E-NEWSLETTER

ActivEngage, a provider of live chat for dealer websites, released ActivConnect, a new dealership Website tool bar that lets consumers interact with the dealership via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, DealerRater and live chat, without leaving the dealership Website.

Tags: ActivEngage, live chat, social media

BlueSky Marketing Group, a dealer marketing and leads provider, introduces Real Leads, a new-car leads program which provides brand-specific, new-car leads to dealerships, combined with proprietary lead hygiene and conversion services at no additional cost.

Tags: new-vehicle leads

Compli, a provider of workforce and compliance management software, released Version 6.0 of the Compli Workforce Management System.

Tags: Compliance

Ford Extended Service Plan (ESP) has chosen Ristken Software Services as its partner to launch the ESP Profitlink Menu, an F&I menu selling system, and ESP Profitlink Reporting, an F&I reporting system. Both products will be used to assist and support Ford dealerships in finance and sales operations.

Tags: F&I reporting, Ford, menu-selling , Ristken, service contracts

Responding to a question about whether the pickup in activity among captive lenders during the second half of the year was the driving force behind DealerTrack’s deal with GMAC, Mark O’Neil, the company’s chief executive, said the timing of the Jan. 10 announcement was only coincidental.

Tags: DEALERTRACK

Chrome Systems Inc., a subsidiary of DealerTrack Holdings Inc., is now providing a vehicle comparison Website shopping tool for the BMW USA Website.

Tags: DEALERTRACK, Website tools

Open Dealer Exchange LLC has acquired the Provider Exchange Network (PEN) from MenuVantage LLC.

Tags: F&I products, MenuVantage

New technologies, such as blogs and chat rooms, are enticing consumers to consider a new-car purchase, according to a recent study by CNW Market Research.

Tags: social media

Next Generation Dealer Services (NGDS), a technology company focused on the auto industry, has launched a social media report for dealers.

Tags: social media

AVAbahn, the North American provider of Microsoft-based solutions and services for automotive retailers, is incorporating Wolters Kluwer Financial Services’ motor vehicle retail installment contracts and DocOne printing engine into the Dealer Management System for Microsoft Dynamics AX (MSDMS).

Tags: retail installment contracts, Wolters Kluwer Financial Services

VinSolutions, an automotive software provider, has integrated access to Carfax across its MotoSnap customer relations management platform.

Tags: automotive software, CARFAX, customer relations management, vehicle history report, VinSolutions

Mercedes-Benz Financial is enhancing its lease vehicle turn-in process, called First Class Finish, by providing new software for its dealers hand-held Dynamic PDA (personal data assistant).

Tags: leasing, Mercedes-Benz Financial

The Reynolds and Reynolds Company announced the availability of F&I eForms for the POWER dealership management system (DMS), which enable dealers to print vehicle sale documents quickly and efficiently on plain paper from a laser printer.

MobilTrac LLC unveiled its new instaVIN, which aims to provide dealers and consumers with accident history reports in seconds through www.instavin.com.

GMAC Financial Services will begin accepting applications for new- and used-vehicle financing via the DealerTrack network, the lender announced Wednesday.

Dealership software provider F&I Administration Solutions LLC has signed Xzilon Inc., a California-based provider of appearance protection products, as the latest customer to its SCS Auto administration solution.

RouteOne announced today that it has introduced a new online lead and credit application tool for its dealer users.

Tags: Leads Handling, RouteOne, Web tools

Telematics supplier GuidePoint Systems has expanded its operations in metro Detroit and Fort Worth, Texas to meet growing demand for its services.

Tags: GuidePoint Systems, telematics supplier

Parayil & Mann Dealer Services Inc. (PMDS) has added ServiceUps, a suite of customer communication tools for the service department, to its DealerUps customer relationship management (CRM) system.

Tags: customer relationship management system, online marketing, service department

Dealer.com, a provider of online marketing solutions, today announced it has named David Stetson as its new chief financial officer (CFO). He will be responsible for the company’s financial operations.

Tags: online marketing

Autobytel Inc. and Autodata Solutions Inc. announced that Autobytel will utilize Autodata Solutions’ professional still image vehicle photography and comprehensive data for U.S. vehicles on its network of sites, including Autobytel.com.

Tags: Autobytel, online inventory, online marketing

HomeNet Automotive, an online inventory solutions provider, and Edmunds.com formed a partnership that allows dealers to list their inventory on Edmunds.com and receive high quality leads in return from consumers visiting Edmunds.com.

Tags: Edmunds.com, Internet leads, lead generation, online inventory, Web-based leads

Red Hill Insurance Agency LLC in Wilton, N.H., will represent Mt. Washington Assurance Corporation and sell its personal auto and homeowners insurance.

Tags: personal auto insurance

F&I Administration Solutions LLC, a provider of software for the administration of automotive F&I products, has signed Alpha Warranty Services, a Utah-based provider of extended service contracts, as the newest customer to its SCS Auto administration solution.

Tags: extended service contracts, F&I Administration Solution, Software

VINtek, a provider of auto finance services and solutions for lenders, announced an agreement to manage vehicle titles for Santander Consumer USA (SC USA) Inc., resulting from SC USA’s acquisition of the indirect auto loan portfolio of Texas-based Triad Financial.

Tags: electronic lien and titling, nonprime finance, Santander Consumer USA, Triad Financial, VINtek