Headlines

Proven Technology Makes Remarketing Easier

Printing. Faxing. Scanning. Data entry. Double data entry. Logistics and administrative tasks continue to plague the industry even while technology is advancing to reduce costs.

Today’s competitive marketplace is a virtual one, as buyers and sellers are learning to maximize the market in a variety of physical auction lanes, online internet auctions, and hybrid approaches. Communicating preferences with a single auction is difficult enough, now sellers need to manage inventory in multiple venues simultaneously. Fortunately, a proven technology platform exists that connects consignors and auctions, enabling them to manage the entire remarketing process more efficiently.

Having connected the data and processes of over 2,000 consignor organizations to nearly 500 of the nation’s leading auto auctions, AutoIMS continues to advance its well-tested remarketing software, offering:

• Intelligent Vehicle Identification and Assignment: It’s time for the savvy remarketer to take the guesswork out of decisions about where and when to sell vehicles. Automated closest auction mapping, advanced vehicle valuation, simplified summary reporting, and robust connections to online and physical auction venues make the process easier.
• Transportation and Documentation: More superfluous time is added to the remarketing cycle due to transportation mix-ups and missing vehicle documentation than any other reason. Consignors should monitor vehicles through multiple statuses before a vehicle ever reaches the auction, and take advantage of full tracking capabilities for titles, POAs and other key documents.
• Reconditioning and Floor Pricing: The days of paper CRs can and should be over. Digital pictures, VIN decoding, and digital CR data gives consignors faster, more accurate information, and an easier way to approve or decline repairs, influencing overall valuation. Having this information at one’s fingertips, along with updated guide book data from industry-leading sources takes the mystery out of accurate appraisals.
• Reporting and Reconciling: Tie it all together with built-in, advanced management reporting, auditing, and performance benchmarking.

Efficient, effective remarketing inventory management is here today, and available immediately at a small fraction of the cost to develop similar functionality in-house. Adopting AutoIMS just makes good business sense.

AutoIMS Reflects on New Developments in 2011

The taxes may not be done yet, but 2011 is officially in the rear view mirror. For AutoIMS, the year opened doors to many new technology projects that will translate to significant value for our clients and the entire automotive remarketing sector going forward.

Here are a few highlights worth recapping:

• AutoIMS HUB: New functionality and data connections which allow consignor and auction users to create, view and manage online auction listings as part of their physical auction inventory in AutoIMS.
• Marshaling: New functionality allowing for the management of inventory at auction without the immediate intention of selling in the physical lane.
• AutoIMS Help: All users can now click the "Help" link on the top left of your screen to access illustrated AutoIMS tutorials and instructions.
• The new AutoIMS.com and Partnership: Along with a complete redesign of the AutoIMS.com to a more user friendly and content-rich public site, we also launched the Partnership page - a new resource to help remarketers connect with the vendors they need.
• LivePricing Updates: Consignor users can now access NADA values and a new reference point called AutoIMS Commercial Estimate (ACE), directly in AutoIMS.
• Repossession Updates: Key updates to repo functionality include a "Find Closest Agent" feature, and a multi-faceted Repo Agent Scorecard reporting tool.
• LiveCRwriter 5.1: Enhancements to the AutoIMS Condition Report writing tool, available to all member auctions, included the ability to upload multiple photos and create multiple CR versions for each vehicle.

2012 promises to be an equally productive as AutoIMS builds on these projects and starts new ones. As always, input and business requirements from the remarketing industry drive our development direction, so contact us to be sure your voice is heard. Email: Customer.service@autoims.com, or call: 888-683-2272.

Best wishes for a successful 2012 from all of us at AutoIMS!

Use AutoIMS on the Go, with the Latest Smartphones and Tablets

ATLANTA, GA (September 19, 2011) - "Whether you need to access AutoIMS or write a condition report with a smartphone we're running with the current technologies to give clients what they need," says Don Meadows president of AutoIMS.

As more users connect to AutoIMS from "on the road" it's essential to develop and test the accessibility and security levels of all the new gadgets that clients have in their briefcases or shirt pockets,

AutoIMS can be accessed with the latest versions of Android which has a number of spreadsheet downloads for running reports. That said, new versions are around the corner that continue to add functionality to the AutoIMS secure database.

Versioning is one of the toughest issues as we test various applications from Apple iPhones, iPads and devices with Google's Android applications. Apple uses use proprietary applications whereas Google claims open source. However, as later versions are released, older software will no longer be supported. With these first versions of hardware obsolete, companies will be pressured to upgrade devices.

Click here for the PDF newsletter.

AutoIMS Spring 2011 Newsletter Now Available

Catch up on the latest happenings at AutoIMS with our newsletter.

Highlights include:

• New Marshaling functionality
• LiveCRwriter 5.1 brings more important enhancements
• Tips on reducing transportation costs
• And more!

Click here for the PDF newsletter.

Auto Auction Services Corporation Upgrades Web Presence

February 21, 2011. Auto Auction Services Corp., better known as AutoIMS, today launched a new version of their public website: www.autoims.com. The new and improved AutoIMS.com provides:

• Simplified listing of member auctions
• New Partners page, created to become a comprehensive listing of vendors to the remarketing industry
• More intuitive contact forms
• Enhanced look and feel, and updated content throughout

"We are proud of this update to the public version of AutoIMS.com," said Don Meadows, President and CEO of AutoIMS. "We are constantly innovating and updating the AutoIMS application that users rely on to manage inventory, and it was time that we brought the public face of the company up to a representative standard."

For more information, visit www.autoims.com.

LiveCRwriter 5.0

AutoIMS released version 5.0 of its condition reporting tool - LiveCRwriter - in late 2010. Along with the existing categories of cars, trucks, and RVs, LiveCRwriter 5.0 offers new and expanded vehicle categories including motorcycles, heavy trucks, ATVS, yellow steel, numerous boat types, power sports, and miscellaneous; all with granular equipment options geared specifically to those vehicle types.

Also new with this release, condition report writers can access a user guide under the "Help" area of the main LiveCRwriter navigation. The guide offers a big picture view of LiveCRwriter functionality, and key details about inputting vehicle information into AutoIMS, updating equipment, adding damages and photos, and updating CRs. Processes are outlined and described step-by-step with screen shots, making it easy to adopt the tool.

LiveCRwriter can be used both online and offline, with ability to upload and batch print condition reports. Additionally, 5.0 continues to offer the benefits users are accustomed to, including:

• Easy linkage of photos to damages
• Built-in barcode reader
• Built-in VIN decoder

Coming soon! Release 5.1 will offer multiple condition report types, including post-sale inspections, internet sale, arbitration, and more.

LiveCRwriter is available at no additional charge to AutoIMS member auctions. Please contact Customer Service for further information, to arrange for a demo, or for assistance with downloading, by calling 888-683-2272 or e-mail customer.service@autoims.com.

RecoveryIMS

RecoveryIMS.com (formerly LiveRepos.com) is an online application built to assign, track, and manage repossessions. Recovery agents access repo assignments, communicate with clients, and