Chrome Data Corporation Announces Creation of Professional Services Group; Analysts and Engineers Support Clients' Custom Automotive Application Development

6 December 2000

Chrome Data Corporation Announces Creation of Professional Services Group; Analysts and Engineers Support Clients' Custom Automotive Application Development

    PORTLAND, Ore.--Dec. 6, 2000--Chrome Data Corporation, the most accurate independent business-to-business provider of automotive data and configuration technology and software, today announced the creation of the Professional Services Group, a team of highly qualified business analysts and software developers who will help Chrome clients define, design and develop leading-edge custom applications for the automotive market.
    Automotive manufacturers, Internet portals, fleet management companies and other large organizations can now leverage the skill sets and experience of Chrome's Professional Services Group to quickly and easily build custom automotive applications.
    In order to meet client needs for customization, Chrome has separated the user interface and presentation tiers of its industry-leading configuration system from the underlying configuration intelligence. Clients can now build custom automotive applications while still benefiting from Chrome's core competency in accurate, orderable vehicle data and the ability to search inventory in a series of networks, by using Chrome's configuration technology platform, Chrome AutoBuilder(TM). Clients can develop their own applications or work with the Professional Services Group.
    "Time to market is often key to success," said Bob Navarre, Chrome CEO. "Chrome created the Professional Services Group to provide our clients with business and engineering expertise to quickly create robust automotive applications. Any client who wants to get a new automotive application up and running swiftly will turn to the Professional Services Group to reduce the learning curve to zero."
    The Professional Services Group will help clients decide how best to design and develop automotive applications, provide assistance in installing and customizing applications and provide training. Together, the initial Group members bring more than half a century's experience in business analysis, business strategy, human factors design and applications programming. Their skill sets include all major development platforms and programming and presentation languages, including Java, JSP, HTML and XML.
    The Professional Services Group plans to follow the Rational Unified Process(TM) methodology, an engineering management process using iterative development to construct applications on a platform of underlying components--the way AutoBuilder itself was designed.
    "Automotive retailing is in a state of flux," said Mark Davidson, vice president of technology and engineering at Chrome. "The successful players will be those who attract and retain the consumer and this requires the ability to quickly create new automotive applications that increase the consumer's sense of trust. The Professional Services Group will help our clients remain nimble. The key to our clients' success in the long run will be our consistent application of appropriate methodology. It's all about knowing before you build."

Chrome: Most Accurate Data Provider
    In a recent independent study CNW Marketing/Research compared the pricing data of the major online automotive data sources by configuring 86 different vehicles at eight different Web sites (see Chrome Data Named Most Accurate Data Provider for Automotive e-Commerce, June 27, 2000). Chrome ranked first in data accuracy with an average price accuracy of 99.64%.

About Chrome Data
    Chrome Data pioneered the technology behind electronic vehicle configuration and for the past 14 years has collected, analyzed and enhanced "raw" automotive data from all manufacturers.
    Chrome's configuration technology platform allows dealers, Internet portals, financial institutions and insurance and warranty companies to provide their customers with tools to configure vehicles both online and on the desktop -- including specifications on all new vehicle makes and models, standard and optional equipment, vehicle pictures and accurate pricing. This information precisely matches manufacturers' invoice and MSRP pricing, enabling users to configure and order any vehicle sold in the U.S. with the confidence that the delivered product and price are exactly what was expected.
    Chrome's flagship product, the desktop research, pricing and ordering tool PC Carbook(R), is widely accepted as the standard in automotive data. Chrome's Web-based product, Chrome Carbook(TM), can be accessed from more than 1,000 Web sites across the Internet. The company is based in Portland, Oregon and may be reached at 800/936-8906. Company information is available at www.chrome.com.

    Copyright(c)2000 Chrome Data Corporation. All rights reserved. PC Carbook(R), C/D3(R), Chrome.com(R), Chrome Carbook(TM) and Chrome AutoBuilder(TM) are trademarks of Chrome Data Corporation. Rational Unified Process(TM) is a trademark of Rational Software Corporation.