Piscataway, NJ, March 28, 2011 –DealerApp Vantage, a software development company that leads the industry in mobile application (apps) design and development for auto dealers, announced today that company Executive Director Ed Louis will speak at the 2011 NADA IT Committee Meeting, March 29, 2011, in McLean, VA.  Louis’ presentation will highlight one of the most powerful marketing breakthroughs of modern technology; marketing tools for smart phones.

“Mobile marketing took off like a rocket in 2010. Now that Verizon is offering the iPhone, and with the quality of available consumer devices today such as the Droid and Blackberry, we believe that it will continue to be an important and exciting marketing platform in 2011 and beyond,” commented Louis.  “Today, where most ‘ordering’ is done online, this technology is vital for any auto dealer that wants to stay competitive,” Louis added.

According to recent numbers posted on the Social Brand Value blog, already 25% of the phones in the world are smart phones. And by 2014, there will be more smart phones used on the internet than desk top computers. Louis’ presentation will address why auto dealers should care about smartphones and what they can do to incorporate this new technology into their marketing mix and enjoy immediate ROI.

DealerApp Vantage enjoyed unprecedented growth in 2010 and its mobile applications are now used by more than 230 auto dealers nationwide. In just the first year of business, from January 2010 through January 2011, the company increased in the number of applications (apps) sold to dealerships by over 3500 percent and has eclipsed the 100,000 download plateau. 

Visit www.getdealerapp.com for further details and follow their tweets at www.twitter.com/dealerapp. 

About DealerApp Vantage:

DealerApp Vantage is a software development company that leads the industry in mobile application (apps) design and development for auto dealers. It stands ahead of any competition because its technology staff has worked with auto dealers for years in IT development. It is the only company in this space that has such an intimate knowledge of what auto dealers are looking for with regards to marketing and technology.

Carlsbad, CA –March 28, 2011– Auto Point, Inc., (www.autopoint.com), the pioneer of ownership lifecycle services for the automotive industry, today announced that its turn-key solution for MPi EDGE dealers, “Declined Services Follow-up™”, has proven highly successful.  Auto dealers using the program are generating additional monthly service profits averaging over 30 percent; more than $10,000 per dealership.

MPi’s EDGE™ is part of the World Class Inspection™ (WCI) system. Auto dealers using the WCI program are performing a better inspection and doing a superior job of explaining needed repairs to the customer. The WCI inspection results are delivered in a professional one-of-a-kind customer report that details the vehicle inspection findings and provides a price estimate in an easy- to-read document called the Know Your Vehicle Report™.  The report itself is highly successful in returning customers for declined service.  

As an added boost, for those service department customers that do not return within 30 days, Auto Point’s turn-key program, “Declined Services Follow-up” comes into play. It helps re-capture customers who have not yet purchased inspection recommendations made during a previous visit.  The program has proven to be extremely cost-effective for participating dealerships. Auto dealerships are averaging $10,211 per month in incremental service revenue (customers who didn’t initially take advantage of the WCI recommendations within the first 30 days and returned shortly after.)

“Customer retention is very valuable to every auto dealership, especially in the service department. Our turn-key program enhances the World Class Inspection program with ‘Declined Services Follow-up’. Through this exclusive program, Auto Point helps re-capture customers who have not yet purchased, with a substantial increase in service profit for our dealers,” commented Jim Roche, Auto Point Founder and CEO.

Auto Point’s Declined Services Follow Up is fully integrated with the MPi World Class Inspection™ (WCI) system.   The program uses email marketing, voice mail marketing and one-on-one phone conversations with customers to encourage them to return to the dealership to complete declined service recommendations. The email marketing also includes the use of video email; the company has an extensive library of over 240 videos that help explain the needed work and encourage the customer to return to the dealership to complete declined recommended repairs.

Auto Point assigns each dealership a US-based Declined Service Advisor with a local number call-in ID for contacting the dealership’s service customers. Multiple attempts are made to reach declined service customers to get them to return to the dealership. Once the customer is contacted, the Auto Point Declined Service Advisor will carefully review the Know Your Vehicle™ Report with them to ensure they understand their inspection results. The Advisor will discuss unperformed repair or maintenance services in order to schedule a service visit to have the recommended items completed, and can even have the customer review one of the recommendation videos while on the phone, to help further explain, if needed.

