Patrick DeMarco, President Ristken Software Services

1. Please give a brief overview of your mobile offering.

Ristken is currently deploying a multi-module, multi-phase technology platform named iCollaborate. This platform is designed to extend the existing functionality of Ristken’s platforms while at the same time enhancing and adding functionality that is well suited to leverage the emerging mobile, tablet and “kiosk-like” platforms.

At the conclusion of an in-depth market analysis, Ristken determined that current limitations of many, if not most, dealerships regarding capital expenditure for device and technology infrastructure updates would provide significant challenges for dealerships to ‘convert’ to full mobile workflows. Therefore, in addition to native mobile applications, Ristken has engineered the iCollaborate platform to allow a robust browser based “kiosk-like” experience that will not deviate in functionality from the native mobile applications.

We believe strongly that this two-tier approach will allow the greatest number of dealerships and users to benefit from emerging platforms while at the same time addressing the technology limitations in many dealerships.

2. Which mobile devices are supported?

iCollaborate allows native tablet and Web-browser utilization. Apple’s iOS as well as Android operating systems are fully supported. All modern web-browsers including Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome and Firefox are fully supported.

3. Have you developed a specific mobile application or have enabled your software for mobile devices?

For years, dealerships and service providers have required software vendors to build ever-increasing functionality into current technology platforms. While the increased functionality has translated into better tools for dealership personnel, the complexities which have resulted would make direct mobile conversion impractical. As such, Ristken has worked extensively to develop a new platform with the primary goal of: hiding complexities.

By hiding the complexities of the “professional” tools, the user is left with a simple, powerful, and contextual interface. The resulting “prosumer” technology is better suited for self-guided use by a customer or for collaborative use with dealership personnel.

4. Explain the way you expect the F&I manager to use your mobile solution.

We have several modules, and each is used in a different way. The knowMe module enables a customer-focused interview to be performed directly by the customer or alongside dealership personnel. By allowing dealerships, agents and service providers to create and manage customized interview questions; stakeholders can be assured of adherence to current processes and requirements. The showMe module powers a complete interactive experience facilitating Need Awareness/Need Satisfaction themed product presentations for all finance and aftermarket products. And the offerMe enables finance and aftermarket products to be offered and packaged into a fully personalized offering for each customer. By leveraging knowMe and showMe, the entire experience is collaborative between the dealership personnel and their customer.

5. How will this enhance the sales process for the F&I manager?

By utilizing enhanced customer-centric technology, dealerships, agents, service providers and most importantly customers derive benefit from the iCollaborate platform. Today’s customer instinctively believes in the value of self; holding firm to the belief that individualism is preferred to conformity. As such, iCollaborate enables the customer to view the Finance process as a unique experience tailored to their unique needs thereby creating a tangible sense of authenticity. A customer who believes the process to be authentic is far more likely to engage in the process, seek a genuine understanding of the product benefits and make better and more informed product- purchasing decisions.

6. What other mobile solutions do you believe the F&I office and agents will see in the next few years?

We have a few modules we will release in 2013 that we believe will address the changing needs of the market. Working in tandem with the showMe module, the quoteMe module allows electronic product rating and quoting for finance and aftermarket products. Once selected, a product quote is available for a formal presentation within the offerMe module. Selected products from within offerMe can be electronically generated for the customer’s review and acceptance with contractMe. Once accepted, the electronic document is available for finalization and submission to the product administrator by the dealership office personnel. And seeMe utilizes reports, dashboards, charts, and objectives to create key performance indicators (KPI). The KPI’s metrics are a real-time productivity analysis of both the sales and finance departments. These metrics can be aggregated for use across dealership groups.