Dealer management programme for MS Dynamics

Source: www.manufacturingtalk.com - Five companies will directly integrate their industry product offerings into the forthcoming dealer management system for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

In an effort to drive technology innovation to automotive dealerships worldwide, Microsoft has launched the Microsoft Automotive Retail Solutions Initiative, unveiling key alliances as part of a new partner system providing dealer management solutions. Five companies - DealerTrack, JM Solutions, Manheim, RouteOne and The Cobalt Group - will directly integrate their industry product offerings into the forthcoming Dealer Management System for Microsoft Dynamics AX (MSDMS). Five additional partners - AutoBase, bridgeSpeak, Chrome Systems, Crowe Chizek and Oxlo Systems - will provide complementary solutions as part of the initiative.

'Vehicle retailers are struggling to improve sales, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction in a highly competitive market,' said John Reed, director of automotive retail solutions in the US Manufacturing Group at Microsoft.

'By launching this initiative, Microsoft is creating an open partner ecosystem around dealership solutions that will encourage innovation and ultimately give dealers the flexibility to manage their businesses the way they want'.

The Dealer Management System for Microsoft Dynamics AX will provide a platform for open integration between Microsoft's intuitive, familiar technology and solutions that serve the specific needs of the automotive dealer industry.

Announced in July 2006, MSDMS is being developed by Microsoft with Infonizer ApS, a Denmark-based automotive IT solutions company with a North American subsidiary in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Pilot implementations are scheduled to begin in late 2007.

While other partners are expected to join the initiative in the coming months, the five companies integrating their products into MSDMS offer a variety of applications and services that help round out a complete DMS offering.

'We are very excited about the opportunity to work with Microsoft, and the advantages we believe our relationship will deliver to our mutual dealer customers,' said Richard McLeer, senior vice president of Planning and Strategy for DealerTrack.

'This will be a deep and robust integration that will provide dealer customers with significant benefits'.

'This relationship represents a realisation of our vision - a single, integrated technology platform offered by a single provider that also facilitates connectivity among dealers, lenders and other service providers, and helps dealers sell more cars more profitably'.

'Manheim's alliance with Microsoft will help create a new paradigm in dealer management systems by providing franchised dealers with seamless push/pull integration to Manheim's numerous dealer applications and services'.

'This will include access to pre-sale inventories, online vehicle registration of vehicles purchased at auction or vehicles being sold at auction, plus the added convenience of full OVE.com integration,' said Ralph Liniado, senior vice president business development at Manheim.

The five partners that provide complementary solutions to MSDMS integrate today with Microsoft technology and legacy dealer IT systems.

These include AutoBase, a leading provider of marketing and sales solutions; bridgeSpeak, a leading provider of speech-enabled interactive voice response solutions; Chrome Systems, a leading provider of vehicle data, systems and services; Crowe Chizek and Co, an accountancy firm that provides business services and reporting; and Oxlo Systems, operator of a leading automotive retail integration network.

Microsoft also continues to support vendors that market their own dealer management system offerings which integrate with Microsoft technology.

These include Automotive Computer Services , MPK Automotive Systems, PBS Systems and Quorum Information Technologies 'Microsoft has a long-standing history in serving the automotive industry, and the launch of this initiative around dealer management solutions (DMS) is a logical and significant step in that evolution,' said John Fikany, vice president of the US Manufacturing Group at Microsoft.

'Through this effort, Microsoft's goal is to empower our vertical partners and automotive dealerships' employees with solutions and tools that address their day-to-day needs'.

'Our customers' and partners' input will continue to have an impact on our direction'.

'Our latest announcements in the DMS space reinforce the fact that Microsoft is not only listening to our customers, but also taking action on their behalf'.