SLANTS & TRENDS–NEW PRODUCTS AND INFORMATION

AUTOCHECK ADDS POLICE, FRAME DATA

February 13, 2006—Experian Automotive has added information on police accident reports and frame damage data to its AutoCheck vehicle history reports, it announced at the convention. The police report data is sourced from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the future, it will be common for consumers to check a dealer's Web site and demand to see a particular vehicle history report, says Andrew Sheehan, Experian senior vice president of market and product management. Some dealers already have the ability to link consumers to the reports from their Web site. Monthly subscriptions to AutoCheck cost dealers $200 to $600 (depending on dealership size) and include an unlimited number of reports.

CCAR LAUNCHES HAZMAT TRAINING PROGRAM

February 13, 2006—CCAR (Coordinating Committee for Automotive Repair) will build a unique training program to help dealers, auto tech schools, and others meet certification requirements of the Department of Transportation regarding the movement of hazardous materials. CCAR is a not-for-profit 501(c) company already known for its online safety and pollution-prevention training for the auto industry, as well as its “GreenLink” training on automotive environmental compliance. CCAR is creating HazmatU in conjunction with ShipMate, a company that does dangerous-goods training and consulting for the North American Automotive Hazmat Action Committee (which claims virtually all automakers as members). HazmatU will cost dealers $299 per year, which gets them unlimited availability for as many employees as needed. Automakers will contact their dealers on how to be hazmat-compliant and how to enroll in HazmatU.

CALLCOMMAND ADDS TEXT AND E-MAIL MESSAGING

February 13, 2006—Voice-messaging CRM firm CallCommand has added text and e-mail messaging to its Web-based tools. CallCommand CEO Al Babbington says the new services allow dealers more flexibility in communicating with customers, and higher return rates, as more and more customers prefer different methods of communication. More than a thousand CallCommand dealer customers sent out three million calls—everything from birthday greetings to service reminders—in December 2005, a one-month record in communicating with its customers, the company says.

PANASONIC PUTS TESTING ON THE ROAD

February 13, 2006—Panasonic Toughbooks, the most rugged of notebook computers, are now finding their way into back shops as well as out on the road. Techs now use Toughbooks to perform diagnostic tests of a vehicle’s fuel, transmission, and ABS control systems. Toughbooks are noted for their ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the service bay and as mobile diagnostic tools usable under nearly all weather conditions. Panasonic has also announced a new agreement with Ford Motor Co. to include Toughbooks as part of a vehicle diagnostic software and hardware package for more efficient problem solving. Toughbooks make use of WLAN technology as well as WAN, Bluetooth, and GPS.

DENT WIZARD: KEEPING NEW AND PRE-OWNED CARS DING-FREE

February 13, 2006—Dent Wizard, well known for its paintless dent removal service, now offers programs that keep cars ding-free before and after sale. The goal: to bring customers back to the store, providing additional profit opportunities. The Certified Program ensures that vehicles on a dealer lot will stay ding- and dent-free until they’re sold. A Dent Wizard rep examines all used units and certifies those that are ding-free, and a Dent Wizard tech repairs dinged vehicles. The company then guarantees the vehicles’ ding-free status until sale. The buyer of a certified ding-free car is eligible for free repair of one small ding within the first 90 days of ownership. Car buyers can also purchase the prepaid Ding Shield Plan through the F&I department at the time of sale. (New and used vehicles are eligible, but used cars must first have been certified ding-free by Dent Wizard.) Dent Wizard techs then repair dings made within the first 36, 48, or 60 months of ownership, depending on the plan term chosen.

FOILING CROOKS: PPS'S NEW ANTI-TAMPER AND ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

February 13, 2006—Payment Protection Systems (PPS), the manufacturer of the
ON TIME payment protection system for dealers, has introduced two new products here. A new wireless Anti-Tamper system monitors an automobile’s starter wire and recognizes if someone is attempting to remove or circumvent the ON TIME system from the starter. If so, a signal that interrupts the starter system is automatically sent. PPS is also offering a new anti-theft deterrent device for consumers, available through its dealers, that allows for automatic, hands-free electronic identification. Without the personally held device, the car cannot start.

ELEAD CRM’S CUSTOMER-MANAGEMENT TOOL EVOLVES

February 13, 2006—From eLead CRM comes eLead Evolution. The Web-based customer management software, which has the same user interface as Microsoft Outlook, is easy to use, the company says. It’s appropriate for any-size dealership and fully integrates with major DMS systems (ADP, UCS, Reynolds and Reynolds, and Arkona), as well as eLead CRM’s other customer-relationship services, including its call center and data-mining and marketing tool, GoldDigger. Evolution features “dashboard” screens that organize essential info, tasks, and prospects for dealership staffers such as sales managers and salespeople. 

CAR BUYERS CAN SCHEDULE TEST DRIVES ONLINE

February 13, 2006—TestDriveYourNewCar.com lets car shoppers arrange at-home test drives. The buyer provides contact information and requests a vehicle make at the Web site, and a TestDrive rep calls or e-mails the customer within one hour to arrange delivery of the desired car to his or her home. The service, says president Charles Yancey, saves busy consumers time, connects dealers with shoppers who know what they’re looking for, and helps participating dealers distinguish themselves from the competition.