SGHT...anyone follow this stock.??? here is some news just out...looks very promising..any thoughts on it.??? I don't see this news out under symbol, just reuters scrolling news...
Through
Harris Ford Experiences over 40%
Improvement in Vehicles Sold Through Appointments with DealerAdvance;
Stronghold Technology Enables 80% Increase in Capture Rate
BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 17, 2003--Stronghold
Technologies, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SGHT), the developer of
DealerAdvance(TM), an enterprise software system leveraging wireless
technologies for the automotive retail industry, today announced that
its customer Harris Ford increased by 40% the number of cars sold
through appointments from 135 to 191 in only months after system
installation.
Having purchased Stronghold's DealerAdvance Sales Solution(TM)
after successful completion of a performance period earlier in 2003,
Harris Ford of Lynwood, Washington, the state's largest Ford
dealership measured by automobile sales, has already seen substantial
improvements in a number of retail automotive performance
measurements. DealerAdvance(TM) is a groundbreaking combination of
mobile technology and integrated dealership applications designed to
generate real performance benefits, including an increase in car
sales, improvements in customer follow-up, and reduced administrative
costs. Only months after the implementation of DealerAdvance(TM),
Harris Ford has experienced an 80% increase in its customer
information capture rate to nearly 80% from the low 40%-range,
improved its appointment show rate by 15%, and increased its
appointment sold rate by 10%.
The services provided by Stronghold to Harris Ford leading up to
the recent performance improvements included the enhancement of the
dealership's existing business development center (BDC) to accommodate
the implementation of DealerAdvance(TM). Initiatives undertaken by
Stronghold included the assessment of current processes, making
adjustments to improve performance as the current processes were
mapped into the DealerAdvance(TM) system, and training on the system
and related support. Stronghold provided the dealership with 40
personal digital assistants (PDAs) loaded with DealerAdvance(TM)
software. The PDA's were networked with 8 DealerAdvance(TM)-enabled
desktop computers located at the BDC and with dealership management.
The enhanced BDC more effectively leverages information gained
through the use of DealerAdvance(TM). Sales people log information
about prospective buyers and utilize the system to consummate the
purchase of an automobile during the follow-up process after the
customer's initial contact with the dealership. Through a series of
management reports, the sales people are held accountable for
completing their tasks to get unsold customers back into the
dealership to make a purchase.
A dedicated, on-site Stronghold consultant continues to work with
Harris Ford to implement a formal approach of daily visits to the BDC
in an effort to further increase the number of appointments that are
set and prospects that return to the dealership to purchase an
automobile.
Stronghold Technologies, Inc., is an innovator in applying
wireless technology and process improvement methods to increase
business efficiency and sales. The Company has developed an integrated
wireless technology, called DealerAdvance(TM), which, among many
features, allows automobile dealers to capture a customer's purchasing
requirements, search inventory at multiple locations, locate an
appropriate vehicle in stock and print out the necessary forms.
Through an integrated CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
application, the systems sends detailed tasks for prospect and
customer follow-up and produces management reports to measure
compliance. DealerAdvance(TM) allows sales professionals to increase
sales, improve customer follow-up, and reduce administrative costs.
Additional information is available at Stronghold's Web site at
www.strongholdtech.com.
