izmocars’ industry first brings suppliers, re-stylers, installers and dealers together to better coordinate parts updates, pricing, ordering and installation Supplier dealer orders increase nearly 400% after only two months on network

Las Vegas, NV -- October 31, 2011 -- izmocars (http://www.izmocars.com) today announced that it will unveil the revolutionary AOA Supplier Digital Network at this week's 2011 SEMA show in Las Vegas. The new network solves the multiple coordination challenges between auto dealers and aftermarket suppliers and is an extension of izmocars’ highly successful AddOnAuto platform that has dramatically increased accessories sales and revenue in auto dealerships across the country.

By bringing aftermarket suppliers, re-stylers, installers and dealers together for the first time on a digital platform, the network enables better coordination of real-time parts updating, pricing, ordering and installation while also providing a visually exciting experience for consumers proven to generate increased sales.

Automotive Concepts, a leader in automotive restyling and accessories and an early adopter of the AOA Supplier Digital Network, reported a nearly 400% increase in dealership orders in just two months on the network. A recent case study conducted with Rudy Luther Toyota demonstrates the efficiency and advantage of the Supplier Digital Network, which helped the Minnesota dealership take accessories sales from $30K a month to over $130K a month.

“We knew that providing a unified digital catalogue for auto dealers and aftermarket suppliers would eliminate the challenges associated with keeping up with the thousands of choices in an ever-changing product market, including pricing changes, market availability, and fitment issues -- as well as solving installer coordination hassles,” said izmocars Vice President Sidney Haider. “The results from dealers using our AddOnAuto platform prove the advantages of providing a visually exciting digital accessories presentation in that sweet spot moment of vehicle purchase – and, with the new AOA Supplier Digital Network, we are now able to extend that opportunity to multiple suppliers and re-stylers, to increase their product sales inside the dealership, while eliminating the hassles that have historically inhibited in-dealership accessories sales.”

Supplier Digital Network: Greater Efficiency, Seamless Coordination, More Sales

The new network enables dealers to say goodbye to those outdated, bulky, dog-eared catalogues lying around the showroom that can cause sales managers to quote and sell the wrong products with the wrong pricing, resulting not only in customer dissatisfaction, but loss of dealer profits and commission charge backs. Now, with the Supplier Digital Network aftermarket suppliers can maintain their parts catalog in real-time and in living color, with up to the minute updates of parts, pricing and images on the network - simply adding their own parts and packages and making them available to their dealer customers with one click. The network also makes it easier for suppliers to maintain multiple price lists for their dealers providing discounts on volume based purchases.

Meanwhile, dealers are now able to use one catalog database to offer a variety of products from various suppliers to their customers, resulting in a much more efficient and effective accessories sales process. The network also offers an online scheduling tool that solves the scheduling challenges associated with complex installation coordination between multiple suppliers and the dealership’s own service center technicians.

“The Supplier Digital Network process is seamless between dealers and installers from initial sale of the accessory to ordering of parts to scheduling the installation work to finally delivering the work,” said Automotive Concepts owner John Prosser. “Now, there is no hassle for the dealer, no hassle for the supplier and, importantly, no hassle for the consumer!”

Prosser added that another key benefit of the platform is that it enables dealerships to present accessories to customers prior to purchase, eliminating the chronic problem of wrong products ordered due to misinterpretation on the dealership end – a problem that translates into significant hassle and wasted time for the supplier/installer.

AOA Supplier Digital Network Features and Benefits

•     Creates a digital network between 3rd party suppliers and installers
•     Automates dealers’ digital accessories catalog and creates a vibrant virtual accessories showroom
•     Allows dealers to sell OEM and Aftermarket accessories without the hassle of maintaining a parts catalog, and includes automatic cost updates from multiple suppliers
•     Makes it possible for dealers to easily leverage 3rd party suppliers and installers to provide better mix of products for engaging and effective presentations
•     Ensures the correct product mix (i.e. the right, available accessories for the customer’s vehicle choice) for a fulfilling shopping experience
•     Easily facilitates quality installation and high service levels, which equal complete customer satisfaction
•     Streamlines co-ordination of accessory sales across all departments
•     Enables sales to take advantage of any “wait time” after the purchase has been negotiated and financing is being arranged to let the customer digitally configure their new vehicle with accessories
•     Instantly re-calculates financing/payments to reflect addition of accessories as consumer virtually adds accessories.
•     Process and order handling training at the dealership ensures that benefits of platform are leveraged across dealership departments from sale to parts to F&I and that the retail consumer is presented with the products they want.