Built by several veterans in the automotive customer relationship management arena, Auto Point brings a complete turn-key multi-channel customer lifecycle marketing communication service to automotive retailers. Auto Point works with the dealer to analyze their current programs and retention needs, and then in partnership with the dealership designs a complete customer communication process that is unique to that dealership - from prospect to buyer to service to repeat purchase. The dealership is no longer limited to marketing to only 12 months of its active database. Auto Point helps the dealership market to 4 years of service and sales history and market to its customers for the lifetime of their vehicle ownership.

About Auto Point:

Auto Point is a wholly owned subsidiary of Service Repair Solutions, Inc., the parent company to other leading automotive industry companies: MPi, Identifix and iATN .Auto Point is the originator of Total Ownership Lifecycle Services for automotive retailers, enabling dealers to create a single, unified communications process across all stages of the vehicle ownership lifecycle. For years, auto dealers have relied on highly fragmented solutions provided by multiple companies to communicate to their vehicle owner base. This is both expensive and inherently of poor quality. By allowing dealers to de-fragment their owner communications, Auto Point dealers can increase loyalty and repeat purchases while simultaneously reducing their marketing and communications expenses. For more information visit www.autopoint.com or call: Susan Lovett at 800.997.1674 x2010.

March 25, 2011 - Burlington, VT - Dealer.com, the global leader in automotive internet marketing solutions, today announced that Apax Partners will acquire an approximately 30 percent ownership of Dealer.com from Yellow Media Inc. The change in minority ownership follows an announcement that Yellow Media Inc., who previously owned an approximately 30 percent stake in Dealer.com, is selling Trader Corporation, which includes its ownerships stake in Dealer.com, to Apax Partners. Closing of the contemplated transaction is expected to occur in June 2011, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.

"We welcome the opportunity to work with Apax as a new business partner and shareowner, as this presents an opportunity to benefit from their business experience and resources as we continue to grow our operations," said Mark Bonfigli, CEO of Dealer.com. "We greatly appreciate everything that Yellow Media Inc. has done for us as an investor and have enjoyed working with them tremendously."

"We also look forward to partnering with the founders of Dealer.com and support the business on its strong growth trajectory," said Mitch Truwit, partner at Apax Partners. "This is a very exciting online opportunity in a sector that Apax knows very well thanks to our existing investments in Trader Media Group in the UK, Bankrate in the U.S. and SouFun in China. We will use this expertise to work with the management of Trader Auto and invest in the heritage AutoTrader brand to realise its full potential and allow it to enhance its leadership position."

As the current global leader in automotive internet marketing, the new ownership comes on the heels of several years of sustained growth for Dealer.com, with revenues reaching $85 million in 2010, an increase of over 60 percent from 2009 - and more than triple the 2008 level. In addition to its continued strong financial performance, Dealer.com has increased more than 100 percent in research and development spending, expanded industry partnerships, obtained a variety of prestigious awards and accolades, and announced plans to add more than 200 people to its growing workforce.

The new ownership is not expected to impact the daily operations of Dealer.com, interactions with its customers or employees, or implementation of its services.

About Dealer.com

Dealer.com is the global leader in online marketing solutions for the automotive industry, providing award winning e-marketing solutions to OEMs, auto dealers and media companies. The company's innovative websites and integrated online tools include advertising alternatives that significantly lower the cost of customer acquisition, enhancing dealers' efficiency and profitability.

Recent national and international accolades include Inc. magazine's 2010 Top Small Company Workplaces and Inc. 5000 Rankings, and Deloitte's Technology Fast 500. In addition, Dealer.com won three 2010 DrivingSales Vendor Ratings Awards as Top Rated Provider in the Website, SEO and SEM-PPC categories; the Automotive Website Association's 2010 Pinnacle Platform Award and its award for Best Online Advertising Tool; the 2010 Dealers' Choice Diamond Award for Best Website Solution; and Auto Dealer Monthly's award for Best Video Technology of 2010. Dealer.com also was recently recognized by Vermont Business magazine as the state's fastest-growing company, and was ranked first in SEO effectiveness among auto dealer website providers for the third consecutive year by Sorgenfrei LLC. For more information visit: http://www.dealer.com/promo/look-inside.htm

About Apax Partners

Apax Partners is one of the world's leading private equity investment groups. It operates across the United States, Europe and Asia and has more than 30 years of investing experience. Funds under the advice and management of Apax Partners globally total around $40 billion. These Funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. Apax Partners Funds invest in companies across its global sectors of Tech & Telecom, Retail & Consumer, Media, Healthcare and Financial & Business Services. For more information visit: www.apax.com.

