CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — Auto/Mate Dealership Systems experienced a 25 percent increase in new auto dealer clients during the first half of 2008. The company believes that the rise in new business reflects an increasing demand for modern dealership management systems (DMS) that can be purchased and paid for on a month-to-month basis.

"Changing market conditions are prompting many dealers to look for alternatives to their expensive, legacy DMS systems," said Mike Esposito, president of Auto/Mate. "With Auto/Mate’s Automotive Management Productivity Suite, dealers get 100 percent of the DMS tools they need to effectively manage their retail operations, with no long term contact commitments that escalate costs year after year."

Auto/Mate was developed by Wang Laboratories during the 1970s, when almost two-thirds of the nation’s dealerships ran their business using a Wang computer. Software developer Steve Fullum acquired the rights to the system in the early 1990s. He then began marketing and selling the product directly to dealers while continuing development work on the system. Today, Auto/Mate has 75 employees and a customer base of over 500 dealerships nationwide. Many Auto/Mate clients have been using the system since it was first marketed and sold by Wang. The latest version,

known as the Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS), includes more than 20 integrated modules designed to help dealers work more efficiently and effectively.

"This is an exciting time for us as more and more dealers re-evaluate their DMS purchasing decisions," said Esposito. "Dealerships that have switched to AMPS are amazed at the money they’ve been able to save without compromising on features, service or support."