To read the case study on how Automotive Concepts and Rudy Luther Toyota achieved accessories sales success through the AOA Supplier Digital Network, click here.

About AddOnAuto
izmocars AddOnAuto (AOA) is an innovative in-store accessories sales solution that helps dealers sell accessories effortlessly and includes a visual configurator as well as a virtual inventory system. AOA incorporates three breakthrough functionalities for dealerships: 1) Rich customer visualization/personalization tools, 2) A 100% virtual inventory system, and 3) Integration of all accessories sales workflow across the sales, F & I and service/installation departments.

AOA enables dealership customers to pull up their exact vehicle model (down to trim level) and interactively configure it with thousands of interior and exterior accessories on the fly. Customers can richly visualize and build a custom, ‘dream’ version of their car (i.e., with tinted windows, custom wheels, spoilers, body-side moldings, upholstery, dash kits or navigation, etc.).

AOA’s inventory system is 100% virtual (providing tens of thousands of accessories from updated OEM and aftermarket vendor databases), meaning dealerships can present an almost limitless array of options to consumers. Dealerships using AOA report an average increase in gross margins to 45%, net profit margins to 28% and accessory revenue-per-vehicle sold to $475.

About izmocars
izmocars is a leading provider of Automotive Business Solutions including: Website and Online Marketing Solutions, Enterprise-level Automotive CRM, iConsult - Sales Performance Coaching and AddOnAuto - an In-Store Accessories Sales Solution. izmocars is also the world's leader in Interactive Media Content for the automotive industry. Founded in 2002, izmocars services some of the most successful eDealers in the country. izmocars is based in San Francisco, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Chattanooga, TN, Philadelphia, PA, and Brussels in Europe. For more information, go to http://www.izmocars.com

About Automotive Concepts
Since 1986, Automotive Concepts has been an industry leader in automotive restyling and accessories. Each year we customize over 8,000 cars, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, boats, ATVs and more, in our 32,000 sq. ft. production facility - making us the largest aftermarket installer in the Midwest! Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority and we have a commitment to provide the highest quality products and services.

Melanie Webber, Media Relations
mWEBB Communications
(424) 603-4340
melanie@mwebbcom.com

Angela Jacobson
mWEBB Communications
(714) 454-8776
angela@mwebbcom.com

Auto industry veteran to focus on implementation of izmocars auto business solutions in dealerships across the country, including AOA which is generating $475 in average accessories revenue increases for dealerships across the country.

San Francisco, CA -- October 31, 2011 -- izmocars (http://www.izmocars.com) a leading provider of automotive business solutions today announced that auto industry veteran and process training expert Vince Tunzi has been named National Field Operations Manager. In this role, Tunzi will oversee izmocars’ national consulting team, which is dedicated to the successful implementation and execution of izmocars solutions at auto dealerships across the country. Tunzi’s mandate includes further expansion of the company’s innovative process for accessory sales that has increased average accessories revenue-per-vehicle by $475, net profits by 28% and gross margins by 45% for hundreds of US dealerships.

“We are excited to welcome Vince to the izmocars team, as we further increase the penetration of our solutions in dealerships across the country” said Sidney Haider, Vice President of izmocars. “Vince is a true industry veteran whose 25 years working in dealerships makes him a true expert on the in-the-trenches challenges of dealerships, while his decade of experience at Toyota makes him uniquely qualified to understand the needs of our entire client base. We know that process is as important as the technology itself for the successful implementation of digital solutions, and Vince’s training and process leadership will be key to further expanding our clients’ success. We also look forward to his insights as we continue to evolve and enhance our products.”

izmocars provides dealerships with products including: website and online marketing solutions; enterprise-level automotive CRM; iConsult - sales performance coaching and AddOnAuto, an in-store accessories sales solution. izmocars is also the world's leader in interactive media content for the automotive industry.

