Japanese used-car marketplace GooNet has launched an AI chatbot for customers to book vehicle inspection and maintenance at any of its registered pit shops.
The bot provides information about installation work and the state of the vehicle. It’s available for both desktop and mobile users. The company says the bot minimizes contacts with people, improves work efficiency and increases operating rate of maintenance shops, which are currently facing a shortage of employees.
GooNet is owned and operated by Internet firm Proto Corporation, which was founded in 1989. The company is headquartered in Tokyo and Nagoya. It also runs a motorcycle marketplace GooBike.com, and a car workshop finder called GooPit. The company owns lifestyle and real estate businesses, but its auto businesses account for more than 90% of its total revenue.
The AI chatbot function was developed in collaboration with Nano Connect.
The auto vertical competes with Yahoo Japan’s CarView and Recruit Holdings’ CarSensor.net. All three sites are equal in terms of listings, but Proto’s increasing use of modern technology gives it an edge over competitors.
GooNet’s AI chatbot