REPEAT/New AutoMarket In.Sight Strategic Alliance Offers Total eCRM Solution to Automotive Dealers and Manufacturers
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.--May 30, 2001--Acxiom(R) Corporation, The Cobalt Group and LogicLinc Align to Provide
Real-Time Electronic Customer Relationship Management Tools to the
Auto Industry
Acxiom(R) Corporation , a global leader in Customer Data Integration (CDI) and customer recognition infrastructure, has entered into agreements with The Cobalt Group and LogicLinc to build and deliver a new eCRM (electronic customer relationship management) solution called AutoMarket In.Sight(SM) for the automotive industry.
AutoMarket In.Sight is a suite of products and services that will help auto dealers and manufacturers use technology to develop and leverage stronger lifetime relationships with their customers. It will provide Internet-based data management and acquisition services to improve customer retention and increase revenue in vehicle sales and service.
"This establishes a new standard for retailers closest to the car-buying customer -- automotive dealers -- to have sophisticated customer relationship management tools available to them," said Charles D. Morgan, Acxiom Company Leader. "We have partnered with proven industry leaders to develop a next-generation eCRM solution that will help dealers communicate with customers and prospects on a one-to-one basis with reliable, real-time data at the highest level of service available to the automotive industry."
Recognized as leaders in their respective fields, each participating company brings distinct core competencies to AutoMarket In.Sight. Acxiom will use its industry-leading AbiliTec(TM) Customer Data Integration software to facilitate timely and accurate data access. Launched by Acxiom in 1999 and already adopted by several major companies to help them create a single view of their customers across the enterprise, AbiliTec enables businesses to form much more complete portraits of customer relationships.
As the leading provider of e-business products and services to the automotive industry, Cobalt will develop the application interface and host and maintain the dealer applications, which will be accessed through MotorPlace.com, Cobalt's online business management portal for auto dealers. In addition, Cobalt will provide dealer training and dealership management system data extraction in order to link the service directly to dealer inventory and manufacturer offers.
"Cobalt has deep experience providing e-business products and services to auto dealers and manufacturers, and we have always believed that CRM is where the real promise lies for the auto industry and the Internet," said John Holt, President and CEO of The Cobalt Group. "AutoMarket In.Sight provides a cost-effective way for dealers and manufacturers to utilize technology to more effectively communicate with their customers and prospects."
LogicLinc, responsible for developing landmark strategies for the automotive industry, will deliver best-of-class analytical and data resources, including a unique triple-screen analysis that segments consumers by their likely vehicle choice. Acxiom and LogicLinc will also perform and manage the modeling and analytics needed to interpret and add value to marketing data.
"The principal goal of AutoMarket In.Sight is to help build and support loyal, long-standing relationships between auto dealers and their customers. LogicLinc is proud to be able to provide the analytics and data resources to support these efforts," said Robert R. McGuire, founder and chief executive officer of LogicLinc. "The automotive industry will truly benefit from this innovative one-to-one marketing tool."
AutoMarket In.Sight uses Internet technology to provide dealers with real-time access to integrated customer and vehicle ownership data, allowing dealers to strategically manage all interactions with their customers, whether in person, via phone or on the Internet. Using knowledge about the customer that is accessed through AutoMarket In.Sight, a dealer can deliver personalized service and the right message to the right customer at the right time via the customer's preferred contact channel. AutoMarket In.Sight is highly flexible and can be customized for dealers, dealer groups and manufacturers. It is designed to work with any level of participation and sophistication.
About Acxiom Corporation
Acxiom Corporation, a global leader in Customer Data Integration (CDI) and customer recognition infrastructure, enables businesses to develop and deepen customer relationships by creating a single, accurate view of their customers across the enterprise. Acxiom achieves this by providing CDI software, database management services, and premier customer data content through its AbiliTec(TM), Solvitur(R) and InfoBase(R) products, while also offering a broad range of information technology outsourcing services. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is based in Little Rock, Arkansas, with locations throughout the United States and with operations in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Australia. Acxiom revenues were $1.01 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001. For more information, please visit www.acxiom.com
The discussion in this release regarding Acxiom Corporation contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports. Actual results may differ materially. Acxiom undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revision to any forward-looking statement to reflect any future events or circumstances.
Acxiom, InfoBase and Solvitur are registered trademarks of Acxiom, RTC, Inc. AbiliTec is a trademark of Acxiom Corporation.
About The Cobalt Group
The Cobalt Group(TM) , headquartered in Seattle, is a leading provider of e-business products and services that help automotive dealers and manufacturers effectively manage their businesses online. Cobalt's suite of e-business solutions includes Web services, Web site hosting, e-commerce applications, Internet-based customer relationship management applications, data management, and best practices training and consulting. For more information, please visit www.cobaltgroup.com.
About LogicLinc
LogicLinc applies the best of class in analytical and data resources that are essential to clearly define consumers' ability, propensity, motivation and timing to purchase automotive vehicles. The LogicLinc staff is comprised of Ph.D. level mathematicians, psychologists, sociologists, and strategic market planners. Members of this staff have been instrumental in developing and executing landmark strategies for the automotive industry. Combining its resources, LogicLinc has established a unique triple screen analysis to segment the consumer population by their likely vehicle of choice. For more information, please visit www.logiclinc.com.