CLEARWATER, FL – August 10, 2015 – AutoLoop, LLC, a leading provider of auto industry marketing and customer relationship management solutions, today announced that Curry Honda Yorktown has produced a 90-Day Service Lift of $171,000 through the use of AutoLoop’s Customer Engagement Suite, bringing new levels of service marketing and fixed operations profitability to the dealership.

Curry Honda Yorktown is one of 10 dealerships operated by Curry Automotive. The company uses several of AutoLoop’s Customer Engagement Suite tools, including Essentials service marketing and Book service productivity software. As a result, the dealership has seen:

• A 76-percent boost in service technician productivity
• A 119-percent service retention gain
• $171,000 incremental revenue from one recent 90-day service marketing campaign.

Brian McLenithan, Curry Automotive’s Fixed Operations Director, found AutoLoop in 2011 while searching for ideas to help improve the overall efficiency and profitability of his department. “Once I saw all the service department functionality, performance and management reporting that AutoLoop offered, the decision to sign up was a no-brainer,” he said.

As an example, McLenithan points to a recent period (from January 2015 through Memorial Day)where he scheduled Essentials to automatically send six email campaigns to customers—either as targeted recipients or general distributions—with striking results:

• $48,215 from scheduled maintenance
• $43,451 from recovered customers
• $35,710 from capture of prior declined services
• $44,509 from state-required vehicle inspections

Essentials enables McLenithan to automatically attach up to three digital coupons to each e-mail. The Memorial Day “Hot Days, Hot Deals” campaign, for example, offered special pricing on an oil change, free tire rotation and free service drive alignment check to 6,000 targeted customers. An attached coupon for a discounted wheel alignment could be applied to that service if an alignment was found necessary.

“We had a 10.5 percent response rate to that mailer—more than 630 click-through service schedules or phone calls,”McLenithan said. “That single email offer resulted in more than $26,000 in additional repair order dollars.”

Curry Honda uses Essentials to automatically communicate service reminders, missed appointment notices, birthday greetings and more. The software also lets the dealership target its emails: a recent campaign, for example, reached out to Honda owners with an outstanding recall, inviting them to bring their vehicles into Curry Honda to complete that service. In many cases the dealership retained business from those owners even if the initial purchase wasn’t from Curry.

Curry Honda is now writing100 to 125 repair orders a day—which could lead to logistics problems. But the dealership uses AutoLoop Book to capture and schedule these appointments automatically. Book provides a variety of benefits to the service department, including:

• Online scheduling: Generates 30 percent of Curry’s service appointments; McLenithan attributes the rate to ongoing service marketing that drives customers to the online scheduler.
• Service ledger: Provides dashboards and filters to help advisors monitor lane appointment activities in real time.
• Alerts and reminders: Sends phone calls, texts and email messages to appointments resulting in fewer no-shows.
• Customer web portal: Gives customers 24/7 online access to their service histories, OEM maintenance recommendations, good/better/best service menu options and more.
• Capacity management: Helps service managers schedule service based on technician availabilities, skill levels and/or appointments set.
• Mobile scheduling: Delivers greater convenience and on-the-go scheduling for busy customers.

Prior to Book, Curry’s scheduling—including customer, service advisor and technician management—was highly inefficient. “Advisors used to take appointments by phone and schedule them wherever they could through the DMS. Basically, they were shoving appointments into that scheduler without regard to time slots. At the time, it was common to see cars 18 to 20 deep waiting to get into service. It was insane, and I knew I had to find a better way,” McLenithan said.

“Book allows me to set specific appointment time parameters for when advisors can schedule customers,” he explained. “This scheduling organization has streamlined the drive, helped us sell more service and increased overall productivity and customer satisfaction. The dispatcher is no longer riding our technicians to move onto the next job.”

Since Curry Honda Yorktown began using Book, its technicians’ bay time is properly scheduled. “Before Book, we did just what was on the repair order: we had no time for anything else,” McLenithan said. “Now our technicians have the right block of time to thoroughly service and inspect vehicles.

“Productivity has gone through the roof. We’ve experienced increases from 85 percent productivity to 150 percent—and in some cases even more—because the technicians are now in their bays working, not running to parts or to advisors.”

Advisors are more productive, as well. “We’re seeing incredible performance lifts from advisors. Book frees them to perform proper walkarounds and inspections, spend more time with their customers, and present an upsell proposition where appropriate,” McLenithan said.

Part of this improved capability, McLenithan noted, can be credited to the use of Smart Lane, AutoLoop’s easy-to-use mobile service check-in tool. Advisors now approach customers with an iPad that—through the SmartLane application—shows complete customer and vehicle data. Customer response to the technology has been favorable.

“SmartLane has everything, even a tool for measuring tire depth. Customers are impressed when an advisor can check their tires and immediately print a measurement report. McLenithan went on to explain how SmartLane enables advisors to show customers good/better/best service menus to help with upsell. The application can also print or email a nice presentation package with a list of recommended services, both purchased and declined. “Customers tell me that our use of technology places Curry Honda Yorktown beyond anyone else,”McLenithan added.

McLenithan reports that customer retention has improved as well. “Service retention was 22.6 percent in 2011 when we started with AutoLoop,” he said, “and today this store is at 49.6 percent. I attribute that to our people using these tools.”

