Business Management
EDS introduces DealerPath, an end-to-end Internet solution that integrates with any Dealer System Provider. DealerPath, incorporates IBM's Web Connections and WhistleJet II technology, and delivers an end-to-end solution. DealerPath allows you to access key business applications on the web and communicate easily with your customers, all within an environment that protects your dealership's data. It is a total business Internet/e-mail/security offering that is specifically designed to eliminate the need for automotive dealerships to work with multiple providers when attempting to access the World Wide Web and respond to e-mail inquiries. It will give dealers immediate Internet access and control, supported by business class e-mail and firewall security. The DealerPath solution is delivered in a similar format to cable TV, allowing end-users to subscribe to the offering at a low monthly fee with no hardware or software to purchase. DealerPath delivers on the promise of plug-and-play IT solutions that have eluded dealerships for years. EDS DealerPath will e-enable your dealership by getting your whole dealership online, providing easy access to needed business applications on the web, receiving more value for less than you spend on phone lines and ISP service today, and having one solution for business e-mail and unlimited Internet Access. NADA Booth #2223
autoSYNC, a New York City based dealership e-mail services provider announces the availability of its CORE (Customer Online Request Evaluation) Testing System. The CORE Testing System has been designed to provide dealerships with a complete analysis of their online communications system. autoSYNC's CORE Testing System offers an in-depth analysis of a dealership's e-mail capabilities, including response time, content quality, and overall appearance and effect of a dealership-authored response. A comprehensive testing methodology will implement multiple test requests of varying complexity. All aspects of the request are fine-tuned to simulate an actual online inquiry. Although grading of responses received is partially automated, autoSYNC personnel will ultimately review all messages to ensure a realistic evaluation. The CORE Testing System consists of three reports: monthly E-Mail Readiness Alert, Quarterly Summary, and the Annual Report. The E-Mail Readiness Alert provides dealerships with a score summary, score breakdown, request details, response log, response details, and comments. The quarterly and annual reports are especially useful for subscribers interested in performance trends. The CORE Testing System is valuable in light of the current role of e-mail in sales and customer service today. Dealerships are repeatedly advised by industry professionals that a quick reply is the key to winning more business. www.autosync.net.
Reynolds + Reynolds will introduce ERA3, basically three new enhancements to the ERA system: the ability to send text-based e-mail from existing "green-screen" terminals, hand held PCs, and thin client capability.
EDS will be introducing at NADA the PC-based DMS system, Diamond Manage. This DMS system developed by EDS, Automotive Software, USA, and Dimension Data for Mitsubishi dealers is a fully integrated lead generation and dealer management system. The system encompasses sales, parts, service, accounting, finance, insurance, and customer management.
Visit www.ocentrix to learn about the new Ocentrix Dealer Management System. This DMS system allows web sites, office networks and databases to communicate and support each other. The open source system eliminates the frustrations of trying to manage several proprietary systems that don't communicate, are difficult to operate, and grow obsolete as technology advances. The Ocentrix system includes all the key computing systems necessary for complete data inventory and business transactions at a dealership.
Sales & Marketing
The Polk Company has launched a sharply upgraded version of its Polk Dealer Marketing Manager product, with new features and benefits produced directly from automotive dealer requests for a comprehensive, in-house marketing tool. The Polk Dealer Marketing Manager is a specialized online system to help auto dealers learn more about their current customers and find others like them. The enhanced tool adds comprehensive knowledge about used-car market segments, increasing the dealer's revenue opportunity by accurately identifying ideal candidates for used cars. www.polk.com. NADA Booth #1874
CRS Customer Retention Software has introduced three new CRM reports at NADA to address the needs of dealers participating in the Ford Blue Oval and Chrysler Five-Star Program. www.sandijerome.com.
AutoClick.com has introduced their Client Management and Salesforce Automation application developed specifically for the retail automotive dealer. It can handle leads from any part of the dealership including the web site, phone-ups and lot clients. It tracks the activities for every client and gives managers a way to track the activities of their salespeople.
