Best-In-Class Partnerships To Fuel New Business Information Solutions For Service
Dealers



BOISE, ID – OCT. 22, 2002 – Quality Design Systems (QDS), the leader in Business
Information Solutions (BIS) for the tire and automotive service industries,
announced today the launch of its QDS Preferred Partnership Program (P3). 

Designed to couple QDS’ expertise in system integration and end-to-end business
management tools with products and services from other industry leaders, the QDS
Preferred Partnership Program represents a critical step in the transformation of
QDS’ business model and sets the stage for a new generation of solutions for the
tire and automotive service markets.



MechanicNet Joins P3

Joining the QDS Preferred Partnership Program is MechanicNet Group, Inc., who will
enhance QDS’ dealer connectivity and marketing resources with their industry
leading Customer Retention and Loyalty programs for tire, automotive service and
repair businesses. Through this partnership, QDS is able to offer service dealers a
suite of web-enabled services that provide an entirely new customer/dealer
interface. 



By utilizing MechanicNet tools such as Maintenance Manager, LinkUp and Customer
Connection, dealers can use the Internet to automatically send maintenance
reminders, thank you notes, recommended service intervals and checklists to their
customers, as well as provide access to daily update and work order information.
Other features of the MechanicNet suite allow customers to make online appointments
and track vehicle history.



“Just as QDS tools and services help increase the dealer’s bottom line, the
addition of MechanicNet’s programs to our Business Information Solutions will
deliver a new level of dealer/customer connectivity and promote repeat business and
a loyal customer base,” said Ed Engel, president of QDS.  “This partnership with a
respected industry leader reflects a continued evolution in the QDS business model
from shrink-wrapped software solutions to a more all-encompassing approach
leveraging Best-In-Class partners—an approach we have coined ‘Team QDS’.” 

QDS will announce additional P3 members at the upcoming SEMA tradeshow in Las Vegas
in November.



Team QDS

Team QDS is a product development and delivery concept that is structured to meet
the broadest possible business information needs of service dealers based on size
and business mix. Working with customers to determine their unique business
circumstances, Team QDS delivers an optimal solution that may range from
proprietary software packages such as QDS TireMaster and RoadWare, to
pre-configured hardware/software bundles and fully customized business information
solutions.  The Team QDS model utilizes QDS’ system integration, comprehensive
customer training program, and business/technical consulting and support combined
with Best-In-Class products and services from other industry leaders. This provides
an unparalleled degree of flexibility in the delivery of business information.



“The Team QDS approach is one that recognizes there is no single software package
or suite that meets all the business information needs of service dealers,” noted
Engel.  “And no one company can develop the expertise in all areas of business
information to completely satisfy the needs of a dealer.  Through the Team QDS
concept we are creating a process for identifying, delivering and supporting the
best of not only what we have to offer, but also products and services from other
industry leaders. Our goal is not just to support our products and services, but
also support our customers’ businesses--and to measure our success by the success
of those we serve.”	



Company Background

QDS is the leading Business Information Solutions (BIS) provider to the tire and
automotive service industries.  A pioneer in this new category, QDS combines
information technology with business consulting, a broad training offering,
toll-free business and technical help, and deployment services in order to meet the
changing business information needs of today’s service dealer. In addition to
developing its own products and services, QDS works closely with leading technology
and service partners to tailor business information solutions to the individual
circumstances of each customer. For more information visit QDS via the Internet at
http://www.qds-solutions.com.



Headquartered in Fremont, Calif., MechanicNet is a privately held company that
deploys Internet based technologies to the automotive aftermarket community. 
MechanicNet provides mission critical applications to the automotive aftermarket
and deploys efficiency enabling tools in the areas of customer retention, business
process automation, and other profit enhancing tools.  For more information about
MechanicNet, its technologies, and its services, please visit www.mechanicnet.com.

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