About the company
TOYOTA CONIQ Alpha, Inc. is a group company of Toyota Motor Corporation that provides digital support at Toyota car dealerships. In addition to supplying tools for all sales and business activities, the company digitizes car catalogs, procures and manages iPads, supports implementation, and provides a helpdesk service.
Empowering Sustainability
As part of a global project to go paperless, Toyota embarked on an ambitious project to replace paper-based catalogs with digital Smart Catalogs across its dealerships in Japan. This shift aimed to empower over 30,000 sales representatives with easy-to-use digital tools, enabling them to access, present, and interact with catalogs seamlessly.
The goal was to cease all paper catalog production and usage by January 2025, a move projected to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 11,000 tons annually (according to TOYOTA CONIQ Alpha, Inc. research). After using paper catalogs for years, this was an essential step towards adopting further SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and the broader mission of achieving carbon neutrality.
The Challenge
During the catalog digitization, TOYOTA CONIQ Alpha had several vital requirements to fulfill. Dealership sales staff had to manage and view a large number of PDF files and access the updated catalogs at any time. Features like annotating, highlighting, and editing directly within the digital catalogs were essential for maintaining high standards in customer presentations and interactions.
Also, TOYOTA CONIQ Alpha sought software that would allow sales reps to access many PDF files in the cloud and access vehicle presentations in PDF format. The requirements also included advanced editing capabilities within an easy-to-use interface.
The Solution
After reviewing several options, PDF Expert was determined to be the perfect solution. TOYOTA CONIQ Alpha decided to adopt it for its light interface, powerful toolset, and compatibility with cloud services.
- Enhanced Vehicle Presentation: PDF Expert enabled sales representatives to open and edit PDF catalogs effortlessly on their iPads, allowing for quick navigation between pages, side-by-side model comparisons, and high-quality presentations.
- Real-Time Catalog Updates: Through integration with the SharePoint system, staff had instant access to the most recent catalog versions, ensuring they were always equipped with up-to-date information during customer interactions.
- Streamlined Customer Meetings: PDF Expert’s powerful annotation tools allowed sales reps to take notes, highlight important sections, and easily track customer questions and concerns. This functionality significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of customer meetings.
“The working process became efficient as you do not have to look for the paper catalog in the back during business meetings with the customer.”
Sales representative of Toyota dealership, Japan
“By using the highlighting function [in PDF Expert]… it became easier and faster to recall the previous conversation and comments with the customer.”
Sales representative of Toyota dealership, Japan
Results and Future Outlook
The transition to digital Smart Catalogs, powered by PDF Expert, has revolutionized the way Toyota dealership sales representatives engage with customers. Eliminating paper catalogs not only supports Toyota’s environmental sustainability goals but also enhances the overall customer experience by enabling more efficient and informed interactions.
In the initial phase, 60% of dealership staff were equipped with Smart Catalogs, with full-scale implementation planned by the end of 2024. This successful partnership underscores the transformative potential of PDF Expert in driving digital innovation and operational efficiency in large-scale enterprises.