Genuine Parts Company Selects CarStation.com to Expand Online Service Offerings
27 September 2000
Genuine Parts Company Selects CarStation.com to Expand Online Service Offerings
ATLANTA--Sept. 27, 2000--Genuine Parts Company , the industry's leading distributor of automotive, industrial, office and electrical/electronic replacement parts, today announced another partnership to expand its e-business strategy.
GPC's NAPA AUTO PARTS has selected CarStation.com to provide the Internet applications, infrastructure and connectivity for its 10,000 plus NAPA AutoCare Centers and NAPA AutoCare Collision Centers using CarStation.com's OnStation(TM) Technology Platform.
"Building on the combined strengths of the entire NAPA network of 10,000 AutoCare Centers, over 6,000 NAPA AUTO PARTS stores and more than 12,000 NAPA TRACS/ACCESS shop management systems, GPC and CarStation.com will have the ability to deliver the critical web applications necessary to deliver end-to-end solutions for the automotive industry," said Steve Handschuh, President of NAPA. "By leveraging CarStation.com's customer relationship management platform we will provide Internet software solutions that seamlessly support shops from operations to customer relations."
The agreement, which represents a multi-year commitment, calls for CarStation.com to integrate its applications with the NAPA TRACS management and estimating programs, enabling NAPA's online consumers to register their vehicle, receive basic diagnostic and educational information, locate a NAPA repair facility, receive promoted service offerings, schedule service appointments, and view an AutoCare Center's comprehensive Web site. CarStation.com's OnStation(TM) Technology Platform will enable NAPAonline.com to integrate online customer service and operations activities while enhancing and preserving the NAPA brand and business relationships.
"NAPA is confident that CarStation.com's demonstrated focus and excellence in the development and delivery of Internet solutions, coupled with our assets and industry expertise, will result in immediate rewards for our customers," GPC's U.S. Automotive Parts Group President Bob McKenna said. "This platform allows NAPA AutoCare Centers to improve operational efficiency through online solutions, by providing another source of contact to NAPA customers."
"This alliance arms technicians and suppliers with the best-of-breed Internet-based operations and customer service solutions necessary to service vehicles for their entire lifecycle - whether it's collision or mechanical service," said Dr. Ron Goldsberry, CarStation.com's Chairman and CEO. Goldsberry is a former Ford Motor Co. executive who led the manufacturer's worldwide parts and service organization.
Founded in January 1999 and based in San Francisco, with operations in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, CarStation.com is the first and only provider of Internet-based customer service and operations solutions to the entire automotive service industry. Powered by its OnStation(TM) Technology Platform, CarStation builds and deploys customized applications and provides a turnkey commerce system designed to reduce the time and cost of vehicle repairs. CarStation, which operates an automotive service e-commerce hub at www.carstation.com enables mechanical and collision repair professionals, suppliers, insurers and consumers to transact, communicate and manage the entire automotive repair process through the Internet.
Genuine Parts Company is a distributor of automotive replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also distributes industrial replacement parts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico through its Motion Industries subsidiary. S.P. Richards Company, the Office Products Group, distributes product nationwide in the U.S. and in Canada. The Electrical/Electronic Group, EIS, Inc., distributes electrical and electronic components throughout the U.S. and Mexico. Genuine Parts Company had 1999 revenues of $7.9 billion and net income of $377.6 million.