GM Selects ADP

[mbowers]

GM Selects ADP as Provider of Integrated Dealer Management System

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors announced today that it designated ADP Dealer Services, the leading provider of fully integrated, Web-enabled dealership management systems (DMS), as a General Motors Integrated Dealer Management System (IDMS) endorsed provider.
GM's IDMS program simplifies technology requirements for its dealers by endorsing DMS solutions that seamlessly integrate data between GM dealers and GM's internal systems. This faster and easier transfer of information streamlines operations, increases productivity, assists with management of parts inventories and improves customer service.

ADP will launch w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS as its IDMS offering for GM-branded North American retailers, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Pontiac and SAAB dealers, at this year's NADA Convention in February. Built on ADP's evolutionary w.e.b.Suite platform, w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS will be available as either an on-site or ASP Managed Services model.

Customized Desktops and Real-Time Information Increase Dealership Performance

ADP's w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS will offer GM dealers an IDMS that includes access to a "full view" of each customer, featuring open and updated transactions, contact-preference information and sales and service history; and real-time information on key business metrics, such as sales numbers, repair orders and service requests. These features will help dealership managers make better decisions and increase customer satisfaction.

Additional features of w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS will include a month-to-month contract between GM and the dealer, consistent prices for the contract term, select services for GM dealers and GM integration points included in the price. GM and ADP also have available optional software and hardware items that allow dealers to enhance w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS for their needs.

"ADP is excited by the opportunity to provide GM dealers with a technology solution that will streamline the transfer of information and enhance dealer performance," said Steve Anenen, president of ADP Dealer Services. "With the innovative technology and adaptability ADP is known for, w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS will help GM dealers to simplify daily operations in order to sell more cars, parts and service profitably."

Full details will be available at the ADP booth at the 2007 NADA Convention to help prospects fully understand w.e.b.Suite GM IDMS, and it will be available for sale to GM-branded retailers immediately following the NADA Convention.

[Matt Parsons]

I will be available at the ADP booth at NADA if dealers would like to discuss the IDMS program (in general terms with regards to GM or specific terms as it relates to ADP).

[davebil]

Here is the official release from GM's website, note that it includes another vendor

FOR RELEASE: 2007-01-18

General Motors adds Integrated Dealer Management System (IDMS) endorsed providers for North America

North American GM Dealers now can choose ADP Dealer Services or AutoSoft Incorporated as their IDMS solution provider, in addition to Reynolds and Quorum.

DETROIT General Motors (NYSE:GM) announced today that ADP (NYSE: -ADP) and AutoSoft Incorporated have been added as GM endorsed providers of GMs Integrated Dealer Management System (IDMS) to GM-branded retail dealers in North America, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, HUMMER, Pontiac and SAAB. Retail dealers for these brands will be able to choose from among four endorsed providers for their IDMS support. Terms of the contracts are not being disclosed.

GMs Integrated Dealer Management System will help General Motors retail dealers simplify their technology requirements and streamline operations resulting in improved productivity and increased customer satisfaction.

At GM, a key business priority is to make it easier for our dealers to do business with us, said Mark LaNeve, GM Vice President, North America Vehicle, Sales, Service and Marketing. Having four strong dealer management system providers will further demonstrate that while we are focused on improving retail processes and dealer business systems, we remain flexible in addressing the unique needs of our dealers.

In todays highly competitive environment, we intend to assist our dealers by reducing the costs and complexity in the way we conduct business. This saves our dealers time and money, allowing them to focus their resources on the core aspects of their retail operations, LaNeve said.

Each of the endorsed information technology providers brings its own blend of leadership and innovation to GMs dealers through the GM IDMS business solution, said Ralph Szygenda, Group Vice President and Chief Information Officer, General Motors. Rapidly evolving and newly emerging technologies have forever changed the ways GM shares information and conducts business in the automotive retailing industry. We want to leverage the capabilities of these IT suppliers to help GM strengthen its relationship with its retail dealers and, in turn, provide the dealers with the tools that deliver greater flexibility to facilitate vehicle orders, manage vehicle and service parts inventories and, above all, sell GM cars and trucks.

GMs DMS strategy is to provide cost effective and seamlessly integrated DMS solutions through four GM endorsed DMS providers. The addition of ADP and AutoSoft completes this strategy.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the worlds largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GMs OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

[This message has been edited by davebil (edited 01-19-2007).]

[deboss]

Apparently the General yeilded to the complaints of the dealer body and reached agreements with two (2) new IDMS vendors - ADP and Autosoft

[zekensted]

Which ADP product is w.e.b Suite? Alliance or Elite? And will RIM be a part of the GM IDMS package through each of the vendors? And finally, did I read correctly that if you are on GM IDMS, with any vendor, that it is a month to month contract?

[Matt Parsons]

Currently ADP's IDMS offering is based on the WebSuite2006 Platform (the current version of what you may be referring to as Elite). Web1000 (Alliance) is in negotiation with GM for inclusion as well and we anticipate this will occur within several months.

Yes, IDMS agreements are month-to-month. In essence the contract is between the dealer and GM and then GM has an agreement with the system provider.

Can't speak for the other vendors but with regards to ADP, all GM interfaces/integration points both current and future for the life of the agreement (between ADP and GM) are included at no additional charge.

[zekensted]

For the skeptic who might think this all sounds too good to be true, what is the catch? No long term contract, no new costs when progams change or new ones come out? This is very different than it has been in the past.

[Matt Parsons]

The 'catch' is that there is a long-term agreement in place between the provider and GM. GM in essence has negotiated a deal on behalf of their dealers. The dealer's contract is with GM and is month-to-month and for ADP includes no price increases as well as all GM interfaces.

The one item that may not be attractive to all dealers is that GM negotiated a set bundle of products and services and these can not be unbundled or changed. The bundle includes many items that GM dealers would want/need but not all items for every dealer. If a dealer wants something different than the pre-negotiated bundle, then they can't contract for IDMS.

Think of this as a set bundle with regards to a vehicle and options. If you like the options, then it may be a very good deal. If you don't like the options, want more or less, etc., then it may not be for you.

IDMS also bills through the dealers Parts Open Account. The supplier bills GM and GM then bills the dealer.

[TBDet]

Wow, Imagine that, the big guys doing anything on a month to month contract. For all you guys out there that are locked into contracts with computer companies you should take a good hard look at the other company that was approved by GM for the IDMS at the same time as ADP. Ive been on a month to month contract with them since 1994 and my monthly support charge was about 1/3 of what the big guys wanted at that time and it never went up. If I sound partial to Autosoft I guess Im just trying to be fair since the title of this topic in the Forum listing is GM selects ADP and I see that the next day a forum topic was added titled GM and Autosoft even though they were both announced by GM at the same time as shown davebils post. Good thing theres no bias here!