For more information, orto sign up for a demo, call 877-850-2010 or visit: http://www.autoloop.com.

# # # # #

About AutoLoop:

Since 2005, AutoLoop has helped automotive dealerships nationwide increase sales, improve client retention and achieve overall higher customer satisfaction ratings. With the AutoLoop Customer Engagement Suite—an all-encompassing platform that includes everything from CRM and automated messaging to equity mining, service scheduling and more—AutoLoop is the industry’s first and only single-vendor, end-to-end prospecting, marketing and engagement solution. An Inc. 500 company with nearly 50 million names in our database and over a billion individual communications initiated, AutoLoop is passionate about being America's best customer retention partner for progressive dealerships.

                                         Orr quits 35 years in automotive retail –

25 as Honda Store GM at #1 dealer group in Washington State

Vancouver WA—AUGUST 3, 2015 -- After 35 highly-successful years, automotive industry powerhouse, Joe Orr, has left the world of automotive retail to follow his passion. Orr is now the CEO of DealerSuccess, an automotive industry marketing/branding company. He has joined the team full-time to help build it into a tech heavyweight, with the launch of VirtualDeal, an Online Deal Creator for the consumer that uses an innovative perfect payment DMS-integrated technology.

Orr spent the last 25 years at Dick Hannah Dealerships, where he redefined the role of a General Manager in the 21^st century. He helped build the group, and its Honda dealership, into one of the largest in the North West. While working as GM, Orr served on the creative team with DealerPeak to totally re-create and re-brand their Online Deal Creation tool for his Honda store. He fell in love with the product and decided to leave automotive retail so as to further develop this tool (now Virtual Deal) for use in auto dealerships. Orr now works with his team at DealerSuccess to offer consulting and other revolutionary products that are meaningful to both dealerships and consumers.

As a true entrepreneur and visionary, Orr is addicted to opportunity and can always be found on the forefront of new technology. He is a driving force in progressive digital initiatives and a strong advocate for winning dealership solutions and processes that, if followed, ensure success.

“How can it be possible that I would leave a job I LOVE after 25 years? The fact is that I have always liked to be ahead of the curve and today’s customers are rewarding evolving dealerships that offer true Online Deal Creation with real perfect payment – where all that is left is the test drive. Don’t believe this can be done? Well, I am convinced that it can – and the results prove it,” said Orr.

“Through my yearlong research, studying live dealerships, and with actual implementation of Virtual Deal on the Dick Hannah Honda website, I am 100 percent convinced that this technology produces spectacular results. I have never seen a conversion tool dominate like Virtual Deal,” Orr added.

Orr’s coaching style of management allowed his Honda team to embrace, learn and succeed -not just with great tools - but with strong process & accountability procedures. “Every new product, service, tool we implemented required a unified vision, a strong written process and daily accountability. Now I get to share that with my dealer partners nationwide through DealerSuccess,” Orr said.

A well-known and in demand speaker, Orr has engaged audiences at the JD Power Internet Roundtable, Driving Sales Executive Summit, and at past Digital Dealer conferences, to name a few.

Embarking on a new journey after 35-years in retail automotive, Orr will continue to share his wealth of automotive retail experience, side-by-side with his wife, Kim Orr and her team, at the already thriving DealerSuccess. The first product DealerSuccess introduced to the auto industry was CloudEngage, an auto dealer website solution that, through sophisticated Internet geofencing technology, identifies shoppers’ locations and delivers targeted messaging via the dealer’s websites.

“I’m excited for this next chapter of my life, in an industry I am so passionate about. I look forward to sharing hard data, analysis and the amazing results that I have seen from Virtual Deal and our other products – results that I have never before seen in all my 35 years in the auto industry,” Orr stated.

For more information, or to schedule a demo, call: 855-568-4140 email joe@dealersuccess.net or visit: www.dealersuccess.net

About DealerSuccess:

DealerSuccess is a team of inspired and passionate automotive executives, dealership Internet directors and professional marketers that seek out, research, test and launch revolutionary automotive products that have the potential to evolve and disrupt automotive for both the consumer and DealerSuccess’ auto dealer partners.

DMEautomotive recognized by MarketingProfs Bright Bulb Awards for innovation and for pushing the boundaries of traditional B2B marketing

Jacksonville, FL–July 29, 2015 – DMEautomotive (DMEa) today announced that the company has been named a finalist for 2015 B2B Brand of the Year by MarketingProfs Bright Bulb B2B Awards. The Brand of the Year award recognizes a B2B brand, product, or service that breaks out of the humdrum and demonstrates innovation by pushing the boundaries of traditional B2B marketing. This is one in a series of accolades DMEautomotive has received in 2015, including the prestigious Automotive Website Award and Digital Edge 25 Award, as well as finalist for 2015 DrivingSales Most Valuable Insights Award and a 2015 American Business (“Stevie”) Award.

“We are especially proud of this recognition because it comprises all the innovative services that make up our brand, from MasterCall to Journey NXT to Driver Connect,” said Mike Walther, Managing Director for DMEautomotive. “It also recognizes our customers, who constantly challenge us to innovate, think and operate outside the norm, as well as the marketing scientists and technologists who are the brain trust behind our products, and, collectively, our employees whose commitment to our principles of excellence and creative thinking underpin our brand and its value to the industry.”

