Reynolds and Reynolds Acquires Accessories Leader Add.On.Auto

DAYTON, Ohio, Jan. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Reynolds and Reynolds, a leading provider of automotive dealership software and services, announced today that the company has acquired Add.On.Auto (AOA), the leading digital platform for marketing and selling vehicle accessories. AOA is a web-enabled technology platform that streamlines accessory marketing and sales, providing a convenient, engaging way for consumers to learn about vehicle accessories and personalization at the time they purchase a vehicle. The automotive accessories marketplace is estimated at more than $32 billion in annual sales.

"Ninety percent of car buyers purchase vehicle accessories, and the majority of consumers would prefer to purchase accessories from the dealership. Yet, fewer than ten percent do," said Robert Burnett, senior vice president of Corporate Development for Reynolds. "That's a significant, untapped profit pool for dealers to go after if they have the right technology and processes to match consumers and accessories in the dealership. That's what Add.On.Auto does – and what Reynolds can now deliver."

Add.On.Auto already has been successfully implemented in hundreds of dealerships with measurable results in increasing per-vehicle accessory revenue.

Burnett also indicated that most dealerships today lack the tools and technologies to efficiently and profitably incorporate accessory sales into their showrooms or online. "With AOA's technology platform, a consumer can add or remove accessories and instantly view them on the vehicle of choice – similar to other online retail experiences," Burnett said. "It's a powerful visual tool that makes the path to purchasing accessories clearer and more comfortable for the consumer."

Highlights of Add.On.Auto's technology include:

• Offering product animations for customers' vehicles presented in a visually engaging way.
• Replacing traditional product catalogs with a technology platform that enables accessory information to be engaging and up-to-date so that pricing and availability are known and accurate.
• Efficiently managing the workflow and resources associated with accessory installation by coordinating and streamlining installation across the dealership and supplier network and minimizing accessory inventory requirements.
• Providing management tools to measure which accessories are selling, on which vehicles, and sold by which salesperson.

"Add.On.Auto's technology has redefined electronic shopping for vehicle accessories," said Sidney Haider, the company's founder. "With Reynolds' dealership footprint, its sales and service network, and its software development resources, this is a perfect fit to grow this business."

Haider will continue to lead Add.On.Auto as part of Reynolds and Reynolds.

Burnett concluded: "We know that personalization is a one of the megatrends that's putting more demands on retailers to change their operation to meet customer expectations, and a dealership's customers are no different. The acquisition of AOA is one more step in our continued expansion of the Reynolds Retail Management System to target those areas that will help dealers become more profitable and improve the customer experience in the dealership."

About Reynolds
Reynolds and Reynolds is a leading provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships deliver better business results and transform the customer experience. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio.

(www.reyrey.com)

About Add.On.Auto

Add.On.Auto (AOA) is an accessories technology platform that is redefining electronic shopping for the vehicle personalization and accessories marketplace by helping auto retailers efficiently and profitably sell accessories and streamline what was once a cumbersome and inefficient task. AOA's Digital Supplier Network brings customers, retailers, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers together on one platform. Add.On.Auto already has been successfully implemented in hundreds of dealerships, delivering measurable results in per-vehicle accessory revenue for dealerships and accessories sales for suppliers. (www.addonautos.com)

SOURCE The Reynolds and Reynolds Company