Automotive Social Media, Marketing, Technology Summit in Las Vegas Challenges Attendees to Push the Boundaries; Delivers Automotive Intelligence for Every Dealership Department 

Salt Lake City, UT - March 24, 2011 - DrivingSales.com (http://www.drivingsales.com) today announced that the DrivingSales Executive Summit 2011 (DSES) will be held Sunday, October 9 through Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at the Bellagio Las Vegas. The Executive Summit is a uniquely collaborative event modeled after the best practices and information-sharing among dealers and auto industry professionals on DrivingSales.com. The third annual event will bring together the most progressive dealers in the country, along with world-renowned speakers, all focused on pushing the auto industry’s ‘innovation boundaries’ and translating the latest trends and business realities into solid 2012 action plans for every dealership department.

“With the beginnings of a recovery under our industry’s belt and more dramatic changes afoot in the digital world - from social media to mobile to the constant shifts in the Search universe - the 2011 DrivingSales Executive Summit is designed to challenge our industry to think even further ahead of the curve,” said DrivingSales Founder and CEO Jared Hamilton. “From the 30,000 foot view down to the tactical realities on the ground, whether it is pay plans, increasing fixed ops absorption or marketing strategies, the DSES promises that each attendee will leave with a nuts and bolts plan that rethinks the year ahead, as well as with the inspiration to put it into action.”

Unlike other automotive industry events, the DrivingSales Executive Summit is 100% dealer driven and designed specifically for the most advanced dealer principals and dealership executives in the industry. The exclusive event has a vendor-neutral policy, meaning no vendor influence on presentation selection and adherence to a strict dealer-to-vendor ratio.

Keynotes, workshops, and interactive roundtables are the foundation of the summit agenda that will also include 2011’s top dealership success stories from each department, as selected by dealers from nominated case studies featured in the DrivingSales Innovation Guide. In addition, the second annual DrivingSales Innovation Cup Award and Dealership Strategy Award will be presented. The awards recognize the year’s most innovative vendor solutions and dealerships strategies.

“The 2010 DrivingSales Executive Summit was the spark that thrust our auto group into an entirely different realm in 2011. Before DSES I didn’t know where to start with my digital strategy or how to tell the difference between a fad and the next big thing,” said 2010 DSES attendee Tony Harris, a general manager at the Harris Auto Group. “Because of the takeaways from DSES, our automotive group has initiated its biggest strategy overhaul in three generations. We have revamped our digital go to market strategy and are on the offense with our IRM, Social, and traditional strategies. Thanks to DSES, we now know where to focus our effort and resources.”

In response to dealership demand, DSES 2011 has expanded the number of registrants it will accept, but seating is still limited and the event is expected to sell out quickly. To accommodate increased attendance, while maintaining one of the industry’s most intimate summit settings, DSES has chosen the Bellagio Las Vegas for this year’s event. The Bellagio Las Vegas artful blend of ‘imagination, sophistication, inspired awe,’ and its state-of-the art meeting rooms provide the perfect setting to foster creative and innovative thinking, while also providing attendees with unsurpassed service, world-class dining and luxurious amenities. The Bellagio has been awarded the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award for the tenth consecutive year and is the only hotel in America to have two AAA Five Diamond restaurants under one roof.

For more information about the summit, visit: http://www.DrivingSalesExecutiveSummit.com or contact dses(at)drivingsales(dot)com. Follow DSES news as it develops on http://www.twitter.com/drivingsales using #DSES and on facebook.com/drivingsales.

About DrivingSales.com:
DrivingSales is the auto industry’s fastest-growing, most influential trade media property focused on delivering actionable profit-building information to auto retailers and industry professionals. DrivingSales’ media network includes flagship property DrivingSales.com (http://www.drivingsales.com), the world’s largest car dealer social network where thousands of dealership professionals collaborate and share best practices in a 20-group style setting; DrivingSalesTV (http://www.drivingsalestv.com), an interactive web channel which helps car dealers and auto professionals keep tabs on their industry and emerging technologies 24/7; DrivingSales University, an on-demand training platform where dealerships learn the latest web strategies from top e-commerce experts; DrivingSales Executive Summit (DSES) the industry’s leading conference where progressive dealers collaborate and learn from world renowned experts, and DrivingSales Dealership Innovation Guide, a quarterly free publication featuring case studies of the industry’s most innovative dealerships, solutions and best practices.

