Point 5(R) Technologies Launches New e-Toolbox at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo; E-Commerce Tool Provides Cost-effective Online Parts Ordering

31 October 2000
Point 5(R) Technologies Launches New e-Toolbox at Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo; E-Commerce Tool Provides Cost-effective Online Parts Ordering
    LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31 Point 5 Technologies officially
launched its new e-Toolbox here today at the annual Automotive Aftermarket
Products Expo, unveiling software that enables warehouse distributors to offer
online auto parts ordering and time-saving content to repair shops at a
minimal expense.
    "Point 5 helps repair shops access a brand new communications medium,"
said Don Avellino, president and CEO of the company he founded.  Because some
parts installers and tire dealers are not yet connected to the Internet, the
Point 5 e-Toolbox also works with inexpensive Internet devices, allowing
installers to access the Point 5 catalog and content via a telephone line.
    Point 5 essentially brings two, key time-saving tools to the automotive
aftermarket -- online parts ordering and valuable installation and labor
content that saves installers time.  The online parts ordering is built into
the Point 5 e-Toolbox, which is installed on the back-end of a warehouse
distributor's web site, enabling its repair shop customers to easily order
parts online.  Installers who have PCs and an Internet connection simply log
on to the distributor's site.  Installers using Internet appliances dial up to
the site via a telephone line to make selections.
    Installers can quickly look up parts by a vehicle's make, model, year, or
engine type and then place the parts they intend to order into a shopping
cart.  After the order is placed, it is sent to the distributor by email.  The
repair shop is then notified of receipt of the order.
    "We predict that the classic scene of mechanics hunched over a workbench,
leafing through huge parts catalogues or choosing the right CD to load onto a
PC will soon be a scene from the past," said Doug Portner, COO for Point 5.
"With a few clicks, installers can view different parts and labor times and
place an order in a fraction of the time they spent hunting through catalogues
or looking through possibly outdated CDs.  In a labor-intensive field like
auto repair, where time truly is money, Point 5 will make a dramatic
difference."
    Most "from scratch" e-commerce initiatives require investments in the
thousands of dollars.  Point 5, however, is priced at a low, flat-rate fee per
order that can actually be reduced as distributors add more customers.  Point
5's additional advantage over "plain vanilla" e-commerce companies is that its
parts catalog is derived from a database built specifically to showcase
automotive aftermarket products.  Point 5 licensed the catalog portion of its
e-Toolbox from ProfitPro, a company well known for developing software
solutions for the automotive aftermarket.
    Point 5's presence is "private-labeled," meaning that installers will see
only the warehouse distributors' identities and logos when they visit their
web sites.  "We feel it is critical that distributors develop and grow their
own brands, not someone else's," said Portner.  This model is in direct
contrast to competing e-commerce products.  Says Portner, "Most other
e-commerce vendors act as middlemen between warehouse distributors and repair
shops, which only serves to disintermediate the supply chain.  Because our
solution resides transparently on the distributor's site, Point 5 simply acts
as an additional sales channel.  The only change is that the web speeds up
transactions and makes business happen more efficiently."
    "Our goal is to make warehouse distributors more efficient," said
Avellino.  "We're adding value to every step of the supply chain, increasing
turnaround time by reducing phone calls and improving order accuracy.  In
turn, installers save time, meaning they can service more cars and be more
profitable."
    Point 5 further enhances the auto parts purchase with subscriptions to
ChiltonPRO(R) by Nichols Publishing, providing online access to repair and
maintenance content.  When installers look up a part, ChiltonPRO automatically
serves up labor time estimates as well as repair procedures, technical
bulletins, and wiring diagrams -- saving a great deal of time.  Installers who
get this much information while ordering parts will undoubtedly return again
and again -- increasing distributor order volume.  "We know from our
experience in automotive shops that getting a part doesn't solve the complete
problem," said Portner.  "Instant access to parts information and labor times
reduces time spent preparing customer repair quotes, improving overall shop
efficiency."
    Point 5 is headquartered in the Philadelphia area and was launched by Don
Avellino, former president and COO of Tire Service Company and a 16-year
veteran of the automotive industry.  Co-founder Doug Portner's background in
automotive aftermarket sales and marketing complements Avellino's experience
in operational management.  Point 5 will be based at booth #15011 at the AAPEX
show; its web address is http://www.point5.net.
    Point 5 is a registered trademark of Point 5 Technologies.  All other
brand and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.  All rights
reserved.