American Honda Logs On to Microsoft CarPoint's DealerPoint For New E-Commerce Customer Connection
20 September 1999
American Honda Logs On to Microsoft CarPoint's DealerPoint For New E-Commerce Customer Connection
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and MSN CarPoint Provide Dealers
Tools to Maximize Service for Internet Customers
TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 20 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
today announced an agreement with Microsoft Corp. to license
MSN(TM) CarPoint(TM)'s DealerPoint technology to all Honda and Acura dealers.
DealerPoint is an electronic lead-management system designed to help dealers
manage and quickly respond to Internet prospects, reduce dealership lot times
and monitor online sales performance.
Under the licensing agreement, Microsoft will provide DealerPoint
technology to more than 1,000 Honda and 250 Acura dealers. The dealers do not
need to be part of the existing CarPoint network of retail sales outlets to
participate in the agreement.
DealerPoint includes an industry-first feature for dealers to import
Internet leads from multiple Internet sites and online car-buying services
into one electronic-commerce-management tool, helping them manage Internet
customer leads more easily, respond faster to customer inquiries and increase
their sales-closing ratios.
"Honda recognizes the importance of providing our dealers with the best
Internet tools to help them leverage their e-commerce business," said Dick
Colliver, executive vice president for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "The
Internet customer is now becoming everyone, and we want our dealers to be
ready to meet and exceed the Internet needs of consumers of the new
millennium."
"By licensing our DealerPoint platform technology to industry leaders such
as Honda, we are building an automotive marketplace whereby dealers have the
technology and tools to respond immediately to their customers and provide the
vehicles they desire," said Lindsay Sparks, CEO of MSN CarPoint.
Multiple Leads -- One Management System
DealerPoint will receive and track Honda and Acura dealers' Internet leads
from a variety of sources, including online buying services, Honda and Acura
dealership retail web sites, http://www.Honda.com, and http://www.Acura.com. DealerPoint
was the first Internet product available to offer this support.
Honda and Acura dealers now will be able to track and respond to their
incoming Internet leads, manage their new car inventory, and monitor and
respond to the performance of their Internet department with up-to-the-minute
accuracy. This Web-based program is available to Honda and Acura dealers and
can be accessed through the AHM Intranet System, Honda or Acura internet
network personal computers running the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95, Windows 98
or Windows(R) NT 4.0 operating systems with access to Internet Explorer
version 4.01 or higher.
DealerPoint features in the license agreement include:
-- Prospect Manager gives multiple salespeople online access to a
dealership's electronic customer contacts, allowing faster responses to
both new car price inquiries. It also provides templates for rapid
e-mail responses to customers; the ability to track phone calls, e-mail
messages, price quotes and appointments; and alerts about unread and
overdue e-mail leads and customers' failure to respond to dealer e-mail
messages.
-- Account Manager and security features allow sales managers to allocate
CarPoint leads easily among sales staff, helping dealers respond faster
to customer inquiries.
-- Reporting capabilities allow dealers real-time access to online sales
results and the ability to compare them with past month's figures.
About American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Last year, American Honda achieved record U.S. sales of 1,009,600 new
Honda and Acura cars and light trucks, exceeding one-million for the first
time in history -- and the third straight year of record annual sales. The
Honda Civic, Accord and CR-V all are retail sales leaders in their segments,
the new Honda Odyssey has been hailed as the benchmark in the minivan
category, while the Acura TL has been recognized for setting a new standard
for value in the luxury class.
Honda currently produces automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles
and lawn mowers at its U.S. manufacturing operations using domestic and
globally-sourced parts. Honda also maintains R&D centers in Los Angeles, Ohio
and North Carolina that design and develop many of the products sold in
America and production engineering operations in Ohio. These operations play
an increasingly important role within Honda's global organization.
About MSN CarPoint
MSN CarPoint is a comprehensive automotive Web site offering users
complete car-buying and car-care information. Launched on the Internet in
July 1996, CarPoint gives users fast, convenient access to detailed
specifications and pricing information, reviews and advice from leading
automotive writers, interactive decision management tools, a new- and used-car
buying service, and personalized maintenance and recall information.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full
power of personal computing every day.