Now in its third year, the MarketingProfs Bright Bulb B2B Awards recognize brilliance, excellence, and innovation in B2B marketing. The awards celebrate the unique people and programs that make B2B marketing rock—not just the glamorous campaigns, but also those that demonstrate measurable success. Winners of the awards will be announced in October 2015.

Since 2007, DMEautomotive has been making a name for itself as a data-driven automotive marketing company dedicated to increasing customer yield, conversion, and retention for its customers, which include 7 of the top 10 U.S. franchised dealer groups and 6 of the top 10 U.S. aftermarket service brands, as well as top automaker brands. DMEautomotive’s product suite includes MasterCall call management, Mobile Complete (including DMEautomotive’s award-winning, dealer-branded mobile app, Driver Connect), and its comprehensive retention-marketing powerhouse, Journey NXT.

About MarketingProfs

MarketingProfs fuels your inner marketing genius by giving you how-to marketing information and training courses taught by the smartest people around. More than 600,000 marketers worldwide trust MarketingProfs as their top business resource.

About DMEautomotive

DMEautomotive (DMEa), a Solera Holdings Inc. company, is the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, and provides turnkey marketing to the largest and most innovative automotive organizations, from automobile dealerships to many of the largest aftermarket companies in the U.S. DMEa's uniquely panoramic view of the complete automotive sales and service market, combined with its cutting-edge, science-based marketing programs, increases customer yield, conversion and retention. With Solera, we continue our ongoing mission to join strategic assets that help the industry in order to increase customer engagement within the automotive industry.

Supported by DMEa’s proprietary, cloud-based Red Rocket Technology Platform, the DMEa product suite includes science-based, data driven, multi-channel customer acquisition and retention marketing programs; best-in-class campaign reporting; data management and analytics; auto-focused Customer Interaction Center solutions, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, DMEa also has major operations in Jacksonville, Florida

About Solera

Solera is a leading provider of risk and asset management software and services to the automotive and property marketplace, including the global P&C insurance industry. Solera is active in over 75 countries across six continents. The Solera companies include: Audatex in the United States, Canada, and in more than 45 additional countries; HPI, CarweB and CAP Automotive in the United Kingdom; Informex in Belgium and Greece; Sidexa in France; ABZ and Market Scan in the Netherlands; Hollander serving the North American recycling market; AUTOonline providing salvage disposition in a number of European and Latin American countries; IMS providing medical review services; Explore providing data and analytics to United States property and casualty insurers; Service Repair Solutions, a joint venture with Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, that provides solutions for the service, maintenance and repair market; and I&S, a provider of software and business management tools, third-party claims administration, first notice of loss and network management services to the U.S. auto and property repair industries, specializing in glass claims. For more information, please refer to Solera's website at http://www.solerainc.com

DMEautomotive Media Relations:

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com
Crystal Hartwell, mWEBB Communications, (714) 987-1016, crystal@mwebbcom.com

Urbandale, IA--July 27th, 2015--Flick Fusion (www.flickfusion.com) announced today that Premier Solutionz, a leading provider of lot service and inventory management services to auto dealerships in Colorado, is using its Live Video Walk Arounds to help auto dealers increase website visitors, leads and sales.

One of Premier Solutionz' clients is Tynan's Nissan and Tynan's Volkswagen in the greater Denver area. In January 2014, Tynan's Nissan was averaging 7,000 website visitors and 150 sales leads per month. The dealership implemented a new SEO strategy that included live video walk-arounds provided by Premier Solutionz via the Flick Fusion video marketing platform. In June 2015, Tynan's Nissan received 24,985 website visitors (a 250 percent increase) and 678 website sales leads (a 350 percent increase). Tynan's Volkswagen saw similar results, and during the month of June, both dealerships received more than 3,600 video views of inventory on their websites and on YouTube.

"Watch a stitched video and then watch a full live walk-around side by side...the reason why it works is painfully obvious," said Shean Kirin, Owner/Operator of Kirin Consulting, the marketing partner that spearheaded Tynans' new digital strategy. "These videos are a solid part of an SEO strategy that has put the Tynans' stores at the top of the pack in our hyper competitive market." Both Tynan dealerships own the #1 Google organic rankings for almost every new car make/model/city search in the Denver area; and, since these changes, Tynans' has become the #1 volume Nissan and Volkswagen dealership in Colorado.

Jodi Starke is the founder and President of Premier Solutionz, the vendor responsible for shooting video footage for Tynans' dealerships live video walk-arounds. "Posting a video for every vehicle on their website has really improved the user experience and increased stickiness, with users staying longer on the site," said Starke. "One of the greatest advantages of the Flick Fusion inventory videos is they drive more traffic and leads to a dealer's website from YouTube and third-party car shopping websites, because Google ranks videos high in their search results."

In addition to traditional lot service and inventory management services, Premier Solutionz offers Craigslist marketing and digital marketing services to its clients. Two years ago Starke began researching video inventory solutions. "Video marketing is the next big thing and the future of the car business," said Starke.

"Having live videos of your inventory on YouTube and third-party car shopping sites is like having a billboard on Google for every vehicle on your lot." 

