operators every day. Tyre overheating is not just a maintenance issue; it directly impacts road safety, operating costs, and fleet reliability. With KoolWheel, our aim is to offer an affordable, intelligent, and Made-in-India solution that helps fleets run safer, longer, and more efficiently.”

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European tyre major Pirelli is starting production of its Cyber Tyre technology at its plant in Georgia. The facility produces tyres for the US market, including products for the motorsport segment.

The announcement occurred during the SelectUSA Investment Summit. Cyber Tyre is a system that collects data from sensors embedded in tyres. This data is processed through software and algorithms to communicate with vehicle electronics. The system is intended to integrate with driving systems to provide functionalities for mobility and safety.

Pirelli is also introducing the Modular Integrated Robotised System (MIRS) at the factory. This manufacturing process uses robots to manage productivity and quality. The system creates a link between product design and application. This update is intended to increase the production capacity of the site.

The Georgia plant has operated for over two decades and includes a research and development centre. The facility uses natural rubber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

Claudio Zanardo, CEO of Pirelli North America, said, “The start of Cyber Tyre production in our Rome, Georgia plant is a significant milestone for Pirelli in this country. It reflects our commitment to bringing advanced technologies like Cyber Tyre closer to the market, further strengthening our industrial footprint and innovation capabilities in the United States.”

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The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. developed a proprietary tyre mould design support system in April 2026, integrating finite element method (FEM) simulations and the company’s own artificial intelligence technology. This new tool is designed to augment the expertise of development personnel, enabling even less experienced staff to efficiently design moulds. It achieves this by providing data derived from numerous virtual experiments, which clarify how different mould design factors influence tyre characteristics.

The system accelerates mould development, lowers costs and minimises the rework typically associated with realising new designs. Furthermore, by fostering a multi-perspective understanding of the links between mould design elements and tyre performance, the tool equips Yokohama Rubber’s developers with fresh insights. These discoveries are expected to aid in creating tyres capable of achieving higher performance levels.

Developed under Yokohama Rubber’s HAICoLab AI concept launched in October 2020, the system addresses longstanding challenges. Mould design critically affects tyre traits, but traditionally understanding this relationship required expensive, time-consuming trial production and evaluations. The process also depended heavily on the tacit know-how of highly experienced staff, leading to variations in accuracy and development time based on individual expertise.

The support system resolves these issues through automated simulations and AI-based prediction and visualisation. It first generates numerous tyre FEM models with varied mould shapes and calculates their characteristics in a virtual space. These results train an AI surrogate model that instantly predicts design factor-performance relationships. By applying explainable AI technologies like SHAP and Partial Dependence Plots, the company’s developers can quantitatively visualise each factor’s impact, easily determining necessary adjustments to achieve targeted tyre characteristics.

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