Type or scan the device's IMEI at intake: Fixh IT automatically recognizes brand and model, fills them into the repair, and creates any missing catalog entries on its own.
In a repair shop that fixes smartphones all day long, every intake starts with the same question: what brand and model is this device? Instead of making the technician scroll through a long list of manufacturers and variants, Fixh IT lets you type or scan the device's IMEI, the 15-digit number that uniquely identifies every smartphone: as soon as the number is complete, the system recognizes it automatically and fills in the model field on the repair form by itself.
Why it matters for a repair shop
A smartphone repair lab handles dozens of different devices every day, often with several technicians working at the same time at the intake desks. Manually finding the exact brand and model in a catalog with hundreds of brand/model/variant combinations is slow and error-prone: it is easy to pick a similar but different model, for example mixing up an iPhone 13 with an iPhone 13 Pro, or two Android variants with different technical specs. A mistake at this stage affects the whole rest of the repair: a quote with the wrong price, an incompatible spare part ordered, a fault diagnosis set on the wrong model. IMEI reading drastically reduces this risk and speeds up intake, a real advantage whenever more than one customer is waiting in the shop.
In practice
As soon as the IMEI field reaches the required 15 digits, Fixh IT automatically queries an external device recognition service and, if a match is found, immediately updates the selected brand and model in the repair form. The lookup does not start earlier: while the number is incomplete, the model field stays empty or manually editable, so no unnecessary lookup is triggered while the IMEI is still being typed.
An important detail for whoever manages the device catalog: if the recognition service returns a brand or model that is not yet in Fixh IT's records, the system creates them automatically on the spot, with nobody having to add them manually before the repair can be accepted. This is especially useful whenever a new model launches: the first customer who brings it to the lab does not have to wait for someone to update the catalog, because the entry is generated directly from the IMEI recognition. The system also tries to retrieve the device's release year from the data returned by the service and, if the model does not have a year on record yet, it saves it to enrich the spec sheet for later repairs of the same model.
This IMEI reading automation is not limited to creating a new repair: it is reused in the trade-in and used-device valuation section as well, so even staff who only have access to the shop module, without full lab access, can rely on the same automatic recognition to quickly identify the device being evaluated. If the IMEI is not recognized by the external service, or an invalid number is entered (anything other than 15 numeric digits), the model field remains manually selectable from the brand and model list, so the intake flow never gets stuck.
Quick guide
- Open Lab > New repair (or Shop > Trade-in for a used-device valuation).
- Place the cursor in the IMEI field and scan the code with a barcode reader connected to the PC, if your intake desk has one.
- Otherwise, manually type the 15 digits printed on the original box, on the back of the device, or by dialing *#06# on the phone's keypad.
- Wait a moment: the automatic lookup only starts once the 15th digit is entered.
- Check the brand and model proposed automatically, especially when similar variants of the same device exist.
- If the IMEI is not recognized, select brand and model manually from the list.
- Complete the intake form with the remaining repair details (accessories, cosmetic condition, reported fault).
Real use cases
Busy Saturday morning, a queue in the shop: the technician at the intake desk scans the IMEI with a desktop barcode reader instead of manually scrolling the brand and model list while the customer waits, saving precious seconds on every intake and shortening the queue.
A customer brings in a smartphone model that launched just days ago, not yet in the shop's catalog: thanks to IMEI reading, the brand and model are created automatically in the device records at the moment of intake, without the technician having to stop and add them manually before continuing with the repair.
In the trade-in section, a junior staff member with access limited to the shop module only evaluates an incoming device: scanning the IMEI immediately gives the correct brand and model for the valuation, without needing to ask a colleague with lab access for help.
Tips and best practices
If your intake desk handles many devices a day, it is worth getting a barcode reader configured as a USB keyboard: scanning the IMEI code printed on the box or the device label avoids typing mistakes and further speeds up intake. Even when automatic recognition proposes a model, always take a moment to double-check it on screen before confirming, especially between Pro, Max or Plus variants of the same smartphone, which can have different spare parts and repair prices. If the customer does not have the original box, remind them the IMEI can be found by dialing *#06# on the phone's keypad or in the system settings, under device information.
Common mistakes to avoid
A frequent mistake is confusing the IMEI with the device's serial number: they are two different codes, and only the IMEI, made of 15 numeric digits, triggers automatic recognition. Typing the number with spaces, dashes or letters prevents recognition, because the system requires exactly 15 consecutive numeric digits. Another common mistake is confirming the proposed model without checking it, risking working through the entire repair on a quote or spare part meant for a different variant. Finally, do not rely on IMEI reading for tablets, PCs or other devices without an IMEI: for these, manual selection of brand and model from the list is still required.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if the IMEI typed in is not complete yet? Automatic recognition only triggers once all 15 digits are entered: while the number is incomplete, the model field stays empty or manually editable.
Does it also work for tablets, PCs or other devices without an IMEI? Automatic recognition relies on the IMEI, available on smartphones; for devices without an IMEI you can still select brand and model manually from the list.
Can I correct the model if automatic recognition gets it wrong? Yes, the field always remains editable: you can overwrite the proposed model by selecting a different one from the brand and model list.
What happens if I bring in a model that just launched and is not in the catalog yet? If the recognition service returns a brand and model, Fixh IT creates them automatically in the device records, with no need to add them manually before accepting the repair.
Does IMEI reading also work for trade-in valuations? Yes, the same automation is available in the trade-in section too, useful even for staff who only have access to the shop module.
Do I need an internet connection for automatic recognition? Yes, the system queries an external device recognition service: without a connection the automatic lookup cannot run, and only manual selection remains available.
