NeoSynergy Introduces First Web-Based Automobile Dealership Management System; Revolutionizes Industry by Adding eCommerce Capability

WELLINGTON, Fla., Dec. 14, 2004 -- With the North American automotive industry struggling to best use the limited capabilities of legacy dealership management systems, NeoSynergy today introduced its much anticipated 100 percent Web-based enterprise technology platform that fully integrates and optimizes dealer inventory, sales, finance, parts and service operations.

The new technology platform also provides unprecedented opportunities for consumers to interact with dealers online in real time to close vehicle transactions, schedule maintenance, monitor repair progress and order parts.

According to NeoSynergy founder and CEO Charles Shamblee III, the NeoSynergy Darwin XE dealership management system and accompanying Darwin Exchange real-time, eCommerce capabilities enable OEMs and dealers to better manage the vehicle purchase and ownership experience, enhance customer satisfaction and retain customers in an increasingly competitive market.

"The customer-centric Darwin platform is the next evolutionary step in dealership management and sales systems, developed and tested during the past 30 months with the full support and financial backing of many leading auto retailers," Shamblee said. "There are a number of outdated, non-process oriented systems currently in use that frustrate dealers. Ours offers them a viable, cost-effective alternative -- a true enterprise system capable of handling all dealership management, customer relationship management and eCommerce needs."

NeoSynergy products provide seamless, real-time communication between OEMs, dealerships and consumers, as well as third-party service providers. According to Shamblee, no other vendor in the automobile retail technology sector offers this capability, which is critical to running a dealership effectively. Darwin XE and Darwin Exchange link all dealership operations and departments through a single technology platform, as opposed to the multiple software systems from various vendors that interoperate poorly. NeoSynergy's single technology platform eliminates this concern and significantly enhances the efficiency of the overall business.

Darwin XE and Darwin Exchange also enable dealers to better facilitate online sales of vehicles, parts and service -- leveraging the public's increasing comfort with eCommerce.

Logging on to a dealership's Web site, a consumer will buy a vehicle, schedule a service appointment by reviewing shop capacity, arrange pick-up or drop-off service, provide authorization for additional work, check the status of a repair, pay electronically for a completed repair and order parts, among other services.

Dealership personnel can access the Web-based platform virtually anywhere via the Internet through wireless connections, unleashing them from the confines of the physical building and enabling them to visit customer homes, work places and other locations to meet with customers and coordinate sales.

In addition to unmatched functionality, the NeoSynergy products save automobile dealerships thousands of dollars in initial system installation and upgrade costs. The technology platform is 100 percent Web-based, so all server equipment is located in a secure offsite facility and system upgrades occur in real-time from this remote data center rather than at the dealership. In addition, dealerships are not forced to sign long-term contracts and, on average, a dealer can save as much as 40 percent on monthly subscription fees versus other dealership management systems.

The general release of the Darwin technology platform is underway with successful installations already completed. Several others are scheduled by the end of January. The technology will be showcased at the 2005 National Auto Dealers Association (NADA) Convention in New Orleans.

Unlike other automobile dealership software developers, NeoSynergy is led by a number of automotive executives with significant experience in dealership management, OEM operations, information technology systems, CRM programs and eCommerce.

Shamblee founded DealerKid, a successful Web-based customer relationship management provider. Chief Financial Officer Brian Hoecht is a founding partner of Nickelsen Partners LLC, a prominent automobile dealership consultancy, and is a former dealership General Manager and CFO. Chief Technology Officer Allan Green is a veteran developer of dealership management systems and founder of Auto-Mate, SA (now operating as Dimension Data). Additionally, a number of NeoSynergy executives, Shamblee and Hoecht among them, previously worked for Reynolds and Reynolds Company.

Approximately 80 percent of the NeoSynergy investor board is comprised of leading dealership principals, many of whom are current or past NADA board or OEM advisory council members.

Founded in 2002, NeoSynergy provides an innovative and technologically advanced enterprise system with business-improving professional services to the automotive industry. NeoSynergy has created a dealership management solution to address the modern opportunities facing automobile dealers. For more information, please visit http://www.neosynergy.net/ .