Newgen Announces Carabunga.com;
5 January 2000
Newgen Announces Carabunga.com; The Next Generation of CRM Services for Automotive Industry
SAN DIEGO--Jan. 5, 2000--Dealers and Manufacturers Stand to Benefit
Newgen Results Corporation , a leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology for the service sector of the U.S. retail automotive industry, today announced Carabunga.com, the next generation of CRM services designed to maximize repeat vehicle sales and parts and service revenues for auto dealerships.
As the e-Services division of Newgen Results Corporation, Carabunga.com (http://www.carabunga.com/) combines RESULTS, the company's established customer loyalty and retention system, with new Internet-based communication and real-time marketing techniques. The union of traditional direct mail and telemarketing efforts with e-mail-based reminders, reservations, customer satisfaction surveys, and real-time database analysis and promotion capabilities, helps dealerships maximize the sales of aftermarket accessories and parts, concierge services, and repeat visits for service, maintenance and/or purchase of used or new cars.
Initially, Carabunga.com will offer e-Reminders and e-ROAD, and during the first quarter of 2000 Newgen will introduce new service offerings such as e-Reservations, e-Connections and e-Promotions.
Unlike other e-offerings in the automobile industry that focus solely on the creation of a one-time, new or used car purchase, Carabunga.com will provide a comprehensive, single vendor solution designed to generate loyal customer relationships and encourage repeat visits to an automotive dealership.
Carabunga.com will help dealers analyze their customer database for consumer trends, perform data visualization mapping techniques and is designed to construct promotions in real-time using a browser-based tool. Targeted communications to consumers via e-mail, direct mail and teleservice help auto manufacturers and dealers deliver a customized message to the right customer at the right time.
By also utilizing sophisticated database purification techniques, Carabunga.com is intended to help dealers and manufacturers focus customer retention activities on the most active consumers, that reduces unnecessary advertising costs.
To deliver perfectly timed marketing communications with consumers, Carabunga.com relies on a comprehensive vehicle data warehouse that includes such items as service history, make and model and manufacturer or dealer recommended maintenance to predict customer needs. The process begins with a purchase of a new or used vehicle at a dealership and extends through the entire ownership cycle.
"With the success of the RESULTS system, Newgen has developed a reputation for superior products that meet the needs of auto manufacturers and dealers," said Gerald Benowitz, chairman, president and CEO of Newgen. "Carabunga.com will apply this knowledge and experience to Internet-based products to achieve a new level in managing customer relationships."
Carabunga.com services will include:
e-Reminders
For consumers that prefer online communication, Carabunga.com currently offers a sophisticated system of dealership branded e-mail service reminders. Newgen e-Reminders will allow customers to make a reservation online directly by simply clicking on a link embedded within the reminder notice. Each e-mail reminder is automatically personalized with the customer's name, address, vehicle and driving habits and will include maps and instructions on how to contact or visit the dealership (http://www.ngresults.com/carabunga/ereminders/index.html).
e-Reservations
Carabunga.com will make it simple for dealers to schedule service visits, maximize service center profitability and allow dealership customers to make a service reservation using the Internet. Consumers will simply select the service that their vehicle requires, with the option of adding a detailed description of their vehicle's symptom(s). In addition, highlighted text on a Newgen e-Reservation form will indicate a service that should be performed as part of the due recommended maintenance. Once a consumer selects a date and time, the e-Reservation form is automatically populated with customer name, address, vehicle and VIN number. For dealers, e-Reservations will automatically include service appointment scheduling, maintenance tracking and automated performance data downloads directly to dealership computers (http://www.ngresults.com/carabunga/ereservations/index.html). Newgen anticipates launching e-Reservations in the first quarter of 2000.
e-Connections
Carabunga.com will utilize e-Connections, Newgen's Internet-based customer satisfaction surveys, to receive instant feedback from consumers. Newgen e-Connections is designed to help dealers to earn higher index ratings in customer satisfaction to receive added benefits from the manufacturer and further improve customer relationships and dealership loyalty (http://www.ngresults.com/carabunga/econnect/index.html). Newgen anticipates launching e-Connections in the first quarter of 2000.
e-ROAD
Carabunga.com employs e-ROAD, a browser-based tool that will enable dealers to analyze their vehicle database for customer trends, perform data visualization through mapping techniques and generate sophisticated reports (http://www.road2000.com/). By using e-ROAD, dealers will be able to develop more precisely targeted communications and evaluate the impact of promotional activities.
e-Promotions
Carabunga.com will also employ e-Promotions, another browser-based tool, that is designed to allow dealers to construct promotions for all aspects of dealership activity, including service, maintenance, accessories, extended warranties, and new or used vehicle promotions. By using e-Promotions, dealers will be able to time promotions to match specific dealer activity and take advantage of Newgen's digital printing, telephony, and Internet-based services. Newgen anticipates launching e-Promotions in the first quarter of 2000.
"There are many promises being made about applying the Internet to enhance dealership sales," said Jim Roche, senior vice president, e-Services division. "Newgen has the experience in the CRM marketplace that can be successfully applied to the next generation of e-Services for the automotive industry. Carabunga.com is just the next step in the Newgen quest to provide dealers with the most competitive CRM system that delivers the right message at the right time to the right customer."
About Newgen Results Corporation
Newgen Results Corp. is a leading provider of customer-relationship management technology that combines expertise in database marketing and customer retention with an in-depth knowledge of service department operations to deliver highly targeted and customized solutions to the automotive community. Newgen currently supports 5,500 auto dealerships nationwide and maintains relationships with leading automotive companies and dealer groups, including Ford, Mitsubishi, Volvo, Audi, Acura, BMW, Volkswagen, Jaguar, Kia, Infiniti plus AutoNation and CarMax Auto Superstores. For more information, call 800-7NEWGEN or visit www.ngresults.com.
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements about the benefits of new and existing products, and the timing for commercial launch of new products, such as Carabunga.com, e-Reminders, e-Reservations, e-Connections, e-ROAD and e-Promotions, being offered by Newgen. Such statements are only predictions and the company's actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to risks related to market acceptance of the Results, e-Services, Carabunga.com and other programs by dealers, the ability of the Company to satisfy dealers, the ability of the company to successfully develop new and innovative products, rapidly changing product requirements, and the introduction of new products by competitors of the company. These factors and others are more fully discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in Newgen's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-62703) and in the Company's most recently filed quarterly report on form 10Q, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.