“I am excited to join the outstanding team at izmocars, and to use my experience to provide car dealers with the training and tools they need to maximize izmocars tools and solutions,” said Tunzi. “In an economy that continues to challenge, the innovative products and results offered by izmocars are essential for dealers as they look for ways to further diversify and increase revenue. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help izmocars’ dealership clients increase sales and achieve even greater ROI.”

Previously, Tunzi served as a National Process Consultant for Toyota. During his 10-year tenure at Toyota, Tunzi not only helped with the highly successful launch of the SCION brand, but was also a member of the core team responsible for implementing sales and service processes. Tunzi’s background also includes providing training to sales staff and managers for hundreds of dealers through the Chicago Automobile Dealer Association, and four years as a Dealer Evaluator with J.D. Power and Associates for Ford's Blue Oval and Mazda's Winners Circle programs.

Prior to his consulting career, Tunzi worked in dealerships for 25 years, holding diverse positions including Porter, Prep Manager, New and User Car Sales Person, Assistant Service Manager, Finance Manager, Sales Manager, Used Car Manager, General Sales Manager and ultimately General Manager.

About izmocars

izmocars is a leading provider of Automotive Business Solutions including: Website and Online Marketing Solutions, Enterprise-level Automotive CRM, iConsult - Sales Performance Coaching and AddOnAuto - an In-Store Accessories Sales Solution. izmocars is also the world's leader in Interactive Media Content for the automotive industry. Founded in 2002, izmocars services some of the most successful eDealers in the country. izmocars is based in San Francisco, with offices in Long Beach, CA, Chattanooga, TN, Philadelphia, PA, and Brussels in Europe. For more information, go to http://www.izmocars.com

Melanie Webber, Media Relations
mWEBB Communications
424.603.4340
melanie@mwebbcom.com

Angela Jacobson
mWEBB Communications
714.454.8776
angela@mwebbcom.com

Fourth Annual AWA ceremony shines light on Oshkosh, WI custom automotive website design firm

Oshkosh, WI -- DealerFire, a custom automotive website design firm based in Oshkosh, WI is proud to announce Automotive Website Awards’ recognition of DealerFire as a leader in the automotive digital marketing industry with a Top Pinnacle award in Search Marketing and Mobile Website Platform.  The fourth annual AWA ceremony took place at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas on Oct. 7.

The Automotive Website Awards recognizes leading and innovative services and products provided to automotive dealerships.  The providers’ websites are extensively researched by PCG Digital Marketing and must meet a certain criteria in various facets related to each category.  The study included over 50 website providers this year.

DealerFire has been recognized as one of the top providers, once again.  This year, it came in the form of a Top Pinnacle award in Search Marketing, the highest recognition and Mobile Website Platform, a new category.  Owner and founder Eric Hoopman accepted the awards for DealerFire.

 “There are so many competitors in this space, and it’s such an honor to be consistently and nationally recognized with awards and industry buzz as an elite member on the very short "best of best" lists.” Hoopman said.

Search Marketing ranks high on many dealerships’ priority lists and both Deale

rFire and AWA recognize DealerFire’s customization can be seen from their SEO/SEM expertise to the pages on their websites.

Today’s mobile technology is moving fast, and a dealership’s ability to market with mobile technology is important.  DealerFire offers mobile websites, text marketing and an iPhone application for dealerships.

“Mobile technologies and marketing are a natural fit for our team.  Fast paced, creative and exploratory - three challenges a small; tight knit development team operates very well with.  We are very pleased with our accomplishments to date within this emerging technology and are honored to receive the AWA award for our industry leading efforts.”  Hoopman said.

PCG Digital Marketing publishes their study, which spans across five different categories, and serves as an industry reference guide.

