The only Dealer System Provider in the nation to meet the National Automobile Dealer Association's recommended goal for dealer satisfaction, Automotive Computer Services set the bar according to NADA's Bi-annual Survey of Dealership System Products and Services. In addition to finishing first in overall dealership satisfaction, ACS topped the rankings in ten additional categories.
Conducted by a third-party on behalf of NADA, the survey scored dealers' satisfaction levels with their current Dealer Management Systems in categories ranging from system flexibility, speed, and capacity to cost effectiveness, ease-of-use, and integration abilities. The survey also scored dealers' satisfaction with the degree and quality of customer support their DSP provides.
While other DSPs' results showed little or no change from the 2005 survey, ACS was singled out in the NADA findings as standing apart from its competitors in the 2007 results.
All scheduled major enhancements have been added to ACSFirst as of today. ACS will continue to add upload and download support for new dealer management systems, as well as Internet lead management capability for any required providers.
The enhancements include vehicle inventory valuation, secondary financial sweep and buy here/pay here (BHPH) support.
Vehicle inventory valuation uses one or more vehicle books to calculate actual vehicle and full inventory value. All of the major books are supported, including Black Book, Kelley Blue Book and NADA.
Secondary financial sweep will use all requested vehicles and secondary lending sources to suggest the most profitable car deals based on the customers individual financial situation. In a matter of seconds, the most profitable deals are displayed, including the vehicle, lender, rate and term.
ACSFirst now supports BHPH deals. A complete, integrated payment management system with excellent reporting capability is also available.
Today ACS announced the release of its much anticipated stand alone F&I, customer Relationship, Sales and Target marketing product. The complete ACSFirst package costs a fraction of what other F&I only or CRM only systems cost and includes both packages, fully integrated for multiple, simultaneous users. Automatically import and track leads from sources such as your website, Autotrader, GM OneSource and so forth. These leads can be tracked from prospect to desking to F&I and beyond with no duplicate entry. The F&I package includes multiple deal desking support for sales, leases and balloons, the ability to work these backwards, menu selling and vehicle selection based on payment, as well as all forms printing capability in an easy to use Windows environment. After the sale, ACSFirst provides follow-up, survey, letter/email generation and target marketing to increase customer satisfaction and generate repeat sales. ACSFirst can increase dealership profitability and sales, as well as promote better and long term customer relationships - all with no long term or complicated contracts to sign. ACS is a Microsoft Automotive Retail Solutions partner providing Microsoft based solutions to dealerships throughout the United States. For additional information, contact an ACS sales representative or ACS directly at 800-ACS-8187, prompt 5.
Today ACS announced support for the new GM Internet marketing initiative and lead system known as OneSource. Support will be available through ACS ACCESS®, a comprehensive Windows® based dealer management system, as well as well as ACSFirst™, a powerful F&I front end system with built in CRM and BDC capabilities.
All GM dealers are required to use a certified tool to access the OneSource lead-delivery portal. GM will provide dealers an acceptable tool for a month-to-month service charge. Other vendors are providing a similar tool, with a one time set up charge, as well as a monthly service charge. Soon GM dealers will be able to select ACS as their OneSource provider through GM Dealerworld. The ACS tool will be available for a one time set up charge of $300 with no ongoing monthly support charge. Of course, with the new ACS tool, dealers will be able to integrate their GM supplied leads directly into their prospect tracking system.
"Today, Microsoft welcomes Automotive Computer Services as a new Automotive Retail Solutions partner, which recognizes ACS' strategic use of Microsoft tools and technology within the company's dealership management application," said John Reed, Director, Automotive Retail Solutions, Microsoft Corp. "We view ACS as a strategic partner in the automotive retail markets for the United States. Built on Microsoft technology, ACS' solutions help dealers improve sales, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency."
The Microsoft Automotive Retail Solutions program represents Microsoft's ongoing commitment to enabling innovation in the global Automotive Retail marketplace, via partners that offer leading solutions for dealers, importers and manufacturers.
Van Koppersmith, president of ACS, stated that "ACS has recommended an all Microsoft solution to its dealer customers for a number of years. We are very pleased to formalize our relationship with Microsoft."
Automotive Computer Services, a pioneer in Windows ® based dealer management systems, announced today its new document management application. This is the company's latest enhancement to its ACCESS® DMS suite. The new release includes the ability to store a wide spectrum of scanned images such as invoices, checks, credit applications, and signed contract documents in a variety of formats, as well as system generated reports. As an added benefit, the documents can be securely viewed throughout the entire network.
"We recognized that our dealers needed more than just an accounting system from their DMS provider," said Van Koppersmith, president of ACS. "This is just one more example of our continuous investment in developing tools that meet our customer's needs."
