How the automotive industry can benefit from AI coaching

Hit a moving target

As car-buying criteria evolve, how can salespeople keep up with the changing market and models to effectively advise buyers?

Respect the standards … and be local

Automotive companies need to maintain global standards – but local markets face challenges aligning training programs with corporate guidelines and local demands.

Sell more than a car

Many automotive companies have long since become solution providers rather than just "car manufacturers". But is your sales force up to the challenge?

Advising customers in the face of changing needs

Advising customers on car choices has become complex with the rise of hybrids, EVs and questions about range, charging, and more. Fortunately, AI-powered automotive service advisor training enables salespeople to rapidly improve communication, address concerns, explain features, and close sales faster.

“I was surprised at how quickly we got the platform up and running. Connecting our content was a breeze and the templates provided are a game changer. ”
Head of sales enablement at a large automotive manufacturer

Sales person in a car dealership, text charts say “Vehicle Categories”, “Engine types”, “Key features”, “Financing and incentives”, “Customer needs analysis”,

Create effective training programs – on brand

Brand equity is paramount in the automotive industry, but protecting it can pose challenges in tailoring programs to local markets.

AI coaching provides unparalleled flexibility, enabling easy customization of programs while maintaining brand consistency, and swift dissemination of approved content to numerous users.

59%	40%	23%
Of buyers research online first	Increase in buyer loyalty when programs exist	Growth in car sharing per year

Computer interface to create an AI coaching program. Text on top: “Training program”, below “Create new +” and “Let AI generate the scenario”.

Powered by
Behavioral Intelligence

Retorio uses AI-powered Behavioral Intelligence to identify, predict and train winning behaviors in the context of job requirements, culture and industry.

While most coaching relies on self-reporting, our Behavioral Intelligence model focuses on actual observations by understanding behavioral cues such as facial expressions, gestures, tone of voice, and even language. It runs on scientifically validated models trained on millions of data points and is blind to factors like gender, age, and ethnicity.

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How to sell more than just cars

Manufacturers must consider infrastructure alongside electric car sales.

Beyond traditional services like insurance and warranties, dealerships must transform the buying process into an experiential journey, fostering community membership and build customer loyalty. AI coaching supports successful automotive sales teams in adapting to evolving roles.

Graphics with connected boxes titled “Car purchase”, “Insurances”, “Extended warranties”, “Customization”, “Upgrades”

Prove how effective
your training is

Forget engagement numbers, now you can measure the true impact of your training.

Engagement impact
Using the included Analytics function, you can easily verify your learners’ engagement over time.

Training impact
Measure learner behavior change, compare results to benchmarks, and assess against best practices.

Business impact
Tie training results to a metric of your choice and demonstrate real business impact.

Use Cases | AI After-Sales Training - Creating Content1

Plug in your content

You already have content you want to use? Great. Connect Retorio to your existing automotive training content.

Use Cases | AI After-Sales Training - Creating Content2

Best-practices library

Leverage Retorio's extensive expertise with a library of best practices across mobility topics, roles, and industry insights.

Use Cases | AI After-Sales Training - Creating Content3

AI generated content

Create new training material using generative AI. It is included in the platform.

Let the coaching begin!

That's it! Invite your teams to engage in personalized role plays.

Learners select an assigned role-play and begin their coaching session. Instant feedback from the AI, analyzing behavior (words, facial expressions, gestures, voice, etc.), offers practical advice for improvement based on proven successful behaviors.

Scale globally	Proven track record	Open 24 hours

What is Retorio?

Retorio is a cutting-edge AI Coaching Platform that takes learning to the next level. Retorio’s AI coach simulates typical challenges that your learners face in their career. It has assimilated knowledge from tens of thousands of professionals worldwide, enabling it to address sales, service, and leadership challenges adeptly. Retorio’s AI coach prepares learners to navigate the most challenging situations in their careers.

What use cases does Retorio cover?

