Gedas UK Ltd

Gedas is an information technology service provider offering consulting and highly advanced solutions on a global basis. Focusing on the manufacturing and automotive sectors, the gedas Group is a Berlin-based IT subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group and has a history of success in the information technology market that spans some 20 years. Currently, gedas maintains offices in 13 different countries and serves all of the world's key regions and strategic markets.

In recent years, automotive dealers have faced changes almost on a daily basis. Sharper competition, more exacting demands from both customers and suppliers, and a wave of new technologies such as In-Car systems and Wireless Communications means that business practices must be constantly evolving to meet these new opportunities.

In response to growing dealer concerns, in April 2004, gedas UK successfully launched MS2, a Dealer Management System specifically designed for automotive retailers and workshops, which enables the optimisation of processes and workflow. At the heart of MS2, is the commitment to the customer. Daryl Joubert, gedas UK Product Manager explains, "Acquiring new customers and ensuring the loyalty of existing customers is key to your success. The integration with Capscan's Zapcode API provides dealers with an accurate, unified address database containing all addresses for customers, suppliers, prospects and employees. Vehicle, Service and Parts activities are integrated into the Contact Management Module, allowing total dealership marketing." Daryl Joubert adds, "Seamless integration into an already complex product was essential. Capscan offered this through Zapcode, and the wide range of functionality available enabled us to extend our own functionality."

Zapcode enables MS2 to treat each customer as an individual. For example, customer details are only entered once in a database, irrespective of the number of branches, franchises or departments. Daryl Joubert continues, "This lack of potentially embarrassing duplication helps grow the relationship between customers and the dealership at all contact points in the business. For us, and many other businesses, the cost of not having top quality addressing software is simply too high. Modern businesses cannot afford not to have accurate address data in their databases, and Zapcode offers us a cost effective way of implementing something that is business critical."

Since its launch in April 2004, MS2 has been adopted by a number of Skoda, Audi, Volkswagen and Seat dealerships across the UK. "From the beginning, we wanted to partner with a reputable and well established company that shared our commitment to exceeding customer expectations. Before choosing Zapcode, we bench tested numerous alternatives, and found that none of these were able to match Zapcode in terms of functionality and ease of integration," explains Daryl Joubert "Capscan was the natural choice, offering us a quality solution to our addressing needs. We were also very impressed with the excellent Partner Programme that was offered, and felt that the levels of support offered was 'down to a fine art'." Daryl Joubert concludes, "Our experiences of working with Capscan have been more than positive. In the future, we fully intend to extend our usage of Capscan products and services."

Gareth Hodges, Capscan Partner Executive, "The integration of Zapcode with MS2 has helped gedas to offer a Dealer Management System that not only drives the efficiency and effectiveness of dealerships, but also offers them value for money, and greater competitive advantage. We are delighted to be partnering with gedas and hope to continue this successful partnership into the future.