BMW Virtual Sales Centers To Be Deployed At Dealerships

    WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--May 1, 2002--BMW was recently awarded the coveted Gold Outstanding Merchandising Award (OMA) from the Point of Purchasing Advertising Institute, one of its highest honors, for its interactive Virtual Sales Center.
    Designed to build sales and reinforce its brand in dealer showrooms, BMW is deploying its new Web-enabled system, known as BMW Virtual Sales Centers (VSCs), in all 340 dealerships throughout the United States. Each VSC has an interactive touch screen "dashboard" monitor that allows users access to BMW's Web site and its "build your own BMW" configuration feature. Each VSC shows off the automaker's various models and special benefits such as its iDrive feature-control system through full-screen, full-motion video. Furthermore, the interactive station gives visual demonstrations of features that cannot be shown during the average test-drive experience.
    "It's impossible to demonstrate how models will perform during bad weather or in an accident during a test drive," said Jim McDowell, vice president, marketing BMW of North America, LLC. "The VSC is an excellent sales tool in demonstrating features that are becoming an increasingly important element of consumers' purchasing decisions."
    The BMW VSC project is a collaborative effort between Netkey, which provided the software and remote management system, and Frank Mayer & Associates, which designed and constructed the enclosures. Omni Tech Corp. provided the computer hardware for the system, and Reality Pictures the multimedia video content.
    The BMW VSC leverages the complete Netkey enterprise solution set, using Netkey Creator software to integrate the audio, video, Web site and iDrive simulator with the application content. Netkey Manager is used to manage, monitor, update, and track use of the VSC, with system operations and network management handled round-the-clock by the Netkey Help Desk.
    According to BMW's Consumer Events Manager, Holly Babich, "Our team of collaborators brought innovation to all aspects of creating the Virtual Sales Center, solving a wide range of software and media-related challenges. We feel the benefits will be felt in the dealer showrooms and appreciated by the discriminating consumer of BMW automobiles. We are pleased that the prestigious POPAI trade group acknowledged this effort."
    POPAI president & CEO Dick Blatt commented, "By its win of a Gold Outstanding Merchandising Achievement (OMA) Award, BMW of North America and its partners are to be commended for outstanding innovation and creativity. This compelling form of retail-based brand marketing works for retailers by educating customers; for the brand marketer by communicating key brand attributes; and for the consumer by delivering critical information needed to aide in the purchase process."

    About Netkey

    Netkey is the premier provider of software solutions for the emerging customer self-service channel. Netkey clients include Borders, E*Trade, Fidelity Investments, J.C. Penney, Fleet Bank and BMW. The company holds three U.S. patents for its self-service technology. For more information on Netkey, please contact the company at 1-800-443-7924, via e-mail at info@netkey.com, or visit Netkey on the Web at www.netkey.com.

    BMW Group In America

    BMW of North America has been present in the United States since 1975. Since then, the BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations for the BMW and MINI brands; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; DESIGNWORKS/USA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. The BMW Group is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW car, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle, 148 BMW Motorcycle retailers and 53 MINI car dealers. BMW US Holding Corp., the Group's headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

    Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at http://www.bmwusa.com http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com and http://www.miniusa.com

    NOTE TO MEDIA: Screen shots of the award-winning BMW VSC interactive application are available upon request from Cindy Morgan-Olson.