Reynolds and Reynolds Launches Major E-Business Initiative; New President and COO Says the Internet is a Key Element of the Company's Blueprint for Growth
29 June 1999
Reynolds and Reynolds Launches Major E-Business Initiative; New President and COO Says the Internet is a Key Element of the Company's Blueprint for Growth
DAYTON, Ohio, June 29 -- Two months after joining The
Reynolds and Reynolds Company as its new president and chief operating
officer, Lloyd G. "Buzz" Waterhouse today announced the formation of
Reynolds' eBusiness Group. The team is focused on leveraging the Internet to
enhance Reynolds' position in the automotive and document services markets.
Waterhouse says the group was formed to bring clear focus on the new,
network-based economy, a technology-driven sea change that he says will play
an important role in the company's aggressive growth goals. "We plan to be
the e-business leaders in the markets we serve, providing our customers with
the added business horsepower associated with Internet-based solutions and
services."
Reynolds already plays a key role in making Microsoft CarPoint the
automotive industry's leading car-buying site on the Internet (as ranked by
Media Metrix, the leading Internet audience usage measurement service).
Additionally, Reynolds' Customer Advantage Internet-based system for document
management gives users access to electronic print-on-demand and "fill-in"
forms through their web browsers. And earlier this year, Reynolds introduced
integrated voice and data services that will provide analysis and customized
Internet and infrastructure solutions to enhance automobile dealers' market
presence and productivity. Though successful, Waterhouse says the company's
existing e-business services can be greatly expanded.
"Now we're bringing our Internet strategies together, establishing a
web-focused infrastructure, and dedicating the people to rapidly grow the
business internally and through strategic partnerships. Speed wins in
e-business. We're establishing an Internet-focused organization that will
move quickly and aggressively to leverage the Internet to provide value to our
customers," he said.
Waterhouse says the real Internet revolution is just beginning.
Companies, like Reynolds, with tangible assets including proven manufacturing
strengths, efficient distribution networks, large bases of satisfied
customers, and clear market leadership are well positioned to lead the next
phase of the Internet revolution. "If you look at the market dynamics today,
you can see the increasing strength of established market leaders which have
expanded their existing value propositions to include the Internet. Our
focused eBusiness Group allows us to expand more aggressively from our
existing leadership positions," Waterhouse said.
Waterhouse is a 26-year IBM veteran who most recently served as general
manager of e-business services, with $2.7 billion in revenues and one of IBM's
fastest growing business units.
Reynolds' eBusiness Group is a companywide team led by Greg Collins,
formerly vice president, corporate strategy and development. The Group
includes dedicated e-business teams from each of the company's business units.
Reynolds' initial e-business efforts focus on automotive retailing and
document management opportunities. Mark Brown, formerly group vice president,
Automotive Solutions, leads the Automotive Division's efforts. Scott Collins,
vice president, marketing, leads the e-business initiatives for the Business
Systems Division. All Internet applications leverage a companywide e-business
enablement center, led by Reynolds' CIO, Frank Caccamo. The e-business
enablement center will support Reynolds' internal and external Internet
activities.
Reynolds' Chairman and CEO, David R. Holmes, summarized the company's
e-business plans by saying, "The Internet is a means of enriching existing
customer relationships and attracting new customers. Our focused eBusiness
Group will be a key component of Reynolds' blueprint for growth. We'll focus
on leveraging our internal expertise with outside partnerships to introduce
rapidly and regularly, e-business services that create more value for our
customers, shareholders and associates."
Reynolds and Reynolds, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is a leading
provider of integrated information management systems and related value-added
services to automotive and general business markets. The company reported
revenues of about $1.5 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 1999. For
more information on Reynolds and Reynolds, visit the company's World Wide Web
site at http://www.reyrey.com, or call The Reynolds and Reynolds Information
Hotline at 888-4REYREY.