Reynolds and Reynolds provides technology solutions to a new breed of automotive retailer.

TAYLOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 1996--To help create a consumer-friendly automotive retail environment, Vehicles Plus, a new used-car superstore in Taylor, Mich., relied on The Reynolds and Reynolds Company for a broad range of integrated information systems to drive the unique processes it is implementing. The Detroit-area megastore showcased its new environment at a grand opening this week. The focus of Vehicles Plus is to elevate the consumer experience at every point of contact in its retailing environment. Once customers or prospects enter the facility, they are surrounded by innovative new systems and processes that provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction.

"Vehicles Plus is pioneering a new way of automotive retailing, offering the consumer the ultimate in buying experience in a customer-friendly, haggle-free environment. At every point of contact customers will find high-quality service. Reynolds' results-oriented, technology-business solutions are enabling us to achieve the ultimate retailing experience for consumers. Reynolds has provided us with the tools we need to enhance our marketing efforts, manage prospects and follow-up, optimize vehicle inventory, speed the financing process and maintain high customer satisfaction," said Tom Szott, owner of Vehicle Plus and dealer principal of Taylor Jeep/Eagle.

"The Vehicles Plus operation is an excellent example where an innovative retailer sees the value that information technology can play in a very consumer-oriented environment. Reynolds has been pioneering new information technology solutions built around helping the automotive retailer provide a better experience for their customers. Vehicles Plus is employing these solutions throughout its business in very innovative ways that will help them use information to find, serve and keep customers," said Mark Brown, Reynolds group vice president, marketing and general management, Automotive Systems Division.

At the heart of the dealership operation is Reynolds' ERA(R) information management system, recognized by the automotive retail industry as the leading integrated solution for dealerships. A complete turnkey system for managing an automobile retailer's processes, ERA links all departments with immediate information, which means streamlined service and access to information for the consumer. Among ERA's business functions are sales prospecting, customer satisfaction management, financial control and fixed operations management.

The Sales Process 

Recognizing the advantage of merchandising through the Internet, Vehicles Plus is using Reynolds' DealerNet(R), a powerful on-line service for reaching today's automotive consumers. DealerNet will allow Vehicles Plus to merchandise its actual pre-owned vehicle inventory over the Internet to millions of consumers in and around their market area. "DealerNet gives retailers a way to expand their marketing efforts both geographically and demographically, reaching consumers outside their local market area and targeting consumers not easily reached through traditional media," said Brown.

Part of ERA's integrated solution is SalesVision(TM), which gives salespeople a highly effective prospecting, contact management and follow-up system. SalesVision allows the retailer to treat the used car shopper with the highest degree of professionalism. The system can keep track of the type of vehicle a shopper is interested in so the salesperson can try to find the right vehicle for the customer's needs. The system even employs a unique vehicle matching feature that automatically searches vehicles coming into inventory for a vehicle to match a consumer's request.

The ERA information system provides the buyer with a complete printout of any past service work performed by Vehicles Plus. Once the buyer decides on a vehicle, ERA prints all documents needed to complete a sale including forms required for closing, processes warranty and service contracts, and computes pricing adjustments and taxes.

Even the Financing function has been streamlined to eliminate any inconvenience to the customer. Reynolds' ERA system is making it possible for the salesperson to help the consumer arrange financing instead of shifting to a Finance & Insurance manager.

Vehicle Processes

To keep track of the dealership's large and ever changing inventory, ERA provides extensive information on each vehicle. Barcoding technology controls vehicle inventory and tracks lot locations. Reynolds developed an interface to a unique gating system to track when a vehicle has been taken for a test drive. When the car leaves the lot, a card is swiped through a reader which sends a signal to ERA that the vehicle is leaving the facility.

The Service Process

The service process is designed to facilitate quick, accurate processing. Every service customer will have a "customer loyalty" card that when read by the system, will produce a history of the vehicle's service work and any notes by the technician indicating areas to be monitored.

For dealership employees, the system electronically processes service orders and stores records, maintains the parts inventory and gives mechanics access to technical information -- resulting in faster, more accurate service.

In the near future, advisors will go out to the waiting service customer and using a hand-held PC, display the vehicle's service history.

Internal Processes

A complete forms management program provides Vehicles Plus with the forms necessary for dealer operations, including F&I, repair orders, pre-printed forms, computer paper and other operational documents.

A Local Area Network (LAN) provides connectivity to ERA, SalesVision and Chrysler's DIAL system, and enables the dealership to communicate through e-mail and utilize other PC-based software. (Through DIAL, dealership personnel has direct access to Chrysler about urgent service information.)

"We're pleased that the visionaries driving the new retailing concepts behind Vehicles Plus chose Reynolds and Reynolds solutions for their retail information solutions," adds Brown. "It's the future of automobile retailing: combining consumer-focused business processes with high tech information solutions. The real winner is the used car customer. It will change the shopper's perception of the buying experience."

Reynolds and Reynolds, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is a leading provider of integrated information management systems and related value-added services to automotive, healthcare and general business markets. The company reported fiscal 1995 revenues of $911 million. For more information on Reynolds and Reynolds, visit the company's World Wide Web site on http://www.reyrey.com.

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CONTACT: Reynolds and Reynolds, Dayton, Ohio

Janet Brewer, 513/449-4215

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Paul Guthrie, 513/449-4216

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