KeyTrak has developed a new software product that enhances the capabilities of their key and asset tracking system. Dealerships will be able to network systems between multiple locations, whether they have several franchises, or if they use different KeyTrak systems in the new lot, used lot, and service area. Managers can review reports from any location to track the movement of any key at any time. Systems will also have the capability to use biometric identification as an option, which will slightly speed up the process, prevent lost fobs or salespersons sharing passwords. www.keytrak.com NADA Booth #3619
Supersale.com recently released a new product version of the DigitalLot Solution with completely new hardware and software to help dealers post their inventory for sale online. New features include: wireless Carfax reporting, Gold data integration, new auto zoom-auto focus integrated camera, and new, low, no commitment pricing. Check out a demo on their web site for more information: www.supersale.com/testdrive/ TestDrive.htm. NADA Booth #2079
Autofusion Corporation, a provider of auto-related e-commerce technology, has announced that Price Books and Forms, Inc. will be a pricing data provider for Select-A-Car, its online automobile sales-configurator. Select-A-Car is a car configurator that allows auto dealers, manufacturers, car-buying services, Internet portals, and other sites to provide their consumers with customized, comprehensive car configuration and informed purchasing capabilities. www.autofusion.com. NADA Booth #2039
Internet Sales
Chrome, the provider of automotive data, configuration technology, and software, has announced a major upgrade of its best-selling desktop vehicle research, configuration, and pricing tool, PC CarbookTM. Used by nearly half of all North American automotive dealers, PC Carbook adds new specification data for medium-duty trucks and new functionality to its database of 41 different makes of cars and trucks. This release, the direct result of dealer and manufacturer feedback, is the latest in a series of upgrades to Chrome's leading configuration technology platform. With this upgrade, PC Carbook clients will be able to view and calculate pricing and technical specification information for medium-duty trucks in real time. This upgrade also helps fleet managers create bids for government contracts by supporting bid assistance price adjustments. NADA Booth #3033
Two Texas Chevrolet dealerships have become the first businesses on the web to utilize Video E-Mail technology, according to Peter Martin, Jr., founder and president of ExpandMail.com. Friendly Chevrolet, in Dallas, and Graff Chevrolet, in Grand Prairie, are using Video E-Mail technology to distribute customized vehicle information and personal messages to online car shoppers. When consumers contact Graff Chevrolet's web site they can automatically receive a Video E-Mail reply with specific vehicle information and a video commercial (www.graffchevrolet.com/new_vehicles.htm). "If someone wants to learn about a Chevy Blazer, they can click on the Blazer Video Brochure for immediate information," explains owner Stan Graff. "It's the perfect Internet tool to help sell vehicles and our unique dealership services." Video E-Mail technology allows businesses to send a streaming video message, combined with a fully functioning web site, through a standard e-mail. ExpandMail.com, a new company created by Dallas-based Internet Incubator, Expansion Unlimited, initially targeted Video E-Mail at the automotive industry. Video E-Mail uses advanced, patent-pending technology that streams video yet does not require the downloading of an attached file in most cases.
MyCarPage.com has introduced their all new PROSPECTOR solution that is used by 20% of the top 50 dealer groups. PROSPECTOR captures your customer's e-mail addresses, builds your online database, and, most importantly sells more vehicles! www.mycarpage.com
6gear Inc., which provides online marketing and data solutions to the automotive industry has announced its product AutoBridge. AutoBridge allows dealers to send branded online messages to customers in an automated fashion.
AutoBridge aggregates dealership and group information from various sources into one secure database. Information can be included from web sites, DMS, contact databases, Excel spreadsheets, or any other source. Using a password-protected, web-based interface, dealers are able to view and track their customers in a flexible manner not previously possible. Clients can search and group customers based on criteria such as zip code, make, model, year, service history, demographics and others.
F&I
DuitSoftware, a provider of web-based leasing solutions, has unveiled DUIT! 2.0, designed to enable leasing companies to empower customers to build their leases online. It will instantly increase the influx of leasing applications and provide an automated enrollment interface for use by small and medium-size leasing companies. www.DuitSoftware.com
Lease Link has announced the release of their new Lease Link Version 6.0. Lease Link is a sales tool for new and used vehicle leasing and is now available in a web-enabled, networked or stand-alone version. This product interfaces with Reynolds & Reynolds, ADP and UCS. www.leaselink.com
Carbiz.com Inc., a provider of Internet and software solutions for the North American automotive industry, recently unveiled its Voice Direct IVR (Interactive Voice Response) application to automotive industry leaders attending Carbiz.com's National Special Finance & Buy-Here Pay-Here Conference held in Las Vegas, NV. Voice Direct is a telephone application that allows consumers to phone an 800-number and by answering a series of questions can determine whether they may qualify for financing to purchase or lease a vehicle. NADA Booth #3603
eCarCredit.com now offers automobile dealers a "virtual sub-prime finance department," allowing traditional "brick and mortar" auto dealers to offer sales and financing to customers with sub-prime credit ratings through the company's web site, http://www.dealer.eCarCredit.com.
