The Cobalt Group,a provider of CRM and e-business software and services to the automotive retail market, on Jan. 27 announced that it has partnered with prominent automotive dealer training company Stuker and Associates to offer new in-depth workshops for dealers implementing Prospector, Cobalt's CRM (customer relationship management) solution.

The workshops, offered monthly in regions across the United States, are designed to help dealership senior management create a customized performance improvement strategy for increasing sales, customer satisfaction and customer retention with Prospector.

"Research tells us that most CRM installations fail due to lack of adoption by end users," said Kevin Root, vice president and general manager of The Cobalt Group's Dealer Advisory Services. "Cobalt and Stuker have tackled this issue head on by creating an all new program that addresses the critical barriers to success with the key leaders in the dealership so they can successfully implement a comprehensive CRM program."

Prospector, a CRM solution, is designed to help dealers enhance their prospect handling skills, boost sales closing rates, and better market to their customers and prospects throughout the customer lifecycle. Prospector is also designed to enable dealers to automate their sales force and manage their showroom floor with sales desk management tools and enterprise reports to analyze and improve performance.

When implemented with a performance improvement strategy, Cobalt says Prospector enables dealers to realize increased sales in every department, resulting in an annual increase in revenue of more than ten percent.

"Stuker and Cobalt experts will help new Prospector dealers learn best sales practices, new showroom processes, winning customer retention strategies, and how to create dealership-wide support and commitment to a CRM business strategy," said Tom Stuker, partner, Stuker and Associates. "The Prospector training program will help dealers execute a faster and more efficient rollout of Prospector and get the highest return on their CRM investment."

The Prospector CRM solution, combined with training and consulting from Cobalt and Stuker, is designed to hgelp dealers achieve lasting improvements in sales, reduced marketing costs, increased customer satisfaction and lifetime customer retention. To sign up or get more information about Cobalt Prospector, call Cobalt toll-free at (866) 439-2258 or e-mail sales@cobaltgroup.com.

About The Cobalt Group

The Cobalt Group (www.cobaltgroup.com) works exclusively in the automotive retail market developing integrated e-business programs designed to help manufacturers and dealers increase their profits and operational efficiencies.

Cobalt offers products and services including enterprise software; customer relationship management (CRM) applications; e-commerce applications; an OEM parts locating and marketing service; and e-business best practices training and consultation.

Cobalt's network includes 12,000 franchised dealers and more than 70 of the 100 largest dealer groups. Cobalt says it is the only software technology provider ever endorsed by 18 manufacturers and the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA).

About Stuker and Associates

Stuker and Associates are automotive training experts who have installed CRM systems in dealerships for more than 12 years.

Stuker has been endorsed by the Ford Motor Co. for its CRM-based Customer and Business Development Centers, which monitor, measure and maximize all telephone sales activity.

Stuker is based near Chicago in Hoffman Estates, Ill., and can be reached by telephone at (847) 519-3400. For more information, visit www.stukertraining.com.