As with other enhancements, the document management upgrade is free to existing ACS dealers. There are no additional hardware or software requirements. The only requirement is for dealers to provide a scanner. The ACS Document Management application will be available to dealerships using other dealer management systems beginning April 1, 2007.
Today, ACS announced that it has recently been certified by Audi, Hyundai and Volkswagen for factory communications to/from their dealers. These manufacturers join a fast growing list which already included Acura, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Kia, Mazda and Mitsubishi. ACS will continue its long standing policy of developing support for any manufacturer which allows it. Please contact your salesman or ACS sales support for additional information.
General Motors advised ACS today that ACS "has passed the RIM validation testing requirements and has been granted the designation of a GM-Approved Dealer Systems Provider (DSP) for the RIM Integration Point." As a matter of fact, ACS is the first and only GM DMS or IDMS provider to be approved on all required integration points. These integration points include the Warranty Information System (WINS), the Financial Accounting System (FACTS), the Remote Automatic Parts Input System (RAPID) and the Auto Vehicle Information System (Auto-VIS). Please contact ACS to schedule RIM connectivity for your ACCESS® system (also available on the Dealer page on the ACS web site) or visit www.acsaccess.com for more information.
Over the weekend, ACS moved into their new, state of the art facility on 1.75 acres. The 10,500 square foot, one-story building will accommodate over 90 personnel. The building is designed for an addition to be added on the west side. ACS owns the adjacent 2 acres for necessary expansion. The new physical address is 4325 Downtowner Loop South, Mobile AL 36609-5412. There is a new phone system with new and different prompts, but the primary phone numbers have not changed.
Today ACS closed on the 1.75 acre site for its new offices. Ground breaking for the million dollar 10,500 square foot facility will be later this year or very early next year. The building will accommodate over 90 personnel, mostly in customer support. A wing can be added at a later date to house an additional 100 employees.
ACS announced today that beginning August 2, 2004, customer support call center hours will be from 7:00am to 6:00pm CST. The increased coverage will better serve customers on the east and west coasts. The answering system prompts have not changed (1 for Accounting and Payroll, 2 for Parts and Service, 3 for Sales and Leasing, 4 for Hardware support, 5 for Sales) and customers will still be greeted by a customer support representative as soon as the prompt selection has been made.
ACS has selected a site for its new offices. The purchase agreement is for 72,000 square feet with an option to purchase the adjoining 36,000 square feet. The deal will be closed after obtaining an acceptable site survey and engineering study. The land is in a well developed commercial area in Mobile approximately one mile west of the Interstate 65 exchange on Airport Boulevard. Ground breaking for the 10,000+ square foot facility could be as early as third quarter, 2004.
ACS is expanding rapidly and, to accommodate this growth, has leased two additional offices and warehouses in the same area as its current facilities. The new offices are within a line of sight of the other two facilities, so all employees will be on the same local area network. Unfortunately, the existing telephone system will not be connected to the new buildings. This new space is temporary, and will not prevent the use of "hot desks" in the support area. Consequently, ACS expects to be in a different, single facility in early 2005. The search for an appropriate building or land for a new facility has already begun.
ACS made a proposal to sell a large Pensacola, FL based dealer an ACCESS system for his new dealership in Mobile, AL. Rather than compete on price and product, Reynolds & Reynolds has offered to give the dealer the necessary system software, communications software and port licenses, as well as free monthly support. That is, this dealer will pay absolutely nothing now, or in the coming months, for his new system from R&R! The dealer will, however, continue to pay support and maintenance to Reynolds & Reynolds for the system in his Pensacola dealerships. ACS is still hoping to replace the entire R&R system when the current long term contract expires. For additional information on how you may take advantage of this special offer from R&R, please contact Sales at ACS.
Michael K. Concannon of Noblesville, Indiana has joined the ACS sales force. Working out of Indianapolis, Michael's primary territory will include the states of Indiana and Ohio. After almost 15 years experience selling dealer management systems for Reynolds & Reynolds, Michael is very much looking forward to being able to offer a Windows and PC based solution to dealers. Welcome aboard! Please visit Employment for employment information.
Carfax is the industry leader in vehicle information services with information on more than two billion vehicles in North America. More than 22 million consumers and 20,000 automobile dealerships use Carfax each year to perform a background check on a vehicle. ACS is proud to participate in the Carfax Service Link Program and invites all of its dealer customers to join for free. This unique opportunity will provide participating dealers with free advertising and exposure to Carfax users, even creating a direct Internet link to the dealer website for the Carfax customer to use. For additional information, please refer to the July issue of our newsletter or contact sales at ACS (Contact ACS).
