Toyota presents new service tool T-Stream in collaboration with Microsoft

“We see digital transformation as a strategic course to make Toyota the leader in the European service market,” says Joakim Plate, Director, Service Market, Toyota Material Handling Europe. “And far from being a mere technology provider, Microsoft is our close collaborator. The result is a solution that will empower employees, increase customer value and satisfaction, and help us to achieve the number-one position in the market.”

Toyota Material Handling Europe worked with Microsoft for advisory and development services in the creation of T-Stream, a brand-new all-in-one solution. Built on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, it runs on Windows, utilises Bing Maps and GPS systems to provide technicans with an improved, proactive service that can carry out maintence for customers before breakdowns occur. New functionalities include an improved planner, parts finder, fleet management, picture functionality, integration with other applications, and technical documentation. They now have all the right information at the right time, wherever they are, whether it’s an overview of service tasks or technical information, resulting in more confident technicians. Not only can they plan their work more efficiently, but the back office can also offer better support more quickly, benefitting both the technicians and the customers.

“What Toyota Material Handling Europe has developed with T-Stream is one of the most impactful examples of unlocking the power of data and taking action on it,” shared Çağlayan Arkan, GM Worldwide Manufacturing, Microsoft. “Field technicans who are armed with real-time insights can ensure factory equipment operates more predictably and efficiently, which results in lower repair costs and Toyota being able to service equipment before a customer even knows they need it.”

With the first release replacing the existing EASY service platform, new updates of the tool are planned over the next few months and years. Working with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform also allows for new features in a faster and smarter way.

The first release is only a part of Toyota’s digitalisation journey. In the future, Toyota Material Handling Europe will be able to change its business model completely in function of the customer needs, to advise and support them in the best way they can thanks to data provided by telematics. Connected trucks will also allow Toyota to move towards predictive service, repairing trucks before anything can happen, aiming for zero breakdowns.