A new database management service designed to help automobile dealers maintain more accurate customer contact information, and assist in compliance with "do not call lists" and other privacy laws, is now available from the Dealer Services Group of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. and Acxiom(R) Corp.

The new service enhances ADP's DataFresh product with AbiliTec(R), Acxiom BestAddress(R) and Acxiom ChangePlus, three data integration and data hygiene offerings.

Tests conducted on dealer management systems (DMS) indicate a high percentage of all customer data is inaccurate, with up to 40 percent of records as duplicates and up to 80 percent of records in need of address correction/updates. ADP and Acxiom said their combined database management solution will assist dealers in their efforts to have clean, up-to-date customer information and the ability to integrate customer records from multiple data sources. This results in an enterprise-wide view of the customer, according to the companies.

Once a dealership subscribes to the combined ADP/Acxiom solution, the system automatically extracts customer records, performs the data hygiene and creates a distinct recognition link. The solution then pushes the newly enhanced data back into both the ADP dealer management system (DMS) and the customer relationship management (CRM) applications throughout the enterprise, according to ADP and Acxiom.

The solution also includes a set of tools to help dealers recognize which customers may, or may not, be contacted by e-mail, fax or phone -- easing the daunting task created for dealers by recently enacted privacy laws, according to the companies.

"Retail automotive dealers have invested significant time and money into CRM strategies, but those strategies just don't work without accurate, current data that can be integrated across multiple dealer sites," said Kevin Henahan, senior VP of marketing, ADP Dealer Services. "Now ADP and Acxiom have joined forces to help dealers maintain comprehensive, current customer records that help continuously grow and preserve the customer relationship."

Dealers also now have a solution to help deal with the complex regulatory landscape concerning telemarketing and e-mail marketing, said Acxiom Automotive Industry Leader Eric Garrett.

"ADP and Acxiom's data solution help dealers comply with the enormous challenge of recent regulations," Garrett said. "When dealers have a more accurate view of their customers, they know exactly what those customers want -- and what they don't want. Dealers can then carefully tailor their marketing to fit customers' specifications."

ADP Dealer Services

ADP Dealer Services provides integrated computing solutions to more than 16,000 automotive and truck dealers throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

ADP Dealer Services is the third largest business unit of Automotive Data Processing, Inc. ADP, with $7 billion in revenues and more than 500,000 clients, is one of the largest independent computing services firms in the world.

More information on ADP Dealer Services is available at www.dealersuite.com.

About Acxiom Corporation

Acxiom Corp. integrates data, services and technology to create and deliver customer and information management solutions for many of the largest companies in the world.

The core components of Acxiom's solutions are customer data integration (CDI) technology, data, database services, IT outsourcing, consulting and analytics, and privacy leadership.

Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Ark., with locations throughout the United States and Europe, and in Australia and Japan.

For more information, visit www.acxiom.com.