Much-Anticipated Reynolds Generations Series(R) Suite Broadly Available Following Successful Pilot Phase

New customer-centric retail management system offers unprecedented integration and flexibility, allowing retailers to significantly enhance the customer experience

DAYTON, Ohio, Sept. 4 -- The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today announced the availability of the Reynolds Generations Series(R) Suite, the most sophisticated customer-centric automotive retail management solution available today.

Designed from the ground up based on extensive market research, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite is a total retail management solution consisting of seamlessly integrated dealership applications that include Web Brand Management, Customer Management, Finance and Insurance (F&I) Management, Fixed Operations Management, Business Management, and Employee Management.

Integrated with a powerful customer database and supported by Reynolds award-winning services and expert training, the comprehensive solution helps retailers improve the customer experience at all touch points while boosting revenues and reducing costs. The Reynolds Generations Series Suite enables and supports the re-engineering of a dealership's business processes.

"The Reynolds Generations Series Suite is a revolutionary approach in retail management technology. The first-ever truly complete automotive solution, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite can help manage every part of a retailer's business. Bringing retailers, car companies and customers closer together, it represents Reynolds' strategic vision -- to seamlessly connect the dots in automotive retailing and help retailers better and more profitably manage their businesses," said Lloyd "Buzz" Waterhouse, CEO, chairman, and president of Reynolds.

The Reynolds Generations Series Suite gives retailers unprecedented integration and power to customize processes and control the customer experience. Its integration enables retailers such as Kim Borcherding, president of Borcherding Automotive, and her employees to share vital customer information across their Ohio-based Pontiac, Buick, GMC Truck dealerships.

"At Borcherding, we really feel that being integrated allows us to extract the data and touch the customer in new ways. For example, when a customer pulls into our service drive, we're able to identify how many cars they bought from us, how frequently they use our service department; we might even know if it's their birthday. Having this kind of information available in real time is something that is just not offered on the open market," says Borcherding, a current Reynolds Generations Series Suite customer.

For retailers seeking the most sophisticated management controls, ease of a Windows point and click interface, and fully integrated CRM tools, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite represents the next generation in dealer management system solutions.

"Today, there is nothing like it in the industry. With best-in-class technology, flexible architecture and deep integration, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite can help retailers manage their two biggest assets -- their customers and employees -- while giving them a commanding lead in the ever changing landscape of auto retailing," said Gillis West, solutions executive for Fixed Operations and general manager of the Reynolds Generations Series Suite.

In a single system, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite integrates operations from the front office to the back end of the business and delivers real-time integration of customer data, vehicle inventory and accounting data. It operates on state-of-the-art IBM servers and has a flexible architecture that is built around powerful Microsoft(R) technology. All dealership applications are Web browser-based and have an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical user interface that is familiar to PC users worldwide. At the core of this innovative system is a comprehensive, relational SQL database that allows easier access to data and enhanced reporting capabilities.

Michael Seaton, principal of Woods & Seaton Automotive Systems and Communications Service, said that with the Reynolds Generations Series Suite, "Reynolds and Reynolds becomes the first major DMS vendor in the United States to deliver a new-generation DMS which it has developed internally and not acquired. After the demands in recent years from automakers and dealers for major DMS vendors to deliver a new-generation, "open" DMS to replace their legacy systems, Reynolds is the first to commit its future to that strategy and to deliver a product."

With extensive market research and experience in automotive retailing, Reynolds identified key areas that were top of mind to automotive retailers. The Reynolds Generations Series Suite was designed to assist retailers in those challenges and opportunities, which include increasing profitability and customer loyalty and retention, improving operational performance, technology integration, as well as employee management and satisfaction and securing first-rate support and training.

Through a powerful suite of integrated operations, the Reynolds Generations Series Suite offers retailers a host of best-in-class features and capabilities:

  -- Unprecedented customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities give
     retailers the ability to communicate with current customers based on
     historical data, as well as foster new customer relationships. A
     centralized, shared master customer file and automated contact
     management processes deliver deeply integrated CRM capabilities.

  -- Streamlined workflow processes allow retailers to set specific
     processes in different departments delivering a consistent experience
     for customers.

  -- Integrated task flow and information management capabilities help
     retailers to reduce data input, minimize data entry errors, and
     increase business processing.

  -- A retail data warehouse provides dealership employees with the latest
     information on rates, residuals, taxes, fees, as well as vehicle data
     and images via a retailer's persistent Internet connection - helping
     them to work and serve customers faster and more accurately.

  -- Powerful financing and insurance features enable retailers to quickly
     construct fully calculated deals and share multiple financing scenarios
     with customers. Multiple scenarios functionality helps retailers to
     maximize profits, close deals faster, and improve the customer
     financing experience.

"The Reynolds Generations Series Suite provides retailers with the tools and data needed to increase customer loyalty throughout the vehicle ownership lifecycle. The system enables retailers to set processes unique to their dealerships needs, giving them the choice to decide how they want their employees to interact with customers," said West.

With any new technology, integrating people, processes and technology is the only way to implement beneficial change and ensure lasting success. The Reynolds Generations Series Suite includes a full range of expert services from hardware and network installation, employee training, and process consulting and support services to help retailers achieve business results and a return on investment year after year.

The Reynolds Generations Series Suite is another offering in the Reynolds Generations Series family of solutions. Also included in the family is the Reynolds Generations Series with Modules, which was introduced in 2002. Built on an ERA3 platform, Reynolds Generations Series with Modules enables dealers to add fully integrated modules or applications like Contact Management and Automark Web Services as they need them.

The Reynolds Generations Series Suite was rigorously field tested for two years and is now available to automotive retailers nationwide.

Reynolds and Reynolds ( www.reyrey.com ) is the leading provider of integrated solutions that help automotive retailers manage change and improve their profitability. With 75 years of experience serving automotive retailing, Reynolds enables car companies and retailers to work together to build the lifetime value of their customers. The company's award-winning product, service and training solutions include a full range of retail and enterprise management systems, networking and support, e-business applications, Web services, learning and consulting services, customer relationship management (CRM) solutions, data management and integration, and leasing services. Reynolds serves more than 20,000 customers. They comprise 90 percent of the automotive retailers and virtually all car companies doing business in North America. Its CRM consulting practices span approximately 15 countries around the world.