Reynolds and Reynolds Seamlessly Plugs Auto Dealers Into the Internet
7 November 2000
Reynolds and Reynolds Seamlessly Plugs Auto Dealers Into the Internet
DAYTON, Ohio--Nov. 7, 2000--New ERA3 Retail Management Solution Expands Reynolds' Integrated Suite
of Services to the Auto Industry
The Reynolds and Reynolds Company today continued its leadership in the transformation of automotive retailing with the introduction of ERA3 featuring ConsumerReach, the most enhanced, integrated set of retail management capabilities the industry has seen to date. ERA3 is immediately available to retailers across the United States. The Canadian version will be released in February 2001.
Building upon the successful solutions and services of Reynolds' existing retail management systems, ERA3 is the core of Reynolds' broad suite of auto retailing services, which include dealership training, Internet buying services, customer relationship management solutions, and networking services.
ERA3 provides retailers with the tools they need to increase profit and customer satisfaction by truly taking advantage of the Internet. With the new ConsumerReach capability, ERA3 provides everyone within a dealership - including both sales and service - the opportunity to communicate directly with their customers from any workstation or terminal in the dealership via e-mail. ERA3's text-based e-mail is available on any ERA(R) terminal, including existing "green-screen" terminals. It is the only system available that provides this flexibility.
ConsumerReach functions with any existing ERA terminal anywhere in the dealership, thus it does not require retailers to make additional investments in new terminals and PCs. And because it is integrated as part of the ERA3 platform, retailers can quickly familiarize their sales and service personnel on how to use e-mail communication without requiring them to totally change their existing processes, spend a great deal of time on training, or understand new systems.
According to Kurt Lieberman, general manager, Retail Management Solutions, "ERA3 ConsumerReach addresses big issues for auto retailers. They need new tools to easily establish consumer preferences on how to be contacted. The retailer also needs new tools to communicate when, where and how the consumer prefers. ConsumerReach is that tool, providing a system-driven process for gathering all customer contact information at the point of reception - regardless of whether the customer enters through the door, the service bay, or the keyboard."
In addition to ConsumerReach, ERA3 provides auto retailers with these
capabilities:
-- Hand Held PCs: These provide dealership employees with full
mobility when serving customers with complete access to all ERA3
and customer information. Available in every area of the
dealership, Hand Held PCs allow retailers to meet and greet their
customers at their vehicles, providing faster service, improving
the customer experience and increasing production.
-- Thin Client: This is a graphical workstation that offers a smaller
"footprint" at a more affordable price than the traditional ERA3
color terminal. The Thin Client provides an alternative upgrade
path for customers at a lower cost than a PC.
-- Software Value Packages: These applications enable retailers to
take greater advantage of ERA3 functionality at more affordable
pricing. They build upon the base services offered in ERA3 today,
enabling retailers to better control costs and improve customer
satisfaction across their business.
Reynolds' first in a series of Value Package offerings includes:
-- Payroll Plus: Designed for the advanced payroll user who
requires the ability to take greater advantage of today's
trends, Payroll Plus enables direct deposit, employee wage
reports and custom targeted reports.
-- Service Plus: This is ideal for service departments interested
in gaining greater technician productivity through the use of
Electronic Service Integration and Service Scheduling.
-- Dashboard: This is an easy to use Windows-based PC tool that
allows the dealer to better understand dealership performance,
enabling tighter control of operations across the dealership.
"What's causing the most excitement with retailers is ERA3's green-screen functionality. But its integration with the other ERA3 capabilities is what really makes it sing," continued Lieberman. "It's easy, it's automated, it's system-driven and it best positions our customers for the future. These words are like gold to automotive retailers."
Lieberman added that Reynolds' expansive offering of retailing solutions and services would further enable dealerships to take full advantage of ERA3 and ConsumerReach. These include Reynolds Transformation Services, which provides retailers with the appropriate training needed to successfully integrate the Web as part of normal business operations, and Managed Access, an advanced global, managed Internet service providing business quality communications through the use of e-mail, secure access to the Web, and Intranet/Extranet functions.
To discuss the purchase and installation of the ERA3 retail management system with ConsumerReach, or any other product or service offered by Reynolds and Reynolds, contact your local Reynolds account manager, call 1.800.767.7879, or log-on to the company Web site at www.reyrey.com.
About Reynolds and Reynolds
Reynolds and Reynolds, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is the leading provider of integrated information management solutions to the automotive retailing marketplace. The company's services include a full range of retail and enterprise management systems, networking and support, e-business applications, Web services, learning and consulting services, customer relationship management solutions and leasing services. To find out more about the company, its vision, products and services, visit www.reyrey.com.
Certain statements in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections of future company or industry performance based on management's judgment, beliefs, current trends and market conditions. Forward-looking statements made or to be made by or on behalf of the company may be identified by the use of words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, forecasted or implied in the forward-looking statements. See also the discussion of factors that may affect future results contained in the company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2000, which we incorporate herein by reference. The company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.