Lexus of Roseville Uses Stronghold Technologies to Achieve Superior Customer Satisfaction Index -CSI- Scores
BASKING RIDGE, NJ--May 1, 20043, 2004--Stronghold Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SGHT), the developer of DealerAdvance(TM), an enterprise software system using wireless and Internet technologies for the automotive retail industry, today announced that its technology has contributed to Lexus of Roseville achieving superior customer satisfaction index (CSI) scores. The California-based dealership has been leveraging DealerAdvance(TM), which is known by its users as a high performance customer relationship management (CRM) solution delivering improved operating efficiencies and increased new and used vehicle sales, to provide outstanding customer service and support. Lexus of Roseville is using DealerAdvance(TM) in its attempt to receive the prestigious "Elite Status" awarded by Lexus North America when the dealership completes its first full year in business next month."Lexus of Roseville's impressive CSI scores are attributable in large part to Stronghold's DealerAdvance(TM)," said Robert Black, Lexus of Roseville's Business Development Center (BDC) Manager. "Stronghold worked with us to identify and implement improvements in our post-sale follow-up process which lead to the improved CSI scores. Stronghold configured DealerAdvance(TM) to automatically generate the appropriate post-sale activities that would allow us to track the progress of our follow-up process and immediately identify problem areas. Our sales and customer service personnel are able to monitor their progress by using the system's reporting tools. Our staff has benefited from immediate access to a variety of information and report logs that make the customer's pre- and post-sales experience very comfortable and productive."
Lexus of Roseville became a Stronghold customer within months of its grand opening. At that time, Patrick McKeehan, the dealership's General Manager, signed a long term contract with Stronghold and commented, "We know of no CRM provider that can rival Stronghold's technology, customer support and client/vendor communication. Simply put, Stronghold understands what dealers need to drive performance and they consistently deliver."
The dealership's initial intent for using DealerAdvance(TM) was to gain an advantage in its efforts to manage customer relationships in an increasingly competitive marketplace for selling automobiles. Stronghold's client consultant worked with Mr. Black to understand where there was opportunity for improving the dealership's customer service scores. The client consultant made recommendations and assisted in the implementation of new procedures for dealership staff to use DealerAdvance(TM) for scheduling and tracking post-sale activities, including customer satisfaction initiatives. The improved CSI initiatives were finalized toward the end of 2003.
Lexus North America regularly tracks CSI scores and reports month-to-date and year-to-date results. In order to attain an "Elite Status," Lexus dealers must maintain annual CSI scores greater than 95%. Scores are based on surveys conducted by Lexus with customers purchasing new and certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. About half of the survey pertains to a customer's interaction with a dealership's sales force. Lexus of Roseville's CSI scores were the highest in the country during two of the four completed months of 2004, and are well in excess of the minimal requirement for "Elite Status" on a year-to-date basis.
Stronghold Technologies, Inc. (www.strongholdtech.com) is an innovator in applying wireless technology and process improvement methods to increase business efficiency and sales. The Company has developed an integrated wireless technology called DealerAdvance(TM) which, among many features, allows automobile dealers to capture a customer's purchasing requirements, search inventory at multiple locations, locate an appropriate vehicle in stock and print out the necessary forms. Through an integrated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) application, the systems sends detailed tasks for prospect and customer follow-up and produces management reports to measure compliance. DealerAdvance(TM) allows sales professionals to increase sales, improve customer follow-up, and reduce administrative costs.
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