Retorio's flexible AI coaching platform adapts to your specific training needs across key business functions:

AI Sales Coaching: Improve quota attainment, conversion rates, and deal sizes. Our AI coaching helps sales teams master client conversations, communicate value, handle objections, and negotiate effectively.

AI Service Coaching: Reduce Average Handling Time (AHT), boost Net Promoter Score (NPS), and increase upsells. Use AI coaching to onboard service teams faster, handle inquiries efficiently, and build stronger client rapport.

AI Leadership Coaching: Develop inspiring and effective leaders. Retorio's AI coaching focuses on enhancing communication, fostering inclusive cultures, improving problem-solving agility, and building emotional intelligence.

Is Retorio GDPR and EU AI-Act compliant?

Yes, Retorio is GDPR and EU AI-Act compliant.

Retorio's AI Coaching Platform does not fall under the prohibited AI use cases under the AI Act, Chapter II, Article 5 or any other articles.

The EU AI Act explicitly addresses the use of emotion recognition systems and social scoring classifies them as prohibited AI applications when used in certain contexts. This regulation primarily targets AI systems that attempt to infer emotional states from biometric data such as facial expressions, body language, or physiological signals and scoring systems that aim at preventing individuals from getting access to certain resources.

While detecting emotions is forbidden by the AI Act, detecting readily apparent facial expressions, such as “smiling” is explicitly exempted from the list of prohibited use cases in Article 5 of the AI Act.

Retorio ensures data privacy and security through several key measures:
* Compliance with GDPR and the EU AI Act.
* Capturing and analyzing only empirically relevant data.
* Rigorous testing and quality checks of AI models.
* Training AI on diverse and debiased datasets.
* Not using biometric data for individual recognition or emotion recognition.
* Offering optional personal data usage with anonymization available.
* Allowing users to delete all data within the system.
* Hosting the platform in the EU on ISO-certified servers.
* Conducting quarterly penetration tests for robustness.
* Implementing disaster recovery plans to prevent data loss.
* Limiting platform access to authorized users.
* Providing transparency by informing users about the AI system in use.
* Not collecting data from external sources like the internet or CCTV footage.
* Maintaining a commitment to meeting future regulatory requirements.
* Holding ISO 27001 certification.
* Ensuring data from subprocessors is automatically deleted after sessions.
* Providing mandatory GDPR training for employees and having an external data protection officer.
* Designing AI coaching models to avoid identifying users or their inner emotions.
* Processing data without controlling end-user data.

Is Retorio compliant with GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations?

Yes, Retorio is compliant with GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations. It adheres to strict ethical principles and captures only empirically relevant data. Retorio's AI models undergo rigorous testing and quality checks and are trained on diverse, bias-mitigated datasets. The platform does not use biometric data for individual or emotion recognition. Personal data is optional, and anonymization is available. Users can delete all their data within the system. Retorio hosts its platform in the EU on ISO-certified servers and performs quarterly penetration tests. Disaster recovery plans are set in place to prevent loss of data. Access is limited to authorized users, and transparency is maintained by informing users about AI use. Retorio does not collect data from external sources. The company holds ISO 27001 certification and provides mandatory GDPR training to employees. Data from subprocessors is automatically deleted after sessions. Retorio's AI coaching models are designed to avoid identifying users or their inner emotions, and Retorio processes data without controlling end-user data.

How does Retorio protect my data?

Retorio protects your data through several measures:

* Compliance: Retorio is compliant with GDPR and designed to align with the proposed EU AI Act. It is also ISO 27001 certified.
* Data Relevance: Only empirically examined and relevant data is captured and analyzed.
* Anonymization: Person-related data is optional, and the platform can work with full anonymization using token login.
* Deletion: All data can be deleted by the user within the system.
* Hosting: The platform is hosted in the EU on ISO-certified servers.
* Security Testing: Penetration tests are performed quarterly to check robustness.
* Access Control: The platform can only be accessed by authorized users.
* Transparency: Users are informed that an AI system is in use.
* Subprocessor Data: Data from subprocessors is automatically deleted after each session.
* No Personal Identification: Retorio is not designed to identify individuals and does not record identifying characteristics. It does not conduct biometric analysis.

