Well, first off - I am still here. I apologize to anyone that has been trying to reach me (us) as you can imagine this is a very busy time.
If you have tried to email me, the reason it bounced back is that my email address has changed. Our phones are still fully operational and we are answering questions as quickly as possible.
As discussed in this track, ADP has purchased EDS' Automotive Retail Group. This is a transaction that has been underway for many months, and speaking on behalf of both EDS and ADP, we are very pleased that this acquisition has come to fruition.
EDS' Automotive Retail Group is now known as ADP Automotive Retail Group. Our division is for all practical purposes operating in its' entirety within ADP. The Division will continue to support or existing client base with the products and services they have in operation today. ADP is making it very clear through both our clients and the industry that we are not sun setting the
DMS@NET.NG distributed or ASP solutions that we offer in the marketplace. We plan on continued updating to the solutions with both mandated and enhancement style changes. Both companies are very aware that to force migrate clients to a particular solution is not in the best interest of the client or the business. If EDS's client base had wanted to own an ADP DMS system, they would have purchased one.
We view this acquisition as a win-win-win scenario.
For the clients, if they are pleased with the offerings they have today, they can continue to utilize what they have purchased and their existing contracts will be honored. If clients wish to look at other offerings from a DMS perspective, ADP certainly has industry leading solutions that support dealers of varying sizes and OEM affiliations in the W.e.b. 1000 and W.e.b. 2000 offerings. The clients running an 'EDS' DMS solution will also have the advantage of looking at numerous additional applications for inclusion in their stores that were previously not offered by EDS such as CVR, Web Desking, IP Phone systems, and the list goes on and on. In addition, ADP brings an industry leading set of support tools and processes to the table that will be utilized to provide increased service levels to the client base.
From an employee perspective, we EDS'ers that love operating in support of the automotive retailing industry have joined the premier company worldwide that services this exact sector. The vast majority of team members are transitioning to ADP or are aligned to continue to support ADP Automotive Retail Group from within EDS.
From an EDS perspective, this transaction allows EDS to make a step that moves them closer to companys core competencies. EDS provided careful analysis of the market space to insure that that the clients and associates would be aligned with the industry's leading provider - and that is exactly what has been accomplished.
I along with my DMS sales organization have moved over to ADP in-full, and effective earlier this week, I have assumed a role as VP of Sales, ADP Automotive Retail Group. I along with my team members and the rest of the organization are excited with the potential that this alignment of two dominant players in our respective spaces brings to automotive retailing.
I fully plan on continuing my involvement with this forum and look forward to our continued conversations.
Matt
[This message has been edited by Matt Parsons (edited 03-18-2004).]
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 3:24 pm