Starke chose Flick Fusion as the video marketing vendor for Premier Solutionz primarily because of their willingness to make modifications for her dealer clients. "We customize a great deal for our clients," said Starke. "What we love about Flick Fusion is we can speak to them directly about an idea, and they're always willing to work with us. I work with a lot of different vendors and they're easily one of the best to work with and most receptive to custom requests."

The Flick Fusion video marketing platform is highly automated, making it easy for the Premier Solutionz representatives to produce and upload live video walk arounds. To ensure the highest quality videos for her clients, Starke invested in good cameras with image stabilization. "We tried iPhones at first but the videos were sub-standard and too bouncy," she said.

The Premier Solutionz photographers have a set process they follow for the video shoots. "We teach them how to stage the vehicle in a certain way, and to zoom in on the top-selling features such as heated seats and navigation systems," said Starke. The photographers then upload each video to the Flick Fusion marketing platform. Flick Fusion offers computer-generated voiceovers but Starke prefers to have a live voice talent record custom vehicle comments and point out the top features for each vehicle. The entire process takes 24 to 48 hours, at which point the live video walk around videos replace the temporary, stitched inventory videos.

Flick Fusion's distribution process is fully automated, instantly pushing out and posting the completed videos on the dealership's website, mobile site, Facebook page, YouTube, Autotrader.com, Cars.com and other third-party sites the dealership has listings with. Flick Fusion's video marketing platform also makes it simple to automatically incorporate overlays, marketing and branding messages on the dealership's behalf.

Starke says that more of her clients are beginning to show interest in the live video walk arounds. "Right now the main objection is the higher price point versus stitched videos, but once you understand the value of having the increased product visibility, SEO, more traffic to your site and people spending more time on your site, it becomes an obvious asset to a strong Internet department," she said. Of the auto dealers who have signed up for Premier Solutionz live walk around videos, none have returned to the stitched video option.

"Ultimately for the dealer it comes down to how many more cars can you sell," said Starke. "For Tynan's Nissan and my other clients who have embraced these higher quality walk around videos, they are happy with the ROI that live videos deliver."

To learn more about Premier Solutionz' experience with Flick Fusion, watch this video on the Car News Network. For more information, call Flick Fusion at (800) 247-2502.

About Premier Solutionz

Premier Solutionz is a leading provider of lot photography and inventory management services to auto dealerships in Colorado and Wyoming. For more information, visit their website @ /premiersolutionz.com 

About Kirin Consulting

Kirin Consulting is an industry expert in digital marketing for the automotive space. As a boutique firm, they oversee all aspects of digital advertising remotely for dealerships less versed in digital marketing, giving them an edge on their competition. For more information please call (720) 988 2277.

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion specializes in creating, managing, and distributing dynamic and cost-effective online and mobile video products. Through its automated video marketing platforms, Flick Fusion offers the automotive industry's only “completely integrated” video solution that incorporates real-time rule/behavior based content based upon a car shopper's activity. Each video is designed to help dealerships reach and engage with customers, delivering increased sales and ROI. Flick Fusion produces video content for more than 3,000 dealerships and more than a dozen reseller partners. For more information, their website at /flickfusion.com

ALBANY, N.Y. – July 27th, 2015 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems announced today that Autopoint, a Solera company and a leading provider of revenue and retention solutions for auto dealership service departments, has completed integration of several of its products with Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS). Auto/Mate customers now have the ability to access Autopoint's advanced scheduling and shop loading features through the Fixed Ops Suite in their DMS.

“Improving Fixed Ops productivity and profits is a key focus for many dealers, and Auto/Mate is committed to providing all the tools that a Service Director needs to streamline efficiencies," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate Dealership Systems. “Our Open/Mate platform makes it easy and inexpensive for third-party vendors to integrate with our DMS, resulting in more vendor choices and cost savings for dealers.”

"A fully integrated solution improves process flow and speeds up transactions," said Rich Holland, Managing Director of Autopoint. "With this partnership, Auto/Mate customers also have access to our entire suite of revenue and retention solutions for auto dealership service departments."

Auto/Mate's DMS is now fully integrated with the following Autopoint products:

Shop Watch. Powerful appointment scheduling, shop loading, route sheets, arrival and departure boards, web appointments, emailing, texting and more. 

RFID & WelcomeBoards. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification System) that automatically welcomes customers on a flat screen TV as they pull into the service drive and also sends a text message to the sales person who sold the car.

Media Boards. Promotes the dealership's products and services on flat screen TVs throughout the dealership. 

Auto/Mate's Fixed Ops Suite is a full-featured solution that offers the following benefits to further streamline processes:

• One-screen access allows all service merchandising functions to be accessed within one screen via user-friendly pull-down menus and buttons
• Automated dispatch and electronic RO capabilities enable hands-free, customized and flexible dispatching
• Graphics-rich calendar allows service managers to view color-coded appointments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis "at-a-glance"
• Instant merge feature that merges duplicate customer information with a single click of a button (unique to Auto/Mate's DMS)
• "OEM Button" to access manufacturers’ online information at any time within Auto/Mate's DMS

Auto/Mate offers low-cost, seamless integration for third-party vendors with its Open/Mate program. Auto/Mate is an advocate of open standards integration as a way to increase competition, lower prices and improve the quality of products offered by all vendors.

Auto/Mate's DMS is an industry-leading solution designed for single and group franchise dealerships, proven to increase efficiencies and boost dealer profits. For more information call Auto/Mate at 877-340-2677.

