E2 automobile dealership information management system

• Main Authors: JAMISON WIILLIAM E, WASSER EDWARD J, JONES KATHRYN A, GUISINGER MARK A, CARUSO PATRICK H, ADKINS JAMES C, KAMMERON MACARTHUR, SCOTT CHRISTOPHER M, GOKEY MICHAEL S, HANNA PARRISH, GAEKE STEVEN P, THOMPSON DOROTHY B, DETERS LAWRENCE J, MILITELLO PAUL J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 24.07.2007
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

The present invention provides for the first time, an integrated software application architecture with all functions required by an automobile dealership, including sales, F&I (finance and insurance), accounting, HR (Human Resources)/payroll, parts, service, and E2 core (including functions in customer management, vehicle management, activity/processors, roles, user/departments, security, user interface, reports, printing, and instant messaging), together with e-business enablers, supply chain integration, and a dealer communication system. The present invention also provides relational databases, GUI's (graphical user interfaces, that is, browser based application program interfaces). The present invention also may be implemented by an operations center with a Microsoft Windows NT server providing local Ethernet or other electronic connections to several multiple remote stores for the operator, and is scalable.