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Autobytel.com Releases iManager, 140-Function E-commerce Integration System for Dealers
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| Developed in conjunction with dealers nationwide, iManager consolidates multiple tracking and reporting systems bedeviling dealership Internet departments |
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| Updated |
Jul 7, 2004 20:33:27 |
| Rating |
 28 ( -6 -21.42% ) |
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Description:
Irvine, CA - February 3, 2001 - Autobytel.com (Nasdaq: ABTL), the global leader in online automotive commerce, today announced the launch of iManager, a multi-functional dealer management system offering consolidation of the multiple lead tracking, customer relationship management (CRM) and reporting systems now bedeviling dealership Internet departments. Developed in conjunction with, and tested by, dealerships throughout the country, iManager helps improve dealer response time to Internet customer requests, provides dealers with turn-key customer retention programs, maintains databases of customer information, deal status and Internet department performance, and allows dealers to eliminate several of the lead management systems they currently employ.
"iManager is the Internet dealer management system we have all been waiting for," said Mark Lorimer, President and CEO of Autobytel.com. "Browser-based, customizable and breathtaking in its range of services, this product makes the Internet work for the dealer, the way the dealer wants, and provides the best way yet to turn the Internet lead into a potential customer for life."
"iManager is the one tool that not only puts the Internet in its place in the dealership, but works to keep Internet customers in our dealers' stores," continued Lorimer. "With iManager, our goal is to simplify the Internet, making it work, easily and efficiently, for our dealers so that they can, at the click of a button, provide Internet consumers with the process they demand."
"There are literally dozens of unique features within iManager," said Mike Romano, Director of Dealer Products at Autobytel.com, "but one of the most compelling is the Sales Assistant which integrates Autobytel.com's proven sales process into the purchase request process, guiding Internet managers through every step of the online buying process. By following the Sales Assistant, dealerships can ensure that every customer receives a consistent and enjoyable buying experience."
According to Romano, there are four key features mentioned by dealer after dealer in the surveys the company undertook during the development phase:
ease of use
lead consolidation
accelerating dealer response time
comprehensive and customizable reporting.
Autobytel.com's Advanced Technology Team worked with the New Product Committee of the Autobytel.com National Dealer Advisory Board and a select group of beta dealers, to develop the functionality, specifications and testing environments for iManager. iManager is remarkably user friendly, which can translate into more consistent use by Internet managers at the dealership and features an extensive, easy-to-follow tutorial that is also supported by Autobytel.com training representatives.
Secondly, iManager allows Autobytel.com Accredited Dealers to consolidate their Internet leads from multiple sources, including those from other online services, in one place. It also allows dealers to include showroom traffic in a single, easy-to-use application, effectively eliminating the inefficiencies and redundancies that arise from the separation of traditional and online sales at the dealership. "This is one of the features requested most from our dealers during the design phase," said Romano. "We saw that the assortment of PCs, software, pagers, fax machines, etc. -- and the manpower to run them -- had made operating an effective Internet Department nearly impossible. iManager streamlines and centralizes all sales functions in one place."
The third critical benefit of iManager is its ability to accelerate dealer response time to consumers' online vehicle purchase requests. Published reports show that the vast majority of consumers would like dealers to respond to their Internet requests in one day or less. Many dealers have trouble keeping up with multiple lead providers and duplicate customer requests. iManager de-duplicates and integrates leads from all sources and provides an escalation manager which notifies the next designated salesperson if a request goes unanswered. In addition, iManager has wireless capabilities to provide instant notification of Internet leads via web-enabled cellular phones and wireless handhelds, giving dealers one-button dialing to online consumers.
The fourth key benefit is the system's exhaustive reporting capability. With over 25 different customizable reports, dealers can integrate the performance of their Internet departments into their own style of operational and financial reporting. iManager reports include dealer response times, sales performance statistics, customer information, gross profit summaries, leads by zip code, customer satisfaction and new and used inventory. "This is not a one-size fits all deal," said Lorimer. "The 22,000 U.S. dealers run their businesses in 22,000 different ways. We knew that an effective Internet management system had to take that into account."
"iManager works the way I work, giving me the tools I need to better communicate with my customers whether I'm off the lot or inside the store. Autobytel.com has created a selling system that I believe will help me close more sales and garner more repeat business for my dealership-plus, it's easy to use!" said Scott Morrow, Heritage Honda, York, PA "Additionally, I can use all the contact management, reporting and direct e-mail functions in iManager to manage both my Internet and non-Internet customers."
"iManager also works to protect valuable customer information for the dealership," continued Romano. "We found that many salespeople use their own contact management software that dealerships are often unaware of. When that salesperson leaves the dealership, guess who keeps the customer records? iManager gives dealerships the capacity to import existing customer files from ACT, Goldmine or Outlook, ensuring that the dealership has control of its customer records."
iManager also delivers e-mail marketing tools that substantially reduce the need for costly traditional direct mail reminders. For example, iManager can send crucial customer loyalty communications such as a follow-up "Thank You," a customer satisfaction survey and an introduction to the dealership's service department, all for a fraction of the approximately 70 cents per piece cost of direct mail.
Additionally, the product's unique HTML e-mail capabilities enable dealers to personalize their correspondence with online consumers to include embedded photos and graphics, letting dealers send digital images of actual vehicles directly to customers. iManager's toolbox of sales and customer relations resources also includes online credit applications, vehicle condition reports and payment calculators. Finally, iManager's home page is fully customizable so each individual user can build their own personal organizer from new purchase requests to appointments to weather and news information. |
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