 “Bringing home the awards to Oshkosh, WI is especially rewarding.  A community rich in innovation and history, I’m extremely proud of our team for their efforts in establishing DealerFire as a key player in the digital marketing renaissance occurring right now in Wisconsin, across the US and abroad.”  Hoopman said.

DealerFire Story:

DealerFire was born out of the back of a Jeep Grand Cherokee Wagoneer on an Oshkosh, WI to San Jose, Costa Rica road trip.  Since those humble beginnings, the company has claimed a spot as a leading provider of custom automotive website designs, leading mobile and digital marketing solutions and hometown customer service.  For more information about DealerFire, visit www.dealerfire.com

Unique solution finds ‘red apple’ sales opportunities to increase vehicle sales,

better source in-demand trades, boost retention and drive service and parts sales

IRVINE, CA, October 19, 2011 – AutoAlert,^® Inc., the innovator in providing data analytic and lead-generation solutions to auto dealers, said today it had received formal “notice of allowance” for two new U.S. patents.

AutoAlert enables auto dealers to uniquely create highly viable sales opportunities and sell more vehicles with higher gross profit, bring in late model trade-ins, and sell additional warranties and services to their existing customers, while improving customer retention and loyalty.

These third and fourth patents follow on Patent Number 8,005,752 issued Aug. 15, 2011 and Patent Number 7,827,099 issued Dec. 10, 2010. Each new patent addresses extended functionality of the AutoAlert solution and are currently referenced by the U.S. Patent Office as application numbers13/076,203 and 13/076,208. Jeff Cotton, AutoAlert co-founder, said additional patent applications are in process to ensure that the solution’s unique capabilities are commercially protected.

The AutoAlert solution identifies the automobile dealership’s existing customers whose vehicles and vehicle histories make those owners hot prospects for additional sales opportunities. It identifies customers whose vehicles fit certain sales criteria – equity position and mileage, lease termination and/or mileage, and market demand for trade-in offers, among other metrics.

Today’s new normal is about keeping the customer you already have, since the retail auto industry is characterized by lackluster sales growth, a scarcity of late model used vehicles, and rising customer expectations. AutoAlert is a powerful retention tool that helps to ensure longer lasting customer relationships that will convert to sustainable and repeatable sales opportunities.

“Dealers credit the patented AutoAlert solution for helping them ‘create a dealership within a dealership’ because it helps them identify and then sell up to several hundred extra units a month -- from existing customers alone,” said Boyd H. Warner, AutoAlert’s president and CEO.

In its 10^th year of business, AutoAlert was the first company to offer dealership and enterprise business-intelligence software, support and training of its kind. More than 1,100 dealerships today have utilized the AutoAlert solution to be more competitive, improve their all-important customer retention, and help sales associates excel.

AutoAlert is a registered trademark of AutoAlert, Inc. ServiceAlert, MileageAlert, WarrantyAlert, ConquestAlert, MaintenanceAlert and FlexAlert are trademarks of AutoAlert, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

For information, contact Lawrence A. Wittrock at 949-398-7063 or lawrence.wittrock@autoalert.comWrite your post here

New 'card-free' program eliminates usual loyalty program hassles with turnkey process that allows dealers to focus on selling, rather than implementation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- Oct. 19, 2011 -- DMEautomotive, the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, today announced a new affordable "card-free" customer loyalty program for auto dealerships designed to eliminate the usual administrative hassles associated with rewards programs and drive greater retention, service revenue, and car sales.

"We listened to what both consumers and dealers want in a loyalty program: no administrative hassles, no cards, greater flexibility and cost-efficiency and, importantly, precision targeting based on market realities," said Mike Walther, president and CEO of DMEautomotive. "We know that dealers are currently facing major challenges: new car profits are almost nil, customers are retaining their vehicles for longer than ever, and the economy is tightening car owner wallets, making them more reluctant to spend on maintenance. And, with 46.5% of gross profits coming from the service/parts dept*, the need for a turnkey loyalty program that uses marketing science to generate high value service traffic and customer retention – and increased profitability - is mission critical."

