The Reynolds and Reynolds Company joined Kia Motors America (KMA) Oct. 8 in announcing the completion of the pilot phase of a new Dealer Communication System Network (DCSN) for Kia retail outlets in the United States.

The pilot is a result of a three-year agreement that names Reynolds as a provider of complete networking services available to Kia's 639 retailers across the country.

The pilot program, launched in 12 dealerships, "is designed to deliver a flexible, cost-effective and scalable solution allowing Kia dealerships to seamlessly connect with unlimited access points on KMA's internal system and the Internet," Reynolds and Reynolds said in a statement.

Utilizing this new solution, Kia dealers participating in the pilot program have seen an increase in productivity and efficiency due to the new DCSN, according to Reynolds and Reynolds. "For example, using the new system, service advisors can immediately advise customers regarding service and eliminate the need for a call back," Reynolds and Reynolds said in a press release.

In addition, financial statements are processed within five minutes, warranty claims take seconds to update versus minutes on the dial-up connection, and each dealer employee can connect from their workstation rather than move to a Kia PC and wait to use it, according to the company. "The flexibility and performance of the DCSN connection significantly enhances the operation of each Kia dealership," Reynolds and Reynolds said.

"By moving to a secure Internet transport, the new Kia system provides faster processing time, reduces IT costs and securely transmits customer data," Reynolds and Reynolds said. "In addition, the new system allows Kia dealerships to access all Kia applications, as well as the Internet and other franchises owned by Kia dealers through networked PCs rather than shared workstations."

"The DCSN solution is producing meaningful results for those Kia retailers who have piloted the program," said Mark Chaffin, manager of e-business solutions for Kia Motors America. "Multipoint Internet access has drastically improved productivity by eliminating redundancies in dealership operation and has greatly reduced the time required to complete transactions. The ultimate benefit is improved service by being able to spend more time with your customers and less time with computers."

In the fall, Kia and Reynolds will start a national rollout enabling all Kia dealers to benefit from the new Kia DCSN connectivity options.

"We are very excited about the benefits of the new Kia DCSN solution," said Ronnie Davis, manager of fixed operations for Grindstaff Inc., which operates a Kia dealership in Elizabethton, Tenn. "The transition to a high speed Internet system versus a slow dial system has positively impacted our daily operations by reducing processing time and increasing the productivity of our counter staff. Combining the productivity improvements with the functionality of the new system will definitely benefit every area of the dealership."

Reynolds Connectivity Services delivers a suite of managed network solutions designed to meet the unique connectivity needs of automotive retailers and car companies, according to the company. "There are several proven solutions currently available, including wide area network connectivity, secure Internet access, wireless bridging, and in-store or telephone consulting," Reynolds and Reynolds said in a statement.

According to the company, "Reynolds Connectivity Services also provides a single point of contact for all system issues and problem-solving, alleviating the need to contact multiple vendors for service inquiries."

Reynolds said it also offers extensive security measures to protect the confidentiality of critical business and customer information. These features include corporate-grade firewalls, intrusion detection features, proactive circuit monitoring, and e-mail with virus scan; all geared at providing quality service and support.

"The market demand for high-speed Internet connection is very high and the DCSN application is invaluable to dealership operations," said Jim Aten, vice president of Reynolds Network Services. "Reynolds and Kia Motors of America have forged a great relationship as we continue to realize our goal of high-quality network solutions that meet and exceed our customers' business needs."

About Kia Motors America

Kia Motors America is the U.S. sales, marketing and service arm of Kia Motors Corp., based in Seoul, South Korea.

The full line of Kia models including the new, large size Amanti sedan (available November 2003), Sorento midsize SUV, Sedona minivan, Optima midsize sedan, Spectra compact sedan and five-door hatchback as well as the Rio subcompact sedan and Rio Cinco five-door wagon are available at more than 600 retailers nationwide.

About Reynolds and Reynolds

Reynolds and Reynolds (www.reyrey.com) is a provider of integrated solutions designed to help automotive retailers manage change and improve their profitability.

Serving the automotive retailing industry since 1927, Reynolds says it enables OEMs and retailers to work together to build the lifetime value of their customers. The company's product, service and training solutions include retail and enterprise management systems, Web and customer relationship management solutions, learning and consulting services, documents, data management and integration, networking and support and leasing services.

Reynolds serves more than 20,000 customers comprising nearly 90 percent of the automotive retailers and virtually all OEMs doing business in North America.

The Reynolds International Division serves automotive retailers and OEMs through Incadea AG and its partner network as well as a worldwide consulting practice.