Toyota Canada Launches Online Video Chat to Make Buying a Vehicle More Seamless for Canadians

Toronto, July 9, 2020 – For most Canadians, shopping for a vehicle involves several steps, including finding the right vehicle, deciding on options and selecting a payment plan. But, with more and more consumers now choosing to browse for vehicles online, some Canadian companies have responded to this demand by making the experience even better.

One example of this is Easy Shop Video Chat, a new tool Toyota Canada is adding to Toyota.ca. The feature allows customers who are shopping online for a new vehicle to speak face-to-face with a product advisor at the Toyota Dealer of their choice, making it easier for them to control exactly how and where they shop for a new Toyota.

Over the past few years, Toyota Canada has introduced many online tools to serve a steadily increasing number of Canadians interested in building and pricing their new vehicle via the company’s websites (Toyota.ca and ShopToyota.ca). 

One of its more recent innovative service offerings is Toyota Easy Shop – a new platform of tools launched on its websites in March with the help of Rapid RTC, a Canadian tech company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Toyota has expanded the Easy Shop offering several times since then, but the new video chat feature takes the online experience to a whole new level.

Easy Shop Video Chat lets a customer turn a text chat into a one-way or two-way video chat with a product advisor at any time. With the video component active, a product advisor can share their screen with a shopper. Together, they can build and price a vehicle, fill out forms and submit a request for financing.

The product advisor can also transfer the Easy Shop Video Chat from their desktop computer to their phone to take the customer on a virtual tour of the showroom or vehicle lot. The advisor can even offer a live, interactive walk-around to allow the customer to explore vehicles and ask questions about their features and specifications.

“Salespeople are trained experts. They’re the most qualified to answer shoppers’ product and pricing related questions and deliver a positive buying experience – both in the showroom and online,” said Glen Demetrioff, President & CEO of RAPID RTC. “Part of supporting our partners in meeting ever-evolving buyer expectations is creating the best possible customer experience online, where most buyers are conducting research and narrowing their choices. Nothing compares to the physical showroom experience, but when footfall traffic is low or when a salesperson is between appointments, their next best lead is that engaged online shopper. With RAPID RTC Live Dealer’s [Easy Shop Video Chat’s] integrated capabilities, a salesperson can walk customers through the entire purchase journey online – and deliver nearly the same experience digitally as they do in person.” 
 
As online shopping continues to grow in popularity, Canadians can now shop for their new Toyota coupe, sedan, hatch, crossover, SUV, minivan or pick-up truck from the comfort of their computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

“There are many reasons a person may prefer to shop for a vehicle online, and the better we can make that experience, the happier our customers will be,” said Martin Gilbert, Director of Corporate Strategy and Innovation at Toyota Canada. “We’re excited that we’re able to enhance our virtual showrooms with this important new feature. Our dealers are the best in the industry, and our product advisors at those dealers are the people best able to help our customers decide which Toyota is right for them. Tools like Toyota Easy Shop Video Chat allow us to better connect our customers with those product experts, wherever they happen to be.”

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over five million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI’s head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid models.

About RAPID RTC

RAPID RTC is a multinational digital communications and technology company that specializes in automotive, serving more than 3,000 retail and manufacturing clients around the globe. We focus on improving businesses’ digital lead management practices by connecting online customers to relevant advisors in real-time. Our brand promise is to bring value to our clients by placing their customers’ digital experience at the core of everything we do. RAPID RTC is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, with offices in Toronto, Canada; Paris, France; London, U.K; Dallas, U.S.A. and is part of the DMT Group of companies. DMT Group was founded in 1996 and is privately held. 

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For more information, please contact:

David Shum
Toyota Canada Inc.
david_shum@toyota.ca

Michelle Kliment
RAPID RTC
mkliment@rapidrtc.com
204-291-5792