Ford Motor Company Uses ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems' Interactive Communication Solution to Reach Thousands of Dealer Sites
World's Second Largest Automaker Addresses Dealer NetworkRegarding the Severing of Firestone Relationship and of 13 Million
Tire Recall
SAN JOSE, Calif.--May 23, 2001--In order to immediately respond to and address the termination of the 95-year old Firestone relationship and the recall of 13 million tires, Ford Motor Company broadcast to nearly 6,000 of its dealer associates using its live, highly interactive ONE TOUCH-powered communications network, FORDSTAR. Broadcasting live from Dearborn, Michigan, Ford executives, including Ford Division President, Jim O'Connor, answered questions from over 3,300 geographically dispersed locations. He responded to the latest media announcements, reiterated the company's support for its dealerships and their customers, and discussed and elicited feedback regarding the company's action plan going forward. Ford Motor Chief Executive, Jacques Nasser, also participated in the broadcast via a live video feed from a press conference.
"Ford's proactive management of this situation is a great reflection on the auto-maker and the value it places on its customer and dealer relationships," said Don Thornton, ONE TOUCH President and CEO. "We take pride in the way our customers can use one platform to provide consistent, just-in-time information, share best practices, collaborate, and train their associates and suppliers. The FORDSTAR network is a pioneering example of the way in which the ONE TOUCH solution can be utilized to rapidly communicate critical corporate initiatives."
In operation since 1994, the ONE TOUCH-powered distance learning network at Ford provides training in more than 112 courses, broadcasting over 70 hours of instruction per day, to the company's worldwide dealership network. In addition to conducting training to its thousands of Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships on its ONE TOUCH-enabled FORDSTAR network, Ford also uses the system as a real-time knowledge sharing infrastructure for both corporate communications and market research. For example, corporate marketing polls dealers on which features to bundle in upcoming products. Today, each dealership is equipped with the ONE TOUCH KnowledgeSite(TM) solution, including the patented KnowledgeSite Manager and Interactive Touchpad. Dearborn-based presenters serve as "remote experts." Since they are often the same people who designed the automobile components and sub-systems, they have instant credibility with their audience. ONE TOUCH's one-way video and two-way audio enable all participants to see both the presenter and the presentation materials, as well as hold natural two- and three-way conversations.
"It is always reaffirming when a top executive, like Jim O'Connor, President of the Ford Division, goes on air to thousands of constituents and says that the live, ONE TOUCH-powered broadcast is an amazing use of technology," continued Thornton.
About ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems
ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems provides advanced enterprise e-Learning solutions that enable highly interactive, presenter-led collaboration for real-time distributed learning, interactive communications, and knowledge sharing programs. The company's award-winning knowledge systems and e-Learning applications are easy to use and can be delivered to both individual PCs and networked classrooms via any broadband delivery system. Customers rely on the ONE TOUCH solution, with more than 190,000 e-Learning seats around the world, to reach, train, and share knowledge with an estimated 3 million employees annually. ONE TOUCH is headquartered in San Jose, California.
ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems, the ONE TOUCH Knowledge Systems logo, ONE TOUCH, KnowledgeSite, Front Row, and Front Row OnDemand are trademarks of ONE TOUCH Systems, Inc. All other company and product names are trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.