Selectica Powers Building of Virtual Cars On Hyundai Motor America's Web Site
20 November 2000
Selectica Powers Building of Virtual Cars On Hyundai Motor America's Web Site
SAN JOSE, Calif.--Nov. 20, 2000--Selectica(TM), Inc. , providers of Internet Selling Systems (ISS) for e-Business, announced today that Hyundai Motor America has deployed Selectica's ISS to serve as the configuration engine behind the Hyundai QuickQuote(TM) program, a new online solution that transforms online car shopping into a highly interactive, personalized experience for both customers and dealers. The ISS enables customers to navigate through specification and feature combinations to configure the exact car they want, save their configuration and send it to a local dealer for pricing and availability.Forrester predicts that in 2005, 6.7 million prospects will visit car-buying sites. Seventeen percent will actually buy online, spending $33 billion(1). In an effort to leverage the Web to increase sales and marketing effectiveness, Hyundai sought out Internet-based applications that could qualify and deliver leads generated online to dealers for fulfillment, enhancing both dealer sales and customer satisfaction. Selectica's ISS was chosen and implemented by CCG.XM, a professional services firm working in conjunction with Hyundai to develop the QuickQuote program, for its ability to quickly deploy advanced functionality and its seamless integration with Hyundai's existing Web infrastructure.
Customers accessing the Hyundai Motor America Web site (www.hyundaiusa.com) launch Hyundai's QuickQuote solution, to guide them through a simple configuration process. They are prompted to select various features for model, color, option packages and individual add-ons such as CD players, sunroof, and anti-lock brakes. Users may proceed through the process in any order and change features at any time. Customers can then save their configured Hyundai vehicle for future retrieval or modification, and email their virtual car profile to a local dealer who can respond back with availability and price quote information.
"Hyundai's QuickQuote program represents an innovative way of using the Web to build satisfaction with both customers and dealers," said Dave Gault, Internet marketing manager, Hyundai Motor America. "By configuring cars online and emailing quote requests to dealers, customers have the freedom to shop in a pressure-free environment, while dealers gain a new form of lead generation, and realize impressive cost efficiencies through shorter sales cycles and reduced inventories. Selectica's ISS was the ideal technology to promote a more robust automotive buying experience."
According to Stan Smith, managing director at CCG.XM Irvine, "Choosing a proven technology for this initiative was extremely important, and Selectica had already made a name for itself in the automotive industry. We were particularly impressed with Selectica's Select-a-Car program that set the online selling standard for the automobile industry. We believe that we can ensure success with Hyundai."
"Automotive manufacturers taking advantage of the Internet as a sales channel have a significant competitive advantage," said Raj Jaswa, president and CEO, Selectica. "Selectica's ISS helps companies such as Hyundai Motor America bring their businesses online to forge new customer relationships and ensure the dealer channel is part of the overall sales and fulfillment process."
About CCG.XM
CCG.XM is a professional services firm offering solutions in e-business strategy, brand strategy, e-commerce execution, back-end network infrastructure, front-end design, and implementation -- all driven by proven expertise in building customer relationships.
Operating from offices in the United States, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia, CCG.XM continues to influence the e-business revolution that is transforming industries worldwide. CCG.XM is a separate, wholly owned subsidiary of Cordiant Communications Group, the global, integrated communications organization , with the capabilities to leverage the full resources of the parent, including the marketing, advertising, media, and research practices of Bates Worldwide.
CCG.XM has offices in New York, California, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Singapore, Dubai and Australia. Two-thirds of current revenues come from outside the United States. Clients include Compaq, Nokia, Visa, Coca-Cola, Warner Lambert, Cable & Wireless, Unilever and Hyundai.
About Hyundai Motor America
Hyundai Motor America, based in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai cars and light trucks are distributed in the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 500 dealerships nationwide.
About Selectica, Inc.
Selectica, Inc. develops, markets and supports a packaged Internet Selling System (ISS) solution that enables companies to sell and buyers to purchase complex products and services over the Internet. Selectica's ISS solution enables businesses to easily develop and rapidly deploy an Internet sales channel that interactively assists their customers through the selection, configuration, pricing, quoting and fulfillment processes. Selectica's customers include industry leaders such as BMW, Cisco Systems, Dell, Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Hewlett-Packard, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Juniper Networks, and Rockwell Automation. Selectica is headquartered in San Jose. The company's Web site is located at www.selectica.com.
The statements contained in this release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding Selectica's expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to Selectica as of the date hereof, and Selectica assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statement. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the factors and risks discussed in Selectica's Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(1) "Overhauling Online Car Buying," October 2000
Note to Editors: Selectica is a trademark of Selectica, Inc. All other product and company names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.