In order to keep customers up-to-date with the latest product enhancements and new features, ACS will start publishing a monthly newsletter today. The Newsletter will be distributed to all customers via email around the 10th of each month. The newsletter will keep ACS from having to verbally communicate product enhancements on a timely basis to its growing customer base. This will insure that all customers will have access to and knowledge of all product enhancements and changes. To be added to the distribution list, just forward your email address toLaura Keas (laura@emailacs.com).
After just two years in our new facility, ACS has been forced to lease additional office space across the street. The new expansion will give ACS approximately 7,000 square feet of space. Both buildings will be on the same phone system and local area network, so customers should not notice any changes. The physical address will change, however, as the new building has better loading facilities. The new address will be posted in the coming weeks when the expansion has been completed.
ACS has completed several installations using the all Internet version of its popular dealer management system, ACCESS®. iACCESS runs totally over the Internet and may be hosted at the dealers main location or remotely by ACS. iACCESS allows dealerships with multiple locations to use one, centrally located file server, giving all users access to as much information as necessary. It also allows dealers to choose not to invest in and maintain file servers and backup equipment, as ACS relieves the dealer of this responsibility when it hosts iACCESS for the dealer. For more information, refer to Why ACS or Products, or simply Contact Us.
ACS has completed development and testing of its Internet based credit reporting capability. Credit reports from all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans Union) are now available over the Internet. The dial capability can be retained as a backup. Internet credit reports take less than 10 seconds to receive and are the same price as those available over dial-in connections, without any surcharge. This enhancement will be provided to all ACS customers at no charge, as is customary for all enhancements. The next logical step is credit application submission over the Internet. This capability is currently in development.
ACS announced today that it has given all of its General Motors customers the ability to access VISS, Vehicle Information Search System, directly from the service Repair Order screen. The result of this automatic VISS capability will be to greatly reduce the time required to check delivery date and warranty data, and branded titles on all GM vehicles in automotive dealerships across North America. The software utility that makes the integration with General Motors VISS possible will be provided to all ACS customers at no charge, as is customary for all enhancements. The VISS data is retrieved over the Internet and is accessed by a keystroke from any Repair Order screen. A similar capability will be provided to Ford and Chrysler customers as soon as the manufacturers makes the information available to ACS.
ACS is pleased to announce that Thomas R. Edwards of Springfield, Nebraska has joined the ACS sales team. Tom, a former R&R Information Systems Solutions Consultant, has many years experience in the automotive industry, including retail and Internet sales. Tom will primarily cover Nebraska and Iowa, but is available to assist dealers throughout the Midwest. He is very excited that he can now offer less expensive and Windows-based solutions to dealers. He can be reached toll free at 866-382-3024 beginning July 2. ACS is deeply committed to deploying sales consultants in all areas of the country and will continue to hire as the right individuals are identified.
ACS has been approved to use the Automated Clearing House (ACH) for electronic funds transfer in its Payroll program. Direct deposit of payroll checks is a convenience to both dealers and their employees and ACS is happy to assist in making these electronic transfers occur over the Federal Reserve network. The dealer only needs to indicate which employees want to participate in the program. Payroll prints the pay stub for those employees and creates the file to be sent to ACH.
ACS has successfully demonstrated the use of ACCESS at remote customer sites over the Internet. All system modules performed flawlessly, including printing. The remote site only needs Internet access, either via a dial line or any other higher speed connection. The host site should have a permanent Internet connection, such as a DSL line, frame relay or T1 line. System performance varies with line speed, but is excellent with just 128K connections. Immediate applications include remote sales sites, including temporary sites, such as tent sales.
ACS is pleased to announce that we have been approved to become a certified DSP for Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET). SET is the distributor of Toyota vehicles, parts and accessories in the southeastern United States with over 150 Toyota dealerships. Currently, only Reynolds & Reynolds and ADP are approved DSPs. SET and ACS will jointly announce when ACS ACCESS is available for use in the dealerships.
ACS sells a portion of its software through a dealer, but has always sold ACCESS only out of the Mobile office. Beginning October 2, ACS will have its first outside salesman, working out of Pensacola, Florida. Michael Mitchell has excellent, long term, first hand knowledge of the car business and all facets of dealership management systems. Mike can be reached as shown on the Contact page. For information on how to make ACCESS not only save you money, but make you money, contact Mike Mitchell.
Today, ACS received word that we have been "approved to begin the process of becoming a certified CDS Dealer Service Provider" for Ford Motor Company. As ACS recently completed work on Chrysler communications, ACS will soon be able to service all major franchises. No time frame for completion has been given, but ACS will complete the certification as quickly as possible.