DrivingSales encourages innovation and excellence in the industry with its annual Dealer Satisfaction and Innovation Cup Awards, whose winners are determined solely by the dealer community. Founded by Jared Hamilton, a third generation car dealer, DrivingSales was named one of ten social media gambits for 2009 by Automotive News and one of the Top 10 Companies to Watch by Auto Success Magazine.

DrivingSales Executive Summit Media Relations:
Melanie Webber (melanie (at) mwebbcom (dot) com), mWEBB Communications, 424.603.4340
Angela Jacobson (angela (at) mwebbcom (dot) com), mWEBB Communications, 714.454.8776

Piscataway, NJ, March 21, 2011 –DealerApp Vantage, a software development company that leads the industry in mobile application (apps) design and development for auto dealers, today announced its new mobile application, Dealer Appvantage Pro, (DAP) is now available for Blackberry and Droid devices as well as Apple. DAP is a new mobile app developed to help auto dealers better interact with their customers and prospective car buyers.  A powerful marketing breakthrough, DAP allows dealers to reach existing and potential new customers, every day, 24/7, in a non-intrusive manner.  Demonstrations will be available at Booth # 638, and the Dealer’s VIP Cafe located in Booth # 709, at the 10^th Digital Dealer Conference and Exposition, April 19-21, in Orlando, FL.

DAP is a faster and easier way for the customer to contact the dealership, schedule service, get quotes on vehicles, or view specials. It keeps customers engaged with rich Push Notifications, real integrated inventory, and a 'Toolbox' full of useful utilities that will keep them coming back for more.

“Mobile marketing started to explode in 2010 and with Verizon now offering the iPhone and the quality of today’s consumer mobile devices such as the Droid and Blackberry,  we believe that it will continue to be an important and exciting marketing platform in 2011 and beyond,” commented Garland Webb, DealerApp Vantage Co-Founder.  “It is an inexpensive, yet practical way to reach customers. There is no better way to do this since they carry their phones wherever they go.  Imagine your customers having direct access to your dealership, right in their pocket,” Webb added.

DAP not only allows existing customers to easily contact any department (one touch dialing - all departments) find directions, and view the website/specials, it also allows them to get a quote for a new or used car, schedule service appointments make payments or even order parts. Statistics are provided to enable the dealership to track how many downloads they are getting and from where. 

In this day and age where most "ordering" is done online, this technology is vital for any auto dealer that wants to stay competitive. DAP includes a new, beautifully polished user interface; a better and more graphically pleasing layout to allow for the new advanced features, as well as a faster and easier user experience. There is also a help overlay available to allow new users to dive right in. DAP is built to handle any number of completely separate locations, all in the same app. When a customer opens the app they are prompted to choose which store they want to use, and can switch between stores with ease.

DAP can be customized for each individual dealership and has several new features that provide consumers access to specific dealer inventories and useful, value added services, all from their iPhone, Blackberry or Droid devices. New features include one-touch roadside assistance, meter timers and a cheapest gas locator, to name a few.  For the auto dealer, this app provides a platform for true, personalized mobile marketing using “PUSH” technology.

DealerApp Vantage enjoyed unprecedented growth in 2010 and its mobile applications are now used by more than 230 auto dealers nationwide. In just the first year of business, from January 2010 through January 2011, the company increased in the number of applications (apps) sold to dealerships by over 3500 percent and has eclipsed the 100,000 download plateau. 

Visit www.zocalolabs.com and www.getdealerapp.com for further details and follow their tweets at www.twitter.com/dealerapp. 

Houston, Texas, March 21, 2011, CAR-Research XRM,  a single-source CRM solution uniquely branded as; “XRM, Exceeding CRM”, today announced that it has been selected for the 2010 Best of Business Award in the Research services category, by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA).

The SBCA 2010 Award Program recognizes the top 5% of small businesses throughout the country. Using statistical research and consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that it believes have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy. The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based off statistical research and also information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports. Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.

“We are very proud of the hard work of all our employees and how they strive to deliver extraordinary service to our auto dealer clients. With the challenges the automotive industry has been facing, our services have become increasingly vital,” commented Kurt Kubicki, VP of Marketing for CAR-Research XRM. “The average closing ratio for dealers is somewhere around 18-20 percent -- 80 percent are unsold customers.  We know that a third of that unsold 80 percent will come back if proper follow-up is done; but to get that third back in you have to call all 80. Dealers don’t have the time to do that and the customer may be upset and not want to talk to them. However, they will talk to an independent research firm like us. We get all the data for the dealership, enabling them to close these previously unsold customers,” Kubicki added.