Walther further noted that in today's market, communicating with customers in the sweet spot immediately after purchase is key; and the DMEa Customer Loyalty program makes it easy to begin that conversation right at the purchase point, increasing the likelihood of service conversion -- and then continues the conversation with precision targeting throughout the vehicle ownership life cycle.

Targeting High Value Customers, Efficiently and with Results

Research from the DMEa Analytics & Strategy division confirms that the top 20% of a dealership's customer base accounts for approximately 80% of all sales and service dollars; and, while the DMEa Customer Loyalty program is designed to reach all relevant customers, DMEa's marketing science enables dealers to specifically target this highly valuable customer segment to generate increased service visits to the dealership.

In addition, the DMEa loyalty program focuses on efficiency, sparing dealerships the accounting incurred by carrying earned, but not redeemed, reward points on their books. With the DMEa program, customers automatically receive rewards points based on a point to dollar ratio (sales and service programs) or a point to number of visits ratio (sales program). The program also provides extensive reporting options so that dealers can easily measure and monitor results and ROI.

"Dealerships need to spend their valuable resources on selling to those customers most likely to spend, rather than wasting hours with the complicated administrative and accounting tasks that most points-based loyalty programs require," continued Walther.  "We used DMEa's proprietary marketing science to solve all the traditional challenges of loyalty marketing programs and to provide what we believe is the best and most innovative loyalty program available."

Benefits of the DMEa Customer Loyalty Program include:

- Complete management by DMEautomotive

- Card-free process

- Automatic calculation of points accrual and rewards distribution

- Integrated rewards messaging in existing (Customer Journey) mail, email and PURL (personal web page) communications

- Automatic customer email alerts once reward threshold has been met

- Multiple customization options, including:

• Sales, service or combined sales & service program options
• Rewards program name
• Points assignment and conversion
• Point thresholds
• Reward and point expirations
• Dealership logo and branding
• Performance Reporting and Loyalty Dashboard, including:
  • Points balance report
  • Follow-up list report
  • Rewards distribution report
  • Service program ROI reports

DMEautomotive's Customer Loyalty program is available to all customers who use DMEautomotive's Customer Journey Programs.

About DMEautomotive

DMEautomotive is the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, and provides turnkey marketing to the biggest and most innovative automotive organizations, from automobile dealerships - including AutoNation, Lithia Automotive, MileOne, Larry H. Miller and the Van Tuyl Automotive Group - 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.

DMEa does not take marketing performance on faith, and each product and service is measured by a simple, precise scientific approach: Is it true? Prove it. Will it work? Test it. Does it generate results? Show it!  The DMEa product suite includes data driven, multi-channel customer acquisition and retention marketing programs; best-in-class campaign reporting; data management and analytics via the Red Rocket Portal; auto-focused Customer Interaction Center solutions, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla., DMEautomotive also has major operations in Jacksonville, Fla.

*Total gross profit as percent of service and parts sales 46.48% for 2010 according to NADA Data 2011
http://www.nada.org/NR/rdonlyres/0798BE2A-9291-44BF-A126-0D372FC89B8A/0/NADA_DATA_08222011.pdf

SOURCE DMEautomotive

Drive Time Selects Inilex as GPS Solutions Provider

Phoenix, AZ – October 18, 2011 – Drive Time, the nation's largest dealership with 89 locations specializing in selling and financing used cars to customers with less-than-perfect credit, today announced it has selected Inilex as its supplier of GPS-based vehicle tracking and recovery solutions.

“We look forward to building this relationship with Inilex,” said Drive Time Managing Director, John Gersitz.  “After months of diligently searching for the right partner, Inilex stood out as the best fit for us.  Their stability and proven ability to innovate provide us the peace of mind we look for when investing in any technology or product."

Based in Chandler, AZ, Inilex is a leading provider of GPS-based vehicle tracking solutions.  The company’s DealerLINK and SkyLINK platforms provide a complete inventory management and income development system for automotive dealerships.  “We are very excited to be working with Drive Time.  Drive Time is a leader in the BHPH market, and we intend to leverage their expertise to bring new solutions to that segment of the market,” said Michael Maledon, CEO of Inilex.  “Our number one priority is supporting our dealerships,” said Daphne Herbst, Director of Sales for Inilex.  “We understand that when our dealerships are successful we are successful, and we are excited to be working with Drive Time with that same approach in mind.”

