LAS VEGAS, NEVADA–(Marketwire – Feb. 3, 2012) – Quorum Information Technologies Inc. (TSX VENTURE:QIS) (Quorum) announced today that its dealership and customer management system, XSellerator™ now has an innovative and ground-breaking new feature for dealerships to communicate with their customers through email and text, including automated messaging triggers based on the customers' preference.
“This is nothing short of amazing,” stated Brent Kennedy, Dealer Principal of Edwards Garage in Alberta. “Time and again Quorum has brought us advanced new features in the areas of factory integration and process efficiency, but this one is truly 'the next big thing.' As Quorum's test dealership for Communicator, we were impressed with how well thought-out and integrated the new functionality was.” Brent continued. “The real test was when we started using it with our customers and the results are outstanding. Customers are 'wowed' and we can use Communicator to truly 'delight' them. At the same time, we are recognizing significant efficiencies as our service advisors no longer use valuable time playing 'phone tag',” he concluded.
Dan Ichelson, Quorum's VP of Operations and Development explained, “It all started with a simple request… 'can we send a text message to our customers using your system?' But, we took a step back and realized it was much more than that. This was an opportunity to bring something of extraordinary value to our customers. We realized that what we really needed was an architecture for dealerships and their customers to use available technology to communicate quickly and efficiently. And, to store a snapshot of the communication right with the transaction. With that notion, 'Communicator' was born.”
Communicator is embedded functionality within Quorum's XSellerator DMS that takes advantage of Microsoft's Lync messaging technology. With Lync at the core, Quorum's team built extensions to handle 2-way communication via a mixture of email and mobile texting and “attaches” the entire “dialogue” with the transaction that it is associated with. As an example, a customer may indicate that they prefer to be texted when their vehicle is ready for pick up in service. The service advisor notes that preference with a couple of clicks, and at the completion of the final case on the repair order, a text message is automatically sent to the customer. The unique feature, however, is that the customer can reply and the advisor can reply to that (to schedule a shuttle pick-up, for instance). It is all stored with the customer's repair order forever.
The same functionality can be used for ad-hoc communication like sending the customer a quick text for authorization of a repair, or to ask a question about their vehicle. Or, the customer's request for a shuttle pick up can quickly be routed to the shuttle driver along with their location and all messages are stored with the repair order.
Mark Allen, Quorum's VP of Sales, Marketing and Services commented, “Communicator is a game changer in the DMS field. It is difficult to explain in words, but when dealers see it in action, they instantly 'get it.' We are showing the first production version of it in our booth at the NADA conference in Las Vegas this year (Booth #3410) and I invite all dealers to come take a look there or call us for a demonstration. You have to see it for yourself.”
Maury Marks, Quorum's President and CEO added, “This is only the tip of the iceberg, so-to-speak. The Communicator architecture is designed so that Quorum can add messaging modules to virtually any transaction and create automated trigger points based on statuses or updates. For example, in sales, reminders of demo or delivery appointments can be generated. Or, imagine if the minute a customer showed up in the service drive-through their sales person got an instant message or text that their customer is there and to stop by to say hello. The possibilities are endless and we are working closely with our dealers to get even more ideas of how the technology can help their business. After all, that is what we are here for… to help dealers with their business.”
About Quorum
Quorum is a North American company focused on developing, marketing, implementing and supporting its XSellerator product for GM, Isuzu, Chrysler, Hyundai, KIA, Nissan, Subaru, NAPA and Bumper to Bumper dealerships. XSellerator is a dealership and customer management software product that automates, integrates and streamlines every process across departments in a dealership. One of the select North American suppliers under General Motors' IDMS program, Quorum is the second largest DMS provider for GM's Canadian dealerships with 25% of the market. Quorum is a Microsoft Partner in both Canada and the United States. Quorum Information Technologies Inc. is traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol QIS. For additional information please go to www.QuorumDMS.com.
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Contact Information:
Mark Allen
403-777-0036
AllenM@QuorumDMS.com
www.QuorumDMS.com
