Renault Brazil Chooses SumTotal Systems to Drive 'Renault Crescer' Initiative to Dealers and Distributors
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--July 23, 2004--| Innovative learning program to deliver critical training and information to more than 2500 geographically dispersed employees of the Renault Dealership Network |
SumTotal Systems , the industry's largest provider of learning and business performance products, services and processes, along with MicroPower, its reseller in Brazil, today announced that Renault Brazil has chosen SumTotal technology to power its "Renault Crescer" initiative. One of the most comprehensive learning programs in the Brazilian automotive industry, "Renault Crescer" will deliver critical training and information to 2500 employees at 200 points of sale across the Authorized Dealer Channel.
Renault's goal in establishing the "Renault Crescer" initiative is to accelerate the readiness of its sales and service staff in order to increase sales and raise customer satisfaction levels. The program will deliver training on both business and technical skills and processes to sales people, service technicians and parts specialists at Renault dealerships, showrooms, authorized sales offices and parts distribution centers.
Renault chose SumTotal technology to help centralize its learning resources, and to convert them to a Web-based delivery to reduce costs and to make them easily accessible to the extended enterprise without requiring instructors or learners to leave the workplace. The comprehensive capabilities of the SumTotal Enterprise Suite will help to manage and improve dealers people competencies as well as plan and manage instructor led classes and drive the program's online course enrollment.
SumTotal's expertise is in helping companies strategically apply a comprehensive suite of learning applications, services and solutions in order to generate bottom line results such as increased revenues, decreased expenses and reduced operational cycle time.
"We have great expectations of the 'Renault Crescer' program," said Victor Hugo Rizzi, training manager for the Renault Dealer Channel. "Using SumTotal's technology, we will be able to provide more timely training to the dealers and will increase the quality of after sale customer service. Without a doubt, I believe this method of managing competencies, delivering training and information will help us accelerate the process of launching new vehicle lines, increase customer satisfaction and exceed customer expectations of Renault vehicles."
"Based on years of experience working with automotive companies, we know they are under significant pressure to find faster and less expensive ways to bring new products to market, while meeting compliance regulations and ensuring employees, dealers and distributors have the knowledge to sell and support their products," said Andy Eckert, CEO of SumTotal Systems. "We have tailored our products and services to meet these specific challenges, and are delighted to be able to help Renault Brazil implement a solution that will pay off in a more prepared workforce, higher revenues and increased customer satisfaction."
About MicroPower
Founded in 1994, MicroPower is the leading e-Learning solutions provider in the Brazilian market. MicroPower has represented Docent in the country since 2001, providing and integrating technology platforms, on-line course content and specialized consulting services. MicroPower also promotes the e-Learning Brazil - Conference & Award, considered Latin America's largest and most important e-Learning event with an objective to develop the e-Learning market. In addition, MicroPower has developed and distributed "best of breed" technologies like machine translators, text to speech, and Virtual Vision (Smithsonian Award 1998/1999 finalist), a screen reader that enables the Visually Impaired to access computer applications and Internet with autonomy.
About SumTotal Systems
SumTotal Systems Inc. is the business performance and learning technology industry's largest single provider of technologies, processes and services. Formed by the merger of industry pioneers Docent and Click2learn, the company is uniquely focused on helping organizations harness and manage mission-critical intellectual power to solve real-world business problems and produce significant bottom-line results. SumTotal has helped accelerate performance and profit for more than 600 of the world's best-known companies, including Microsoft, Cingular Wireless, Vodafone, Lucent, Accenture, Cendant, Harley-Davidson, Wyeth, Wachovia and D & B. SumTotal Systems is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, with offices throughout the US, as well as in London, Paris, Heidelberg, Sydney, Tokyo and Hyderabad, India.
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Information in this press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about future business operations, industry leadership, financial performance and viability, customer benefits, timing and features of our product offerings, acceptance of our solutions, expected innovation, and other potential benefits and synergies to be derived from the transaction and other market conditions that include risks and uncertainties. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance or events and are based on current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, goals and objectives, and SumTotal Systems does not assume any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by these statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, (i) the challenges and costs of integration and restructuring and the ability to achieve anticipated synergies associated with the recent merger; (ii) an emerging and rapidly evolving market, (iii) market uncertainty with respect to the merger and acceptance of SumTotal Systems' product offerings by customers and partners; (iv) adverse changes in general economic or market conditions; (v) delays or reductions in information technology spending; (vi) the ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees; (vii) intense competition in the marketplace and (viii) other events and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in SumTotal Systems' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10Q filed on May 1, 20047, 2004.