About AutoPoint

AutoPoint is a leading provider of revenue and retention solutions for automotive dealership service departments. AutoPoint is a business unit of Solera Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLH) a leading global provider of risk and asset management software and services to the automotive and property marketplace, including the P&C insurance industry. For more information visit: http://www.autopoint.com/

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships, typically saving dealers thousands of dollars per month from their current provider. Our Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,100 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate has received the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Auto/Mate's employees have more than 940 years of combined experience working in franchised auto dealerships, the foundation of its “Designed By Car People For Car People^TM” slogan. Auto/Mate is committed to winning its customers’ business each and every month with no long-term contracts and free software upgrades. For more information follow us on Twitter @AutoMateDMS 

AutoVentures Conference, produced by DrivingSales and Fraser McCombs Capital, will connect entrepreneurs with investors, innovative retailers, and industry vendors to foster investment in, and adoption of, new technologies in the auto industry

Salt Lake City, UT – July 22, 2015 – DrivingSales and Fraser McCombs Capital today announced AutoVentures, the auto industry’s first conference to foster innovation and investment opportunities across the industry. Designed to bring value to entrepreneurs, leading industry vendors, professional investors and dealer executives alike, the conference will be held October 18, 2015 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.

AutoVentures offers three unique elements that move it beyond traditional investor conferences: 1) an exclusive focus on automotive, with guidance and expertise from industry leaders and successful entrepreneurs; 2) access to capital as well as influential early adopter customers, and 3) unique investment opportunities through a companion angel fund managed by crowd funder MicroVentures. 

“There has never been a more lucrative time to be an automotive entrepreneur or investor, with 33 major transactions and $35 billion in equity changing hands over the past 18 months,*” said DrivingSales founder and CEO Jared Hamilton. “And yet, until now, there has been no program focused specifically on bringing investors, dealers and auto entrepreneurs together.  We are proud to join forces with Fraser McCombs Capital and MicroVentures to create this unique program, dedicated to uncovering our industry’s highest-potential innovators -- and moving them forward for the benefit of all.”

 “Historically, the automotive sector has both been under-funded and has lacked mentors for young companies,” said Chase Fraser, Managing Partner of the private equity firm Fraser McCombs Capital. “We think the AutoVentures program will do much to fill this mentorship and information gap in the auto industry.”

The AutoVentures conference’s entrepreneurial-focused agenda includes lessons learned by successful automotive entrepreneurs and 1:1 demos from 20 of the industry’s most exciting new start-ups. The centerpiece of the conference is a series of onstage pitches by 20 young companies in three categories:  Early Stage [$0-0.5M], Mid-Stage [$0.5M-$2M] and Growth [$2M+] coached and screened by private equity firm Fraser McCombs.  A panel of experienced automotive investors will question the companies in the two larger categories on-stage, with the best investment ideas voted on (via smartphone) by the conference audience.

As part of the AutoVentures program, MicroVentures, which has greatly shortened and streamlined the fund-raising process for entrepreneurs, will both administer an angel fund portfolio investors can participate in, as well as enable investors to build their own portfolio with investments in any of the companies participating in the program.  Accredited individual investors will be able to acquire an equity stake in one or more of the young companies for a minimum investment of $25,000.

Charter sponsors participating in the program design and delivery include Autobytel and CDK Global.  Program sponsors include Cars.com and Edmunds.  Additional sponsors will be joining the program.

“A conference bringing entrepreneurs and investors together is much-needed and long overdue,” said Cliff Banks, Editor of the Banks Report “The opportunity to make money investing in disruptive automotive startup firms might be one of our country's best kept secrets.” Banks will lead a panel of industry experts at AutoVentures, focused on helping young companies navigate the automotive industry. 

The AutoVentures conference will take place in conjunction with the 2015 DrivingSales Executive Summit on October 18th at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. For more information about participating as an investor, start-up or sponsor, go to autoventuresconference.com

About DrivingSales

DrivingSales is the industry’s leading resource for automotive dealership professionals to obtain actionable insight, education and connections to advance their careers and grow their businesses in a time of unprecedented market change.  Founded by a third-generation car dealer in 2008, today DrivingSales is utilized by two thirds of franchised dealerships in North America as a resource to improve their business performance. 

To learn more about the DrivingSales community, news, dealer education or performance analytics visit DrivingSales.com, DrivingSalesNews.com, DrivingSalesUniversity.com and DrivingSalesData.com

About Fraser McCombs Capital

Fraser McCombs Capital (FMC) is a leading, automotive focused venture capital firm.  Founded in 2012, by an automotive entrepreneur and a longtime automotive investor, FMC has roots in the automotive sector going back decades across all three tiers of the industry.  FMC was created to bring capital and mentorship to the underserved automotive startup marketplace, where traditional venture capital firms refused to participate. 

FMC looks to invest in new technologies and business models within the automotive vertical.  By leveraging their deep knowledge base, they are able to find connections between key players in the sector on behalf of their portfolio of companies.  To learn more about Fraser McCombs Capital and their portfolio, please visit fmcap.com.  

About MicroVentures

Founded in 2009, MicroVentures built a platform that gives both accredited and non-accredited investors access to invest in startups. Over $50 million has been raised on our platform to date.