Now in its 16th year, CAR-Research XRM has paved the way for better customer relationships with its use of market research to capture unsold retail customers.  Utilizing its signature "third party inquiry" interview process, the company provides real-time information to auto dealership management on potential sales they would normally lose. CAR-Research XRM is currently doing business in thirty-one states, Canada and Puerto Rico. From its headquarters in Houston, Texas, the company maintains its high-touch approach, providing daily training, monthly performance reviews, and on site account management, ranging from single-point stores to large dealer groups. Additional information is available at: www.CARResearchXRM.com

About Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA)

Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is a San Francisco based organization. The SBCA is a private sector entity that aims to provide tactical guidance with many day to day issues that small business owners face. In addition to our main goal of providing a central repository of small business operational advice; we use consumer feedback to identify companies that exemplify what makes small business a vital part of the American economy.

About CAR-Research XRM:

For more information visit: www.CARResearchXRM.com

             Las Vegas, NV, March 14, 2011 —   Mobile Productivity, Inc., (MPi) (www.mpifix.com) the leading provider of vehicle inspection tools, processes, and consulting for auto dealer service departments, today announced that its nationwide contest for auto technicians, “REV it UP”, was a huge success. 6,000 technicians entered from 320 auto dealerships across the nation.

“REV it UP” was a series of four races designed to test technicians’ skills and speed using MPi’s state-of-the-art software system, EDGE, for their vehicle inspection process. The final race was held last weekend at Lexus of Henderson, NV, with Andy Holmes from Beach Ford Lincoln in Suffolk, VA, taking the winning spot. It was a very close race; Holmes was tied with Jon Dine from Team Nissan in Manchester, NH but completed his inspection 30 seconds faster.

As the national finalist, Holmes walked away with an 8-lap Rookie Experience with Richard Petty Driving Experience, $5,000 in cash and an OTC Pegisys™ scan tool valued at $5,500. Holmes, who has served as a technician for over 20 years, has worked at Beach Ford for the past 11 ½ years, and has been a Ford Senior Master Technician for 10 years.

“I really enjoyed being in such good company and in the face of such great competitors.  I found that the “REV it Up” competition showed me and my co-workers just how much more thorough you can be at doing a multi-point inspection.  We all found things that needed attention on the vehicle which others had missed, at every level of the competition. Anything that can teach you something about the profession you have chosen is worthwhile,” said Holmes. “To have won by less than a minute because both I and the runner-up had only missed a few items on the vehicle shows just how skilled we had all become by the end of the competition, and that's saying a lot.  Honing our skills to be more observant and aware of a vehicle’s needs will only benefit us, but in the long run our employers and our customers as well,” Holmes added.

The other four regional finalists were:

North East Region: John Dine, representing Team Nissan in Manchester, NH

Mid West Region:  Clint Ellison, representing Orr Nissan in Corinth, TX

North West Region: Curt Kruse representing Jaremko Nissan Saab

South West Region: Val Rodriguez, representing Cerritos Ford, Lincoln, Hyundai

Each won a cash prize of $1,000 and an OTC Nemisys™ scan tool valued at $1,349.

     Commenting on “REV it UP”, David Boyle, President and COO of MPi said, “I am so impressed by the level of skill we have seen in this contest and my hearty congratulations go out to the winners; it is quite something to come out of top of more than 6,000 entrants from 320 dealerships. We are thrilled by the response to “Rev it UP”, it seems to fill a real need and we look forward to making it an annual event. This race really achieved its purpose of exciting and engaging Fixed Operations to raise their game.”

EDGE™ is part of the MPi World Class Inspection™ (WCI) system. Where the system is in use, auto dealers are performing a better inspection and doing a superior job of explaining needed repairs to the customer, realizing benefits that average between $100 and $125 in additional needed repairs per vehicle inspection, a substantial increase in profit for the service department.

The WCI system focuses on the management of a “customer friendly” process which when performed correctly produces better results.  MPi’s complete and all inclusive vehicle inspection program includes its state of the art software solution, EDGE; customized customer friendly communication tools (Recommended Action Plan™ and Know Your Vehicle™ reports), detailed management reporting and analysis tools, ongoing consulting and training services, and process and performance metrics.