About Inilex:

Founded in 2003, Inilex, Inc. is a leading provider of machine-to-machine (M2M) business services, technology, and products across a number of industries. 

About Drive Time:

DriveTime is the nation's largest dealership with 89 locations specializing in selling and financing used cars to customers with less-than-perfect credit. 

# # #

CAR-Research XRM Enjoys Unprecedented Growth,

Appoints Patrick Kelly as President & COO

Houston, Texas, October 18, 2011, CAR-Research XRM, a single-source CRM solution uniquely branded as; “XRM, Exceeding CRM”, today announced the appointment of Patrick Kelly, formerly Senior Vice President, to the position of President and COO. In this position, Kelly will be responsible for the day to day running of the company.

Kelly has been with CAR-Research XRM for more than a decade and has been instrumental in the company’s steady growth; CAR-Research has grown into one of the leading CRMs in the market and now services hundreds of auto dealerships throughout the U.S. 

“It’s exciting to be part of such a vibrant and growing company. CAR-Research XRM is the culmination of more than 16 years of research, development and marketing efforts into a single source CRM solution that is producing superior results at auto dealerships,” said Kelly. “We are currently experiencing explosive growth and the future is very bright.  Our growth is based on the results our dealers are seeing. It’s not uncommon for dealers using our system to more than double their sales numbers.  In fact, one dealership went from selling 70 units per month to selling over 400, all by ensuring processes are being used through the proper use of our CRM,” Kelly added.

Kelly is a 32 year veteran in the auto business, excelling at positions in automotive retail, wholesale, and vendor/software companies. He started his career selling cars at a Chevrolet dealership in south Texas in 1979, but due to his high level of energy and sales productivity, he eventually caught the eye of an executive at Gulf States Financial Services (GSFS) where he hired on as a District Manager. Through that experience, he was hired by Sterling McCall Toyota (second largest Toyota dealership in the US at the time, selling over 1000 cars per month), where he served as Director of Finance.  

From there, Kelly moved through a number of sales management positions on his way to becoming a General Manager for 14 years at various US dealerships (Keyes Lexus in Los Angeles and BMW and Mercedes dealerships in Houston, Texas).

According to Kelly, this wealth of experience over many years as a “genuine car guy” has helped to develop his unique style of “motivational management and leadership” which has been the driving force in building CAR-Research into the dynamic company that it has become. Kelly also currently devotes a great deal of time as a motivational speaker to automobile dealers and large dealer groups throughout the US and Canada, where his message is delivered in his own “tell it like it is-shoot from the hip” style of speaking.

CAR-Research has developed a proven singular solution that helps an auto dealership run more effectively and proficiently. It is a web-based, comprehensive CRM solution that helps increase revenue from sales and service, improve customer satisfaction index (CSI) and service satisfaction index (SSI), and boost the dealership’s gross profit. A dealership can consolidate all its departments into a manageable solution that delivers value through proven processes at every stage of the customer life cycle. For more information contact Kurt Kubicki at 888-583-0956 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting email KKubicki@CAR-Research.com or visit www.CARResearchXRM.com

# # # # #

 About CAR-Research XRM:

CAR-Research XRM has leveraged its thorough knowledge of the automotive industry to develop a proven singular solution that helps run any dealership more effectively and proficiently. CAR-Interactive is a web-based, comprehensive CRM solution that helps increase revenue from sales and service, improve customer satisfaction index (CSI) and service satisfaction index (SSI), and boost a dealership’s gross profit.  A dealership can consolidate all departments in the dealership into a manageable solution that delivers value through proven processes at every stage of the customer life cycle. CAR-Research also includes robust features such as  Internet Lead Manager (ILM), Showroom Control Manager, Business Development Center (BDC), Auto-Trade, Database Solution, and Reporting modules to help  enhance the customer experience while increasing revenue-generating opportunities and  improving staff accountability and production. Additional information is available at www.CARResearchXRM.com

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – October 17, 2011 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today the results of an auto dealership technology survey it conducted in September. The 159 survey respondents included 55% owners and general managers, and 45% a mix of management positions including controllers and CIOs, dealer principals, service and parts managers, and sales managers.