MicroVentures is one of the financial industry's first organizations to merge crowdfunding with the venture capital industry. The San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX based firm provides an opportunity for angel investors to invest in startups alongside Venture Capitalists, often at the same terms. We conduct detailed due diligence on startups and if approved we help them raise capital from angel investors.

*The Banks Report

DrivingSales Media Relations:
Melanie Webber (melanie(at)mwebbcom(dot)com), mWEBB Communications, 424.603.4340
Crystal Hartwell (crystal(at)mwebbcom(dot)com), mWEBB Communications, 714.987.1016

Attendees who pre-register online by Friday, July 31st can enter to win a free hotel room up to two nights

ALBANY, N.Y. – July 20th, 2015 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems announced today it will be hosting its Fall User Summit in Oak Brook, IL near Chicago on October 12th and 13th, 2015. Auto/Mate's dealership customers are invited to attend the event that features product training from Auto/Mate's technology experts, news on the latest updates as well as what's in store for Auto/Mate's dealership management system (DMS), and networking opportunities with peers.

"I've really enjoyed meeting with our customers during our first two User Summits on the east coast, so we're taking this event on the road," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate. "The opportunity to hear our customers' feedback, questions and suggestions on our product line has been invaluable, and we hope to provide the same value to them with our educational tracks."

The Fall User Summit will be held at the Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center. Auto/Mate's dealership customers who register online by Friday, July 31st can enter to win a free event hotel room up to two nights. The deadline to book rooms at a discounted rate is September 4th, 2015.

Auto/Mate's User Summit is geared toward dealership executives and managers who want to learn more about Auto/Mate's DMS features and capabilities. There is no charge for Auto/Mate's customers to attend the event, which includes a hosted breakfast, lunch and cocktail hour. Highlights will include:

Monday, October 12th

5:00 pm: Cocktail party kick off and attendee registration

Tuesday, October 13th

8:00 am: Attendee registration and breakfast

8:30 am: Introduction and future vision by Mike Esposito

9:00-Noon: Department series break-out sessions

Noon-1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm-3:00 pm: Department series break-out sessions

3:00 pm: Closing remarks, Q&A

Auto/Mate is offering limited sponsorship opportunities to Open/Mate partners and third-party vendors for the event. The discount deadline for a Platinum Exhibitor Table sponsorship is Friday, July 31st. For additional sponsorship information, click here.

Natalie Ripperger, Controller with Jim True Ford in Brookville, IN attended Auto/Mate's Spring User Summit in Boston, MA. "I was not disappointed! The User Summit provided a wealth of information for both current and future use," Ripperger said. "Our dealership has a new vision and path towards more efficient and effective operations. The event far exceeded my expectations!"

To register for the event or for more details, contact Jessica Joralemon, Manager of Events and Marketing Communications, at usersummit@automate.com or 877-340-2677.

For more information, visit: http://www.automate.com/usersummit/

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships, typically saving dealers thousands of dollars per month from their current provider. Our Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,100 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate has received the DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Award in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 940 years of combined experience working in franchised auto dealerships, the foundation of its “Designed By Car People For Car People^TM” slogan. Auto/Mate is committed to winning its customers’ business each and every month with no long-term contracts and free software upgrades. For more information follow us on Twitter @AutoMateDMS or visit our website at automate.com 

 “Lead Loyalty and Intent to Buy Online” white paper from CarStory tracks used car shoppers’ brand loyalty path from online search to lead submission

• Ford shoppers have greatest lead brand stickiness

• Honda/Toyota shoppers have greatest reciprocal lead brand switching

• Luxury brand searchers least likely to submit online lead

Austin, Texas – July 15, 2015 – CarStory, the industry’s largest provider of search and inventory data and analytics on used vehicles, today released Lead Loyalty and Intent to Buy Online, a new white paper that tracks used car shoppers’ brand loyalty paths, from search to lead submission.

The paper, which details brand-by-brand lead loyalty/lead disloyalty analysis for 15 popular vehicle makes, reveals that while the majority of used vehicle shoppers (three in four) are lead loyal – meaning they submitted a lead for the brand that was the basis of their initial online search – they also display key brand lead switching patterns that can offer dealerships important insights into cross-selling opportunities. The search and lead submission data, which was derived from over 350 online used vehicle marketplaces, can also help dealerships understand how to more precisely adjust off-brand used vehicle inventory to fit the profiles of their brand shoppers.

For example, the paper reveals that Ford online used car shoppers are the most ‘lead loyal,’ and Honda and Toyota shoppers are more likely to switch to Toyota and Honda, respectively, than to any other brand. Not surprisingly, online used vehicle shoppers searching for domestic brands have a higher tendency to switch to another domestic brand when submitting a lead, than to an import brand.

The study also looked at lead form submission rates by brand, finding that Honda’s lead submission rate is 67% higher than Lexus, and that, overall, luxury brands had the lowest lead form submission rates. And, when it comes to price shopping, the study revealed that used car shoppers tend to stay within budget, with the majority sticking to the same price parameters from online search to lead submission.

“This brand loyalty and disloyalty data gives salespeople the ability to quickly pivot if the customer’s needs are not being met by the core brand inventory. The knowledge of what the “next best brands” are for the consumer is invaluable—especially if the shift in sales strategy is fluid and perceived as intuitive or personalized by the consumer,” said Chad Bockius, Chief Marketing Officer of CarStory.