WCI pricing is based on dealership size and number of users. A dealership can receive a no-cost price quote and business case by contacting MPI at (888) 335-5736, or visit MPi’s website at: www.mpifix.com.

About MPi:

For more information visit:

http://www.mpifix.com/company/overview.aspx

http://www.mpifix.com/Customers/Videos.aspx

http://www.mpifix.com/solutions/recommendation-videos.aspx

Auto Dealer Electronic Uplist The Next Up® Reaches Milestone of 100 Installations; Growth based on Results and Word of Mouth

            Anaheim, CA, March 7, 2011 – The Next Up®,  an electronic uplist designed to manage the sales activity of automobile dealership sales teams, today announced it has reached a milestone of 100 auto dealerships now using its web-based system.   The company has a nationwide footprint, services every brand and clients include some of the largest and best known auto dealerships in the country. 

“We are currently adding about 10 dealerships per month and are particularly proud of our growth as it has been completely organic based upon word-of-mouth from satisfied dealers, and as yet no formal marketing,” commented Clint Burns, The Next Up CEO/Chairman.  “We do not lock our dealers into long term contracts but operate month-to-month.  In today’s economy, our dealers would not be continuing were they not seeing a significant return on their investment,” Burns added.

The Next Up solves a real pain point for auto dealers; it has found that most lack correct information about how many customers are truly coming in, and that on average sales people are only entering about 60 percent of the data into the CRM. The Next Up integrates with all CRMs and provides an accurate customer count by ensuring that 100 percent of the dealership’s “ups” are accounted for and logged into the CRM. Dealers using the system uniformly see an immediate increase in CRM input, an increase in appointments set, and a minimum increase in sales of 12 percent.

According to Scott Brewer, General Sales Manager at Pohanka  Lexus  in Chantilly, VA, since installing the system in 2007, his dealership has essentially doubled its standings in the country,  leaping from 13^th in new cars sales and the top 5 in used, to 3rd in the country in new and 5^th in used. As well the dealership’s close rate for fresh ups is about 10 percent above the industry average at 30 percent, and the total dealership closing ratio (including appointments) has risen to 40 percent.

“Before we installed The Next Up our sales people would stand in a collective group, mentally noting who was up first. It was so inefficient to have about 9 sales guys standing outside, and intimidating to the customer. The system has made us a lot more efficient and ensures accountability. Now we know with 100 percent accuracy how many customers our sales people are really talking to and so hold them accountable for their closing percentage,” said Brewer.

“With The Next Up we now have 2-3 people up and everyone else at their desks doing follow up. Every morning I run the “up report” and can see how many people each person talked to, any problems with closing ratios and test drives, and can spend more time coaching sales people on any weak areas. As a result our closing rate has dramatically increased,” Brewer added.

The Next Up maximizes the efficiency of the sales force in a dealership as follows: Upon arrival each sales person logs onto the Next Up system and is automatically entered onto the up list. The sales person can then go to their desk and work on customer follow up and appointment setting, knowing they will be instantly notified when it is their turn to manage “the point”.  Enabling a consistent system of follow up and appointment setting produces higher closing ratios; the average close rate for a customer with a set appointment is considerably higher than that for a fresh up.  The system also helps to instill a better sales process and a return to basics by helping to slow down the sales process. The sales person can do a standard sales job, test drive the vehicle and really spend the time needed to fully close the customer in front of them.

 The Next Up also provides in-depth management reports that are a complete and accurate overview of all the key points in the sales process; from the moment the customer enters the dealership to the point that they leave. Management and the sales teams can use these reports to gain an immediate overview of what is happening at any point in the sales cycle. The reports can also drill down per sales person, pin point areas of strength and weakness and be used to help tweak the sales process as needed, thus increasing sales force efficiency, productivity and closing ratios.

For more information visit: www.TheNextUp.com

About The Next Up

The Next Up is a web-based electronic uplist designed to manage the sales activity of automobile dealership sales teams.  It integrates with most CRMs, maximizes sales staff time and provides an accurate customer count by ensuring that 100 percent of the dealership’s “ups” are accounted for and logged into the CRM. Dealers using the system uniformly see an immediate increase in CRM input, an increase in appointments set, and an average increase in sales of 12 percent.

Orange County, CA – February 24, 2011 – Subscribers to Joe Verde’s virtual sales training site JVTN.com now have access to Version 10 of JVTN^®, featuring an upgraded and totally redesigned “Training Center”.