Can the AI coach identify specific areas for improvement in communication?

Yes, the Retorio's AI coach can identify specific areas for improvement in communication. The feedback is immediate and offers concrete tips for improvement, pinpointing the root cause of behavioral gaps. This includes feedback on argumentation techniques and interpersonal behavior. The AI compares a user's behavior to winning strategies and suggests actionable insights. It provides feedback on communication style, such as how friendly or serious the responses are.

AI analytics also drive measurable business impact and offer insights on behavior change. Furthermore, the system tracks individual behavioral improvements or gaps and can identify knowledge gaps, offering personalized growth plans.

Retorio's analysis covers both what is said and how it is communicated, providing specific feedback on what to say and avoid. The AI uses benchmarks of ideal behaviors to suggest modifications for better outcomes. Transparency features explain the AI's reasoning through timestamps, text highlighting, and explanations.

How does Retorio support coaching and mentoring initiatives?

* A major German multinational corporation (DAX listed) increased emerging leader placement rates by +25% using Retorio for development.
* A global pharmaceutical company trained 3,000 employees in under 2 months with Retorio.
* A large insurance provider reduced sales onboarding attrition by 40% using Retorio.
* A pharmaceutical company improved sales readiness by 20% using Retorio for oncology product repositioning.
* A leading automotive manufacturer offers a virtual space for employees to practice and improve communication with Retorio.
* A global business service provider uses Retorio for cost-effective, global upskilling programs for enterprise clients.

What is an AI sales coaching platform and how can it benefit my sales team? An AI sales coaching platform leverages machine learning and advanced analytics to monitor, analyze, and improve sales performance. It provides real-time feedback, customizes training paths, and scales personalized coaching across large teams. For example, Retorio uses deep behavioral intelligence to analyze both verbal and non-verbal cues during sales interactions, helping to refine techniques and drive better results. Learn more at Retorio

What types of training and coaching are typically offered in the automotive industry?

Training programs cover a wide range of roles and skills, including:

Sales: Product knowledge (including EVs), sales process, negotiation, closing techniques, CRM usage, digital retailing, customer experience.
Service Advisors: Customer interaction, appointment setting, repair explanation, upselling/cross-selling, process efficiency, managing difficult situations.
Technicians: Technical skills updates, diagnostic procedures, specialized training (e.g., EVs, ADAS), brand-specific certifications.
Leadership/Management: Team motivation, performance management, dealership operations, financial acumen, creating a positive culture. Coaching often focuses on reinforcing training, refining specific skills, and improving individual or team performance in these areas.

What are the main advantages of implementing regular automotive training? Key advantages include improved sales results (volume, profit), higher customer satisfaction (CSI/NPS), increased service department efficiency and revenue, better employee skills and confidence, reduced staff turnover, stronger brand consistency, and faster adaptation to industry changes (like electrification and digitalization).

Can training programs be customized for our specific dealership or brand? Yes, Retorio providers offer customization. Training can be tailored to your dealership's specific processes, challenges, brand requirements, market conditions, and target KPIs. Custom playbooks or scenarios can often be developed, especially within simulation.

Is specialized training available for Electric Vehicles (EVs)?

Yes, comprehensive EV training is increasingly important. This covers technical training for service technicians, sales training focused on addressing customer concerns (range, charging) and explaining benefits, and service advisor training on communicating EV maintenance needs.

Can I test or pilot Retorio?

Please schedule a demo and we are happy to provide you with access to a free trial if we see potential for a collaboration.

When certain criteria are met, Retorio offers Proof-of-Value (PoV) projects to help clients build business cases and prepare larger roll-outs. Please schedule a demo to learn more.

Speeding up the automotive industry with AI coaching

It's an obstacle race …

Advising customers in the face of changing needs

Create effective training programs – on brand

Powered by
Behavioral Intelligence

How to sell more than just cars

Prove how effective
your training is

Accelerate the automotive business