CRM for Auto Vendor iMagic Lab Buys DealerConcierge.com

IMagicLab, a vendor of CRM and Inventory systems for automobile dealers, has announced a deal to acquire the assets of DealerConcierge.com.

This acquisition will extend iMagicLab's stable of CRM tools and improve their ability to let automobile dealers reach interested car buyer prospects and schedule appointments more efficiently using Dealer Concierge's hosted BDC.

Keith Latman, Chief Software Architect of iMagicLab, said the addition of the Dealer Concierge "will allow dealers to use our hosted call center to make calls directly to customers at schedules the dealer can change in real time from inside the CRM suite." Latman said with iMagicLab's proprietary ActionPlan system guiding the process, calls can be triggered by over 20 different events within 15 minutes.

IMagicLab's Dealer Concierge service will enter beta release on January 1 and be available for general purchase by dealers throughout the country in early Q2 2007.

CRM for the automotive industry is a rockin' place these days. Last month AOL (News - Alert) and CRM vendor Autobytel Inc. announced an agreement that will make the Autobytel network the exclusive fulfillment channel for AOL Auto searches.

As part of the agreement, Autobytel will integrate its proprietary lead distribution technology with AOL's automotive channel for the AOL-branded price quote process. Autobytel currently processes over a quarter of a million leads each month.

With this agreement, AOL Autos will use Autobytel's nationwide network of dealers to match AOL Autos customers with the local dealer of their choice.

Rudi Thun, Director of the Autos Channel for AOL, said the "combination of AOL's consumer experiences and audience with Autobytel's comprehensive nationwide dealer network" and lead distribution system was the goal of the deal.

In 1995 Autobytel was one of the first companies to sell CRM to auto dealers, which is still kind of an ugly, Rodney Dangerfield stepchild in CRM, it's not an area that's been looked at by established vendors yet. Autobytel sells its Web Control customer management system, Retention Performance Marketing service reminder program, Special Finance Leads, and AIC data center to auto dealers.

In October Autobytel was named to Deloitte and Touche's Technology Fast 50 Program for Orange County, a ranking of technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in the area by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

"This marks the eighth consecutive year that Autobytel has been named to the Technology Fast 50, which is a great honor," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jim Riesenbach.

David Sims is a contributing editor for TMCnet. For more articles please visit David Sims' columnist page.

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