Oxlo Systems Joins STAR

Oxlo Assists with Volkswagen in STAR XML integration effort

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 14 -- Oxlo Systems, a B2B integration software firm developing and delivering products and services for the automotive retail industry, has joined STAR (Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail), the IT standards body for the North American retail automotive industry.

Oxlo's goal is to work with RSPs (Retail Service Providers) and automotive manufacturers to deliver an all-OEM encompassing integration platform thus providing any RSP the ability to be DCS-certified (Dealer Communications Systems) with any OEM once integrated with Oxlo. With more DMS software integrated to more OEMs, dealers will be able to choose from a greater selection of DMS software that best fits their business.

STAR is a non-profit, auto industry-wide initiative to create voluntary IT standards for the data elements and transmission format used by manufacturers, dealers, and retail system providers to communicate with each other. STAR's initiatives will result in a more efficient data exchange between dealers and manufacturers, with lower costs, more accurate and timely data, and increased levels of customer satisfaction.

"Oxlo is very pleased to join STAR and support its XML and B2B transport efforts. Oxlo shares STAR's goal of simplifying the integration of dealer systems so that dealers have access to better software from a variety of vendors," said Jim Lejeal, Oxlo's CEO.

Oxlo is currently working to pass ebXML Interoperability Testing and once completed, will deliver turnkey integration of a dealer's DMS to manufacturers' DCS, finance acceptance networks, trading partners and third- party application software. The company expects to ensure that its integration solutions completely and correctly support the STAR XML standards for DCS and financial integration.

Currently, Oxlo is partnering with Volkswagen of America (VWoA) to implement five STAR XML standards for their next generation STAR-DCS; which will connect over 800 VW and Audi dealerships in North America beginning in January 2005. The STAR standards utilized are: Parts Order, Parts Return, Parts Shipment Notification, Financial Statement, and Repair Order for warranty claims. Oxlo and VWoA are also implementing one of two STAR standards for XML data transport: ebXML messaging (ebMS).

"For Volkswagen of America, the long-term goal is to provide integrated Dealer Communications Services to 100% of our dealerships in the USA and Canada. Oxlo can help to provide a much needed STAR transport exchange service to many RSPs that otherwise may not be able to develop custom OEM integration. By opening up our STAR-based requirements and specifications to Oxlo, VWoA will offer more IT choices and options for dealerships," says Eric Conn, Partner Integration Specialist for VWoA.

Eric continues: "By the end of 2004 VWoA will have more dealers electronically submitting Financial Statements than ever before in addition to the electronic submissions of Parts Orders, Parts Returns and Warranty Claims. This increased dealer adoption of integrated electronic submissions would not have been successful without STAR standards as a foundation. Working with Oxlo will only help to increase our number of integrated dealerships."

Oxlo expects to soon partner with several DMS vendors, many of which are not STAR members, to be a representative voice to the STAR organization.

"We're excited to welcome Oxlo into our organization and to be so enthusiastic in implementing our XML and B2B transport standards. This ultimately benefits dealers by assisting OEMs and RSPs in dealer communication system integration," says Tom Campisi, STAR Communications Chair.

  About STAR (http://www.starstandard.org/ )
  Source: STAR

The Standards for Technology in Automotive Retail (STAR) organization is the Information Technology (IT) standards organization for the retail automotive industry. The goal of the STAR organization is to use IT standards as a catalyst in fulfilling the business information needs of dealers and manufacturers while reducing the time and effort previously required to support this activity.

Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, STAR is a not-for-profit volunteer organization and its members include Dealers, Manufacturers and Retail System Providers (RSPs). As members, they are interested in developing, promoting, and administering voluntary IT standards in the retail automotive industry and improving the effectiveness, timeliness and competitiveness of the IT solutions needed within the retail automotive industry.

  STAR membership roster:
  Dealer Groups: NADA

Retail System Providers: ADP, Advent Resources, Inc., AIAG, AFSA, Arkona, Auto/Mate Inc., Cyclone Commerce, CCAQ, DealerTrack, EDS, Motorcycle Industry Council, NAT, Inc., NeoSynergy, LLC, PBS Financial Systems Inc., OAGI, Oxlo Systems, Procede Software, Reynolds & Reynolds, RouteOne, Sprint, Sun Microsystems, Tibco, UCS, 5Square Systems Corporation

Manufacturers: American Honda Motor Co., Inc., American Suzuki Motor Corp., BMW of North America, Inc., DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corp., Hyundai Motor America, Jaguar Cars, Kia Motors America, Land Rover, Mazda North American Operations, Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, Inc., Nissan North America, Inc., Porsche Cars North America, Inc., Renault, Saab Cars USA, Subaru, Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Volkswagen of America

  About Oxlo Systems (http://www.oxlo.com/ )
  Source: Oxlo

Oxlo Systems Inc. is based in Louisville, Colorado. Oxlo develops packaged software applications designed specifically to enable smaller businesses to immediately participate in the business-to-business trading hubs that are redefining all manufacturing industries. Oxlo's initial focus is to meet the need of automotive suppliers and dealers to comply with the industry initiatives driven by auto manufacturers. Oxlo differentiates itself by delivering fully preconfigured business solutions that are quickly and easily deployed. Within the existing IT architectures of the small and medium business these plug-and-play applications provide the information vital for business insight. Oxlo Systems is a privately held corporation and has received institutional financing from Mobius Venture Capital and Appian Venture Partners.