The JVTN^® Version 10 is a break-away design with new features and functions to provide users with quick-and-easy access to 15 system modules, including the Training Center, the VSA^® (Verde’s individual CRM for salespeople), Power Drill Training Games and FAQs. The redesigned Main Menu features colored graphs and charts that provide salespeople real-time updates in a visual snapshot of their training progress at log-in.

In addition, Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc., reorganized the Training Center to help every user quickly locate their most applicable training content, based on their job title. With the new layout, subscribers can easily locate specific training through tabs that mark complete courses, such as “Initial Sales Training,” “Sales Pro Training,” “Sales Management Training, “Service Writers”, Finance,” and more.

“JVTN^® Version 10 was developed with one goal in mind – to improve the training process and related tools to help dealers increase gross and profit year after year,” said Verde, president, Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc. “This redesign will take JVTN^®, which is already the number one training site in the car business, to an all new level of usability and versatility for our subscribers.”

The site went live Feb. 21, 2011, for all users after debuting at the 2011 National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo.

Along with the release of a redesigned JVTN^®, Verde has written a new book for automotive salespeople, “Earn Over $100,000 Selling Cars – Every Year,” which also debuted at the NADA Convention. In 2009, in the wake of the recession, he threw the industry a lifeline that helped countless dealers and managers survive and grow with his book, “A Dealer’s Guide To Recovery & Growth In Today’s Market.” Verde wrote this new book for salespeople for the same reasons; to give them the edge to compete and grow in today’s new market.

To learn about Joe Verde’s online automotive sales training programs, visit www.jvtn.com or call (800) 445-6217. For information about Joe Verde workshops and training products, visit the Web at www.joeverde.com.

About Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc.

www.joeverde.com | www.jvtn.com

Joe Verde Sales & Management Training, Inc., founded in 1985 with corporate offices in Southern California and Dallas, Texas, is consistently rated the number one automotive sales and management training company in North America. 

Joe Verde holds workshops across North America and pioneered Virtual Training with JVTN^®. Mr. Verde is the author of “A Dealer’s Guide To Recovery & Growth”, “Earn Over $100,000 Selling Cars – Every Year” and “How To Sell A Car And Close The Sale Today.”

Piscataway, NJ, February 23, 2011 – DealerApp Vantage, a software development company that leads the industry in mobile application (apps) design and development for auto dealers, today announced that the company enjoyed unprecedented growth in 2010 and its mobile applications are now used by more than 230 auto dealers nationwide. In just the first year of business, from January 2010 through January 2011, the company increased in the number of applications (apps) sold to dealerships by over 3500% and has eclipsed the 100,000 download plateau. 

“The growth that DealerApp Vantage experienced in its first year is attributable to a variety of things.  One is the timing of DealerApp.  We have seen the automotive community start to embrace mobile technology in the marketplace in the past year as dealers realize the need to connect with customers in ways they never could in the past.  We are all witnessing a world shift toward the smartphone.  Dealers and the automotive community will either adjust with the shift, or play an expensive game of catch up later,” said Ed Louis DealerApp Vantage Co-founder/CEO.

Dealer App is a mobile app developed by DealerApp Vantage to help auto dealers better interact with their customers and prospective car buyers.  A powerful marketing breakthrough, Dealer App allows dealers to reach existing and potential new customers, everyday 24/7, in a non-intrusive manner.  Dealer App is a faster and easier way for the customer to contact the dealership, schedule service, get quotes on vehicles, or view specials. It keeps customers engaged with rich Push Notifications, real integrated inventory, and a 'Toolbox' full of useful utilities.

“Smartphone users dominate the marketplace and merchants the world over are figuring out ways to catch the eye of these “addicts” who live on their phones,”   commented DealerApp Vantage marketing executive Luis Bermudez. “There is a global shift occurring with how businesses are contacting and interacting with their customers.  We just want to be ahead of that shift.”

Visit www.getdealerapp.com for further details and follow their tweets at www.twitter.com/dealerapp.  Also become a fan and visit us at www.facebook.com/dealerapp.

About DealerApp Vantage:

DealerApp Vantage is a software development company that leads the industry in mobile application (apps) design and development for auto dealers. It stands ahead of any competition because its technology staff has worked with auto dealers for years in IT development. It is the only company in this space that has such an intimate knowledge of what auto dealers are looking for with regards to marketing and technology.