Norcross, Ga. — MPK Automotive Systems, developer of a Microsoft-based dealer management system (DMS), has partnered with bridgeSpeak to allow franchised automotive dealerships to connect their DMS with their phone system to help improve all aspects of customer communication.

“Partnering with bridgeSpeak is a natural extension of developing a DMS that works at the speed of today’s dealerships,” said Paul Gracy, vice president of development at MPK Automotive Systems. “Through our partnership, we’re bridging the gap between personal contact and business processes, bringing dealers a next-generation DMS that helps improve customer service and saves time and money.”

bridgeSpeak is a provider of speech-enabled interactive voice response (IVR) solutions for auto dealers. bridgeSpeak’s Automotive Retail (AR) solution is built on Microsoft Speech Server, an IVR and speech recognition platform. bridgeSpeak AR unifies a dealership’s computer and phone systems, automating inbound calls, streamlining service scheduling and enabling proactive customer communications.

“Since both MPK and bridgeSpeak are built with Microsoft-based technology, integrating the two systems has been seamless from a development perspective, as well as from an end user’s,” added Gracy.

bridgeSpeak’s speech-enabled inbound auto attendant helps ensure that every customer call is promptly and consistently answered and quickly directed to the right person or department. Another component of the system generates outbound service appointment reminder calls to customers, helping minimize service downtime. bridgeSpeak’s outbound calling feature also integrates with dealers’ promotions and customer databases, enabling each communication to include relevant promotional offers. bridgeSpeak also contacts customers regarding recalls, special orders and other offerings.

“bridgeSpeak is pleased to be able to offer MPK customers an opportunity to make their DMS investment work even harder for them,” said Bob Spitler, national director of sales and marketing for bridgeSpeak. “By integrating dealers’ MPK systems with their phone systems and automatically interacting with customers, customer follow-up and satisfaction are dramatically improved, driving results down to the bottom line.”

MPK’s full suite of fully integrated DMS modules, including accounting, sales, parts, service, payroll, CRM and F&I menu selling work together with bridgeSpeak’s certified speech applications, helping to deliver information quickly and accurately to the people who need it most. Being able to communicate real-time postings and up-to-the-minute access to financial, customer and vehicle information helps MPK’s DMS provide a positive return on investment (ROI) for both the dealership and the customer.