Today, ACS completed integration testing with the EDS electronic parts catalog. ACS customers can now move parts between the EDS catalog and ACS invoices quickly and accurately, ultimately saving both time and money. As ACS made a similar announcement over a year ago concerning integration with Bell and Howell's ePAR™ Electronic Parts Catalog system, ACS is now integrated with all of the major electronic parts catalogs.
ACS has signed a new lease and will be moving into brand new offices around September 22. The expansion should provide enough space for the next several years, as it will support almost three times as many employees. The toll free number will not change, but all local numbers, including fax, will change. Customers will be notified of the new numbers and address in the coming weeks. The web pages will be updated with the new address and phone numbers shortly before the move.
Senior Editor Tim Keenan visited the ACS booth at the NADA Convention and Exposition in Orlando in February, 2000 and indicated that he may feature ACS in an article. It has happened: ACS will be featured in an article in the August, 2000 issue of Ward's Dealer Business. The thrust of the article will be our lower cost, when compared to Reynolds and Reynolds, ADP and EDS.
ACS will be exhibiting at the NADA Convention and Exposition in Las Vegas, NV on February 3-6, 2001. The booth assignment has not been received, so check for the location in the show program. The booth number will also be posted on the web site before the convention. We look forward to seeing our existing customers and meeting new ones.
ACS is proud to announce its third generation dealer management system. It will be browser based and, of course, web-enabled. Consequently, dealership customers will be able to view service history and schedule service appointments via the internet. Furthermore, all visitors will be able to view live vehicle and parts inventory, obtain quotes, and so forth. ACS will form strategic alliances, when and where necessary, to insure that all customers will be able to tap the internet market, while maintaining complete control of their business. ACS is committed to providing customers with all the tools necessary to conduct business in this rapidly changing environment.
ACS will soon announce communications support for DaimlerChrysler, Mazda and several manufacturers that have adopted the AMDSG communication standards, such as Acura, Honda and Mitsubishi.
Today ACS completed integration testing with Bell and Howell's ePAR™ electronic parts catalogs. ACS customers can now move parts between the ePAR catalog and ACS invoices quickly and accurately, ultimately saving both time and money. Both ePAR Station (BH1000) and ePAR Network (BH3000) are now integrated. ePAR Station runs under both Window 3.11 and Windows 95, while ePAR Network requires Windows 95.
ACS was notified by GM today that it had "successfully completed the GM ACCESS DSP certification process." This means that ACS can now use file transfer protocol (FTP) to send warranty (WINS) and financial (FACTS) data to the GM ACCESS server for ultimate transmission to GM. As this support completes ACS-GM communications, no other computer vendor will be required at any ACS site. Conversational mode (PDCS) will still be required until at least late in 1999, and RAPID 2000 will continue to use the old DCS communication method. GM is still committed to shutting down the old DCS system (except for RAPID 2000) by the end of 1999. ACS will continue to add support for all GM ACCESS features as they become available. Pleasecontact ACS for the latest development news concerning GM ACCESS.
ACS continues to install its Windows 95 only version of ACCESS. Although ACS will continue to support DOS and Windows 3.11 based products, all enhancements will be limited to the Windows 95 version, as will all new installations. All networks support all types of workstations: DOS, Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. Customers currently using DOS or Windows 3.11 on any workstations do not need to upgrade to Windows 95 until the workstation fails or until other Windows 95 only applications are desired.
Today ACS was notified by GMSPO that it had "satisfactorily completed certification and testing of your Device Type BA for RAPID 2000" and that ACS could now begin installing this device. This means that ACS systems can now place part orders, returns, and so forth, with GMSPO for all GM customers. Coupled with existing warranty (WINS) support for GM customers, ACS now only lacks support for financial data (FACTS).
ACS has been invited to attend a meeting with General Motors concerning our role in supplying services to the GM dealer organization, specifically in the areas of DCS and the new GM ACCESS. It is the intention of ACS to fully support applications being deployed with GM ACCESS as soon as they become available. Please contact ACS for the latest development news concerning GM ACCESS.
Today ACS was approved as a Compaq Value Added Reseller (VAR). As a VAR, ACS will now be able to offer the full line ofCompaq PCs and servers to its customers. As ACS was already authorized as an IBM Business Partner and Hewlett Packard reseller, our customers will now have several options when selecting hardware for purchase through ACS.
ACS announced today that support for a third credit reporting service, Experian Inc. (formerly known as TRW), has been added to ACS ACCESS. Now all three major credit reporting services are supported: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. The new reporting service support is identical to the previous two. That is, to receive a credit report, simply select the credit reporting service and the type of report desired. The credit report(s) will be saved with the prospect and available to all ACCESS users with proper security.
ACS Headquarters
