Toyota GB said it was the highest ranked automotive brand in the latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKSCI), produced by the Institute of Customer Service.
A 1.4-point increase in its score since 2016 had seen it climb 26 places to equal 24th overall.
Go deeper with GlobalData
"It is great to be figuring among some of Britain's most familiar and best-respected business names, delivering the kind of service that people value and trust," said Richard Balshaw, customer service director.
"Toyota recently joined the Institute of Customer Service and we believe it can help us define more accurately what great customer service is and give us a forum where we can share experiences and discuss issues with other leading businesses."
The national sales company said it had made some significant changes to its customer service operations, aimed at providing customers with prompt, accurate and helpful responses to their enquiries, whatever methods they use to get in touch. A new internal system has been set up that provides an 'always-on' link between the national retailer network and head office, helping provide answers to product, technical and other queries with least delay.
In 2016 the company brought its front line customer service operation in-house.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalData"This might have been seen as an unusual move, as these functions are usually handled by partner businesses, but we knew that we had the knowledge and resources here to deal immediately with at least two thirds of the enquiries we receive. In fact our customer relations team have more than 330 years' experience between them," said Balshaw.
Customer-facing services are also being upgraded, including improvements to the live chat service on the website.
The Institute of Customer Service helps companies achieve tangible business benefits through excellent customer service. Published biannually, the UK CSI is the national measure of UK customer satisfaction. It rates customer satisfaction at a national, sector and organisational level across over 250 organisations and 13 sectors, incorporating the views of 10,000 consumers. Thirty different considerations – such as staff professionalism, quality and efficiency, and complaint handling – are factored into the results.
It is based on a six-monthly online survey of consumers which is demographically representative of the UK population.
In its latest survey, the institute said customer satisfaction had increased by 0.8 points year on year and was at its highest point since January 2013. Satisfaction with complaint handling was also at its highest level. Just over one in three customer experiences take place over digital channels.
Customer effort – what they need to do to get what they want – was also going up, suggesting the basics were right, but there was more for organisations to do.