“We are getting more requests from our dealer clients for technology solutions to be integrated into their dealership management systems (DMS),” said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate. “The overall trend seems to be that dealers are eliminating unnecessary third-party vendors if they can accomplish the same functions within their DMS, as it’s more cost effective.”

Auto/Mate routinely develops new features and functions for its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) DMS based on client feedback. To aid Auto/Mate in staying ahead of the technology curve, the survey was conducted in order to find the best methods to engage and interact with auto dealers, as well as to determine which technologies are the most important to auto dealers. The results reveal that social media and mobile apps are the two areas receiving the most interest by dealers and therefore offer the most potential to vendors to meet their client needs.

Social Media Use in the Dealership

When asked which social media sites they maintain a personal profile on, 81% of respondents said they maintain a Facebook page, 44% are on Linked In, and 17% have a Twitter profile. As a means of interacting with their dealership vendor’s, the majority— 62% of respondents, do not use social media to interact with vendors at all. However, there is still some significant interaction in this area: 29% of Facebook users said they use Facebook to interact with their dealership vendors, 10% use Linked In and 9% use Twitter to interact with their vendors.

When it comes to their dealerships’ social media programs, a significant majority at 70% maintain their social media and reputation management programs in-house, while 9% outsource to a vendor, and a surprising 21% of dealers still don’t have social media and reputation management programs.

Mobile Apps On The Rise

Based on survey results, it appears that dealership management is most interested in using mobile apps in their sales departments. 46% of respondents said they are currently using mobile apps in the sales department, with another 35% saying they plan to implement mobile apps within the next year.

Mobile apps for the CRM are the second most popular choice; with 31% saying they are currently using mobile apps with their CRM and another 17% saying they plan to implement a CRM mobile app in the next year.

Use of mobile apps in the service department next year shows promise; while 23% of dealers currently use mobile apps in the service department this year, another 32% indicate they will implement service related mobile apps in the next year.

Parts departments seem to have the least use for mobile apps, with just 14% of respondents currently using mobile apps and another 13% saying they plan to implement mobile apps in the parts department within the next year.

In summary, the results of the survey show that use of social media by vendors to connect with auto dealerships shows promise for the future, but is currently limited by the majority of respondents who don’t interact with vendors using their personal social media profiles. However, the majority of respondents use or plan to use mobile apps in their dealerships, indicating opportunities for technology vendors to better reach and service their auto dealer clients by developing mobile apps.

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships. Its Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich dealership management software in use by more than 700 auto dealers nationwide. Originally developed by Wang Laboratories in the 1970s, Auto/Mate’s DMS solution has years of experience and reliability built in. Auto/Mate offers the best customer service in the industry, with live people answering the phone and minimal hold times for technical support. The company received top satisfaction rankings in NADA’s most recent dealership management system survey. Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 300 years of combined experience working in auto dealerships – the foundation of its “designed by car people, for car people” slogan. For more information, visit www.automate.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/AutoMateDMS

# # #

Southside Financial Group Launches National Subprime Loan Portfolio Program to Help Franchised and Independent Auto Dealers Achieve Greater Liquidity

Arlington, Texas, October 17, 2011 -- Southside Financial Group (http://www.southsidefg.com), an active purchaser of auto finance receivables, today announced the launch of a nationwide program to purchase existing near prime and subprime auto loan portfolios from franchised and independent auto dealers.

