General Motors Canada, Quorum Announce Breakout Advancement in Factory-to-Dealer Integration

For the First Time Ever in North America, Vehicle Incentives, Rates and Residuals are Seamlessly Available Directly from the Manufacturer and into Dealers' Systems

OSHAWA, Canada, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quorum Information Technologies Inc. (Quorum) and General Motors of Canada, Limited (GMCL) today announced the establishment of a landmark new level of information technology integration for their dealers. The announcement was made by Marc Comeau, GMCL's Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Maury Marks, President and CEO of Quorum.

The announcement highlights the establishment of a remarkable new integration point between GMCL and Quorum whereby GMCL provides data feeds directly to Quorum's DMS solutions so that the dealers using these systems can accurately select and apply the incentives and lease or finance rates and residuals to a vehicle purchase. This is a major milestone for the North American automotive marketplace as this sort of joint integration has been a long sought after process improvement at the point of sale.

Quorum and GM have been working for some time to refine the process and technology to make the integration completely seamless for dealers and help them streamline their sales process with customers. Meanwhile, Quorum has integrated the information not just at the point of sale, but also to benefit the entire dealer's process - from booking the deal into accounting through to applying for the appropriate incentives through the delivery reporting process. Dealers/Retailers who have contracted for the GM IDMS will receive this integration at no additional charge; non-IDMS Dealers/Retailers will be required to pay GM a monthly fee for this data.

General Motors Paves the Way for its Dealers

"This is a game changer. Adding value to this important element of every Canadian dealer's day-to-day routine has been a long time coming. Quorum has been an invaluable partner during the process of turning this concept to reality. Every dealer can benefit almost immediately. This great leap forward is a direct result of our GM Integrated Dealership Management System (IDMS) program. The goal of IDMS is to create an IT solution to help our dealers be better equipped to succeed over the next few years. We have just moved much closer to that total solution," said Comeau.

New Plateau of Enhanced Integration Reached

According to Quorum's Marks, this new plateau is an example of what can happen when an OEM and a DSP truly collaborate. Quorum's approach was to configure a complete solution that will serve its dealers in unique ways and for many years. "This represents perhaps the most significant integration point ever for GM dealers in Canada. And, by working closely with GM, we have made the most of the integration to create efficiencies for our customers, as well as ensure that they don't leave any 'deals on the table'," commented Marks.

Dealers Applaud the New Functionality in Quorum's DMS Solutions

Brian Finch Pontiac Buick in London, Ontario is a flagship dealer for Quorum and has been deeply involved in all phases of the development of this important integration point. According to the General Manager at Finch's Oakville Chevrolet store, Hass Hijazi, "This integration is nothing short of awesome! Not only has Quorum embedded the data stream from GMCL, which would have been great by itself, but in Quorum's typical fashion, they have taken it much farther, making our job even easier, and helping us to drive revenue and efficiencies like no other system we have used has."

"We find that the level of integration that Quorum provides has afforded us efficiencies that we could never have achieved before with our previous system provider," added Ryan Finch, Brian Finch Pontiac and Oakville Chevrolet's Dealer Principal. "Quorum's DMS has helped us cut our costs and improve revenue and profitability all across our dealership. Now, with this new integration, the time to complete a deal is virtually cut in half, the customer gets accurate payments on the spot and even the accounting and delivery reporting process are seamless - another huge timesaver for our folks," he concluded.

About Quorum

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Quorum's focus is on developing, marketing, implementing and supporting its DMS products for the automotive vertical. Quorum's suite of dealership and customer management software products automate, integrate and streamline every process across departments in a dealership. One of the select North American suppliers of General Motors' IDMS, Quorum is the third largest DMS provider for GM's Canadian dealerships with over 20% of the market. Quorum is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and Field-Level Managed ISV in both Canada and the United States. Quorum Information Technologies is traded on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol QIS.

About GM Canada

Headquartered in Oshawa, Ontario, General Motors of Canada employs over 19,000 people nationwide. GM of Canada manufactures a variety of vehicles, engines, transmissions and other components, and markets the full range of General Motors vehicles and related services through 765 dealerships and retailers across Canada. Vehicles sold through this network include Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, GMC, Saturn, Hummer, Saab and Cadillac.

For additional information, please go to www.QuorumDMS.com

The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Source: Quorum ‹ previous  •  178 of 12660  •  next ›