New technology aims to support Toyota dealers' handovers for online orders

A software enhancement for the moDel logistics platform has gone live with Toyota and Lexus GB to support their dealers with handovers to buyers using the brands' direct-to-consumer online sales channel.

Toyota GB is a supporter of moDel for the supply and delivery of the majority of its new vehicles, mandating its use within its SLAs (Service Level Agreements) across its retailer network, and now a showroom inspection module, Inspection Process, has been added for use with direct online sales from the Toyota and Lexus websites where there is no need for delivery agents or a collection and delivery form.

Once the buyer comes to a Toyota or Lexus showroom for the handover, their details will be captured by showroom staff using the app and feed into the moDel platform where the retailer and the OEM can access them, making the process paperless and more accurate.

Jess Hodgkiss, manager, direct sales support at Toyota GB (pictured), said the addition of the new Inspection Process module within moDel would streamline the handover process for direct sales, with customers, having sourced and ordered their vehicles online, coming to showrooms to complete the sale.

“Having accurate handover and delivery data is of paramount importance to us which is why we use moDel for the majority of our sales. Inspection Process gives us the same level of accuracy with direct online sales as moDel delivers at physical handovers at customers’ premises.

“We are only a couple of months into this process and so far, only a relatively small number of vehicles have gone through it. But it is working well for us with quicker handovers and a better experience for our customers.

“We are currently exploring other capabilities within moDel for future applications,” she added.

In 2022, moDel recorded 866,000 vehicle handovers, up 10% year-on-year, despite the ongoing global shortage of semi-conductors which has led to constrained new vehicle supply.

Michael Terry, head of commercial - Logistics - at Ebbon Automotive, said: “Inspection Process is ideal for increasing the accuracy of static vehicle handovers and inspections such as showroom handovers, and works equally well for both retail and fleet customers. We are currently rolling it out across our customer base."