Southside Financial Group’s program includes near prime and subprime portfolios ranging from $500,000 to $40 million, service released; all portfolios are held on the balance sheet and serviced internally. The program is highly efficient with a 7-10 day total turnaround from analysis to closing, and will target accounts with 60-90 day pay history. Since the inception of this program Southside Financial Group has actively purchased and closed portfolios from dealers in Oklahoma, California, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Mississippi and Texas with other purchases scheduled to close  in Florida, Ohio, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia and North Carolina . Funding is made possible by Southside’s parent bank, with the added advantage of no need to securitize plus a more stable cost of funds.

“Franchised and independent dealers have responded extremely positively to this new loan portfolio program as they can achieve greater liquidity in their business ventures by letting us purchase their existing portfolios of near prime and subprime loans,” Southside Financial Group COO Henry Gonzales commented.  “Our executive team has purchased over $2 billion of prime, near prime and subprime loans in the past three years and their expertise and service is beyond compare. We can analyze and review a portfolio and offer attractive pricing and very quick funding, with a 7-10 day total turn around. Southside also builds relationships with each dealer to insure a smooth transition plus long term customer satisfaction.”

Southside Financial offers complete transparency and up-front pricing based on its superior analytics.  A due diligence team will evaluate all loans to maximize return without interrupting the dealership’s existing business, ensuring a seamless transition.  

# # # # #

About Southside Financial

Southside Financial Group is an active purchaser of auto finance receivables and its executive management team has over 75 years of combined industry experience.  It is a wholly owned affiliate of Southside Bank, one of the nation’s largest independent banks with $3.2 Billion in assets. Southside Financial Group buys sub-prime through near prime auto paper, servicing released, from banks, credit unions, auto dealers, and other financial institutions nationwide. The company’s aggressive pricing and experience across all credit spectrums make it an industry leader. For more information visit: www.southsidefg.com or call:  266-590-7734

CHARLOTTE, NC, October 12, 2011 –  e-autobusiness, specializing in customer acquisition and retention solutions for automotive retailers nationwide, announced today that it had received manufacturer certification from Land Rover Jaguar North America for its AEROS Suite “Crawl, Walk, Run™” Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. 

This certification ensures that the AEROS Software Suite is a preferred and compliant CRM and lead management system for the 300-plus Land Rover and Jaguar dealers nationwide. e-autobusiness is already a recognized, certified and compliant provider for many manufacturers, including Acura, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Honda, Infiniti, MINI, Nissan, Saab, SMART and Subaru.

The AEROS Suite offers customers modular features like web-based Internet Lead Management, BDC Management, Data Mining, and Dealer Management System integration, as well as more robust CRM modules. The company’s unique “Crawl, Walk, Run™” methodology enables dealers to deploy a right-sized CRM system, and to add on needed software modules over time as employee utilization and return on investment increase.

“As Land Rover Jaguar continues to enhance their dealers’ competitiveness in the marketplace, this certification of the AEROS Software Suite brings sophisticated and effective lead management and CRM solutions to dealers for a phenomenal price,” says Christian Thornton, Managing Director, e-autobusiness. “Successful dealers realize in today’s business climate that the timely and professional management of every business opportunity is critical, and it directly affects customer satisfaction and profitability. We are pleased to earn this distinction as a certified solution provider from globally recognized brands like Land Rover and Jaguar.”

e-autobusiness is also in talks with eight additional manufacturers who have invited the company to become a certified and recommended vendor for their franchises, representing an accumulated 6,000-plus dealerships nationwide.

The all-in-one AEROS Software Suite helps automotive dealers experience bottom-line results in sales, service, F&I, special finance, and parts. It does so by delivering web-based CRM, Internet lead management, BDC management, lease and finance payment software, as well as by providing integrated customer-facing marketing services. These marketing services include text messaging, targeted mail and mass email.

The company further bundles seamlessly integrated custom web site design, SEO and hosting services with additional web-based inventory management and vehicle-data publication software and all from a single vendor using a single log on. This trinity of powerful solutions ensures that auto retailers can leverage all technologies from a single vendor at one low price to run their modern-day automotive dealership better.

For more information, contact cthornton@eautobusiness.com or visit www.eautobusiness.com.

Media Contact:

Christian Thornton

cthornton@eautobusiness.com

(704) 246-1623