Key highlights of the CarStory Lead Loyalty and Intent to Buy Online white paper include:

• Most used car shoppers are lead loyal (73-84%) — used car shoppers who search for a make ultimately submit a lead for that same make.

• Ford has the highest level of lead loyalty (84.4%)

• Three pairs of used car brands have reciprocal exchanges of lead submission (Toyota/Honda, Chevy/Ford, BMW/Mercedes)

• GMC used vehicle shoppers who submit leads, end up submitting leads on Chevrolets 9.3% of the time—nearly double any single brand cross-over!

• Shoppers are significantly less likely to submit leads for luxury brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Infinity and Lexus, as opposed to non-luxury brands.

CarStory is powered by four million unique used vehicle listings and 100 million monthly consumer searches. Data in the CarStory Lead Loyalty and Intent to Buy Online white paper is based on an analysis of this online activity and data derived from over 350 online used vehicle marketplaces, as well as lead submission data from CarStory Market Reports. The CarStory Lead Loyalty and Intent to Buy Online white paper is available for download at www.carstory.com/research/

About CarStory

CarStory is the industry’s largest provider of search and inventory data and analytics on used vehicle pricing and preferences. CarStory Market Reports are powered by Vast and synthesize over four million real-time used vehicle listings with data from over eight million searches a week to produce unique insights that help move consumers from online shoppers to on-the-lot buyers. By uncovering facts, features and competitive differentiators that make each vehicle unique in any given market, CarStory offers dealers and consumers the confidence they need to condense the sales process and walk away happy. A merchandising tool and lead source for websites, CarStory Market Reports are free to auto dealers. Learn more at www.carstory.com.

About Vast

Vast is the premier provider of big data solutions for life’s biggest purchases. Vast’s industry-leading big data platform and applications are currently in use at many of the largest automotive, real estate and travel businesses in the world. Vast serves Global 1,000 companies, including AOL and Southwest Airlines. Learn more at Vast.com.

Media Relations: 

Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (949) 307-1723, melanie@mwebbcom.com 

Cassandra Cavanah, mWEBB Communications, (818) 397-4630, cassandra@mwebbcom.com

Urbandale, IA--July 13th, 2015--Flick Fusion Video Marketing announced today a new partnership with Cargigi, a provider of vehicle syndication, marketing and advertising services to auto dealers nationwide. Cargigi selected Flick Fusion's live Human Voiceover Videos (HVO) to provide audio voiceovers for the Full Motion video listings it produces for its auto dealer clients. Auto dealers using marketing and advertising services provided by Cargigi will benefit by having their Full Motion inventory videos literally "brought to life" by Flick Fusion’s enhanced human voiceovers.

"Inventory videos are a great tool to capture and engage online car shoppers, and nothing generates leads from your VDP Pages better than a Full Motion video”, said Tim James, Vice President of Sales with Flick Fusion. "Our research shows that Full Motion Walkaround videos average 600% more engagement than Stitched Photo videos. Considering that not everyone has the personnel to shoot Full Motion Walkaround videos for every piece of inventory, our eMotion Human Voiceovers gives Cargigi the ability to offer their customers Full Motion videos without adding additional personnel.”

"Flick Fusion's Human Voiceover Videos produce realistic and engaging narrations that literally bring our clients' pre-owned inventory videos to life," said Tony Hoang, CEO of Cargigi.

Flick Fusion's Human Voiceover Videos (HVO) draw from over one thousand prerecorded human voice scripts, automatically generating narration for make, model, year, mileage, body styles, features and a host of other vehicle options. The voices are dynamic and lifelike, and both male and female voices are available. To hear a sample recording, click here. 

Cargigi works with thousands of dealership clients nationally, marketing and advertising pre-owned vehicle inventory through various media channels, including the Internet's most-used free classifieds sites. Cargigi uses a proprietary strategy that syndicates ads and places them in strategic targeted markets at all times, resulting in more exposure, more inbound leads and more vehicle sales.

For more information, call Flick Fusion at (800) 247-2502.

About Cargigi

Cargigi is the auto industry’s largest provider of vehicle syndication, advertising and marketing services on the Internet’s most popular free classified websites. For more information, visit www.cargigiautos.com

About Flick Fusion

Flick Fusion specializes in creating, managing, and distributing dynamic and cost-effective online and mobile video products. Through its automated video generation and dynamic video marketing platforms, Flick Fusion offers the automotive industry's only “completely integrated” video solution that incorporates real-time rule/behavior based content based upon a car shopper's activity across multiple touch-points and throughout the entire buying cycle. Each video is designed to help dealerships reach and engage with customers, delivering increased sales and ROI. Flick Fusion produces video content for more than 3,000 dealerships and more than a dozen reseller partners. For more information, visit www.flickfusion.com.

Timonium, MD -- July 13, 2015-- Helion Automotive Technologies, a leading provider of IT solutions for auto dealers, announced today it has helped Texas-based John Eagle Auto Group add $1 million to their bottom line with a new videoconferencing system and data network. John Eagle Auto Group has ten stores in the Dallas and Houston areas, where managers and associates use Cisco TelePresence® Technology and Mobile HD Video Conferencing to reduce travel time and expenses and connect face-to-face with colleagues.

