The Reynolds and Reynolds Co. announced Nov. 17 that the Reynolds Certified Interface program has accepted 10 vendors since its launch in August. Vendors fully completing the program have been certified to interface between their respective products and Reynolds’ industry-leading ERA® dealer management system.

Vendors recently certified under the program include Bluebird Auto Rental Systems; Integrated Collision Management; Rome Technologies, Inc.; TSD, Inc.; Stronghold Technologies; e data Group, Inc.; and Versicom Communications.

In addition, pre-certified vendors, those working on completing the requirements for certification, include StoneEagle.com, Sage Microsystems and Integrated Services Inc.

According to Reynolds, the rapid program adoption demonstrates these vendors’ commitment to providing automotive retailers with software products that interface smoothly with their Reynolds ERA dealer management system. Reynolds said this helps retailers to safeguard their customer data and system investment.

Interfacing data components are available in the daily rental, body shop, service status, finance and insurance, key tracking, and CRM markets.

“Integrated Collision Management is excited to be a participant in the Reynolds Certified Interface program,” said Ed Cardenal, chief operations officer for Integrated Collision Management. “With Reynolds best-in-class data interfacing, the program helps us to better and more effectively satisfy our customers’ needs. And now with the new certified logo, automotive retailers can easily and confidently select products that are proven to interface safely with their Reynolds ERA dealer management system.”

Under the program, software vendors submit their products for rigorous testing to meet support, security, and compliancy with Reynolds ERA system. At certification they receive marketing rights to an official Reynolds Certified Interface logo.

“Automotive retailers have asked us for a long time to provide an easy way to identify when a non-Reynolds vendor’s solution is safe to interface with the Reynolds ERA dealer management system,” said Steve Hangen, vice president, Reynolds Data Services. “Now they have it. All they have to do is look for the Reynolds Certified Interface logo.”

According to Hangen, the Reynolds Certified Interface logo attests to automotive retailers that a non-Reynolds software vendor has been stringently tested and officially certified to safely and effectively interface with their Reynolds ERA system.

To earn the Reynolds Certified Interface seal of approval, vendors must pass rigorous business and technical analysis, interface quality testing and validation, data security checks, and commit to periodic re-testing, according to the company.

All vendors accepted into the Reynolds Certified Interface program are required to certify their software interface with Reynolds before the software is released for distribution with the certified logo. As vendors are certified, they are listed on Reynolds and Reynolds' Web site and approved to distribute and market the interface.

Additionally, to ensure a vendor’s product works with consistent quality, vendors are required to undergo a recertification every two years or earlier if they request new components, new applications, or upgrade certified products, according to Reynolds.

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.