Online car buying service carOrder.com, has unveiled the carOrder.com Financial Marketplace, a new research area enabling carOrder.com customers to review, evaluate and select loan and lease products from a number of leading brand name lenders.
Fidelity National Corporation has announced a partnership with Harland Financial Solutions to provide enhanced loan application software to auto dealers. Fidelity National served as a beta test site for the Windows based version of Application Manager, a loan application processing system created by Harland Financial Solutions. Following the successful test, Fidelity is now ready to roll out the new software to its nearly 800 auto dealer clients in five Southeastern states. As a result of the partnership, automobile dealers will soon be able to provide customers with improved loan application services.
Service, Parts & Body Shop
In response to dealer demand, EDS is expanding the functionality and versatility of its retail automotive electronic parts catalogue through the addition of GM Medium Duty Broadcast Sheets. Parts Imager2, a fully-featured, 32-bit Microsoft Windows® application now offers GM Medium Duty Broadcast Sheets for model years 1992 to present. The Broadcast Sheet feature contains the production part numbers for every part and assembly used on a specific vehicle/unit as defined by its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
Dealership personnel can now browse anywhere within the UPC/FNA to find the exact part number they are seeking. In addition, Parts Imager2 provides direct linkage to the catalog illustrations and text information, as well as giving users the convenience of viewing or printing the entire Broadcast Sheet. www.eds.com.
ChoiceParts LLC., has released the interim results of its pilot program connecting automotive retailers in Dayton, Ohio, who are utilizing the company's exchange to buy and sell auto repair parts online. ChoiceParts, founded via partnership among the Dealer Services and Claims Solutions Groups of Automatic Data Processing, Inc., CCC Information Services Inc., and The Reynolds and Reynolds Company, is using feedback from this pilot program to improve the functionality of its online parts solution, which is slated for regional roll out to automotive retailers this fall.
Check out www.ATRisys.com where technicians and service department management can search the web, trade tips and tricks with other professionals, purchase tools and supplies, explore hundreds of 'FixIt' resources, use free resources, find the best deals on office supplies, furniture, and services, discuss problems and solutions with other managers, and consult Technical Support for the new ATRisys.
AutoExec2000, Inc., a provider of online business-to-business solutions exclusively for the automotive collision repair and insurance claims industry, announces AutoBodyAccess.com, the first online network of web sites designed to meet the technical and business needs of the auto claims and collision industry. http://www.autobodyaccess.com.
ServiceConnex, Inc. and Mailmark Enterprises LLC has announced a strategic partnership to develop and market an innovative automotive industry data warehouse. Through ServiceConnex's sophisticated data warehouse, web portals, car care web sites and participating service centers can receive a targeted content-based relationship marketing tool. This powerful data, some of which is provided free of charge to participating service centers, enables these businesses to initiate web site user and customer relationship management programs online.
Used Cars
AutoTrader.com, an Internet destination and marketplace for buying and selling used cars, has announced a partnership with NetSearch, to provide wireless lead tracking and management services to automotive dealer partners across the country. This communications tool will allow dealers to receive and track leads throughout the day, regardless of proximity to a computer, and provide a higher level of customer service and the potential for increased sales. As a result of this alliance, AutoTrader.com's 30,000 dealers will now be able to purchase NetSearch's Merchant Notification System(tm) (MNS) directly from AutoTrader.com. The MNS will allow dealers to access, manage, and respond to consumers' requests, anytime and from anywhere. The system will allow them to receive (via a handheld wireless device) and reply immediately to potential online buyers. Dealerships will also be able to track all leads that come through the system, respond to existing customers' requests, and access real time web-based management reports. www.autoTrader.com and www.netsearch.com
Autotrader at Manheim NADA Booth #2248, Netsearch at Aether Systems NADA Booth #2096
Supersale.com, Inc, has teamed up with Carfax, Inc. to provide wireless vehicle history reporting capabilities to used car dealers. This new partnership will give participating dealers instant access to the Carfaxonline.com database even when they are away from the office, during the appraisal process on their lot, or while considering cars at an auction. www.carfaxonline.com.
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