"Our videoconference meetings are like being there in person and when all the managers and partners get together it's like having a mini 20-Goup," said Rene Isip, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of John Eagle Auto Group. "Participants make suggestions to solve problems and try new processes, which has helped generate additional revenue."

The majority of the auto group's savings comes from reduced travel time and costs. Traffic in both Houston and Dallas is congested, and it often takes hours to commute between stores in the same city, let alone the half day or more that it takes to drive or fly between Dallas and Houston. "Meetings are a necessary part of business; we need to connect with all of our GMs, partners and managers on a regular basis," said Duffy Cummings, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of John Eagle Auto Group. "Videoconferencing eliminates the need to travel between stores."

Helion Technologies has been a partner with John Eagle Auto Group for six years, managing the auto group's IT infrastructure. In 2014 Helion upgraded and combined the auto group's three networks into one, increasing data throughput more than 1,000 times. Prior to the network upgrade, John Eagle paid an average $62,300 per month to several different vendors. The new, streamlined network costs $25,000 per month, an approximate 60 percent reduction in cost.

The increased data throughput allowed John Eagle Auto Group to upgrade their outdated videoconferencing system, and on Helion's recommendation they chose Cisco's High Definition (HD) Telepresence system.

"The ability to upgrade to HD video was a huge driving factor," said Cummings. In late 2014 Helion Technologies installed Telepresence along with large video screens in each of the ten conference rooms at John Eagle's dealerships.

A Telepresence meeting is initiated by simply pushing a button and choosing a contact or group of contacts to connect with. Participants in meetings are displayed in a tile pattern on the large video screens, and the camera automatically zooms in on whomever is speaking. "When a person speaks that person's tile is enlarged and displays in the middle of the screen with everyone else's tiles all around it, like the Brady Bunch," said Cummings.

The Telepresence system offers a completely immersive experience. "It's nothing like a phone call," said Isip. "I can see what the associates are wearing to ensure they're up to our dress code, and I can see the expressions and reactions on their faces. I use the system just about every day, not just for meetings but also one-on-one calls. It strengthens rapport and you get to know people better, as if you're working in the same location."

The managers at John Eagle Auto Group also use Telepresence for:

Monthly finance meetings. This call involves more than 60 sales and finance managers, GMs and partners; with an agenda that reviews numbers, policies, incentives and more. "It's our most important meeting and we could never do this on a conference call," said Cummings. "With that many people, you know some of them would just hit mute and continue to work while others are speaking. With Telepresence, they have to pay attention."

Taking all of the managers out of their dealerships for a day is not a viable option either. "The cost of flying everyone to one location is one thing, but even more costly are the lost opportunities. For every day that a manager is out of the store, that's probably three or four sales or deals that don't get done," said Cummings.

Weekly service meetings. This call involves service managers, used car managers, partners and GMs; with an agenda that reviews numbers, opportunities, advertising, goals and other issues.

"Telepresence is a great tool for solving problems," said Isip. "If a manager at one location has a difficult situation, other managers can chime in and talk about how they solved that problem."

"Another benefit of this meeting is it brings accountability," said Cummings. "Every month the service managers announce three goals or things they're going to work on next month, and they make that commitment in front of everyone. Then the next month we'll discuss those goals on the call."

Trainings. John Eagle Auto Group recently used Telepresence to roll out its new healthcare program. Without Telepresence, Cummings says they would have had to travel to each individual store to explain the new plan in person. "It would have taken three or four days and a lot more paperwork," he said. With Telepresence, they instantly connected all the HR managers, controllers and partners, and completed the rollout training in two hours.

Remote Meetings. One of the greatest advantages of the Telepresence system is that meetings can be accessed remotely from a desktop computer, laptop or even an iPad. All that's required is launching an app.

"When I was in Mexico, I was on the beach with my iPad and I was able to sit in on an important call," said Isip. "It's that ability to be present and communicate, no matter where I am, that's worth a lot to me."

Since Telepresence was launched, Cummings estimates that John Eagle Auto Group has added $1 million to its bottom line. The ROI has been achieved primarily through:

• Reduced travel time and costs
• Increased productivity and sales as a result of less travel time
• New, more efficient data network reduced costs 60 percent
• Improved problem solving, accountability and new processes implemented as a result of 20-Group like meetings
• Strengthened rapport between store managers and partners
• Ability to access remotely from a variety of devices
• Flexibility and ease of use increases overall usage

"Telepresence is a cost-effective way to communicate for meetings that require big decisions with many stakeholders," said Isip. "It's also great for individual meetings, giving you that one-on-one experience that a phone call can't duplicate. It's like being in the same room; the only thing you can't do is shake hands."

About Helion Automotive Technologies:

Helion Automotive Technologies was formed in 1997 with the goal of bringing strong Information Technology strategies and leadership to businesses of all sizes. Helion offers dealerships short term IT fixes for what they need now, and long-term IT solutions for what lies ahead. Helion has provided IT solutions for dealerships across the country for more than a decade. When it comes to dealer IT systems, the company has been there-done that better than anyone else and is there to help.

Helion can make sure any dealership’s IT systems are well managed and provide solutions for any IT headaches. Helion is not just any tech company; it is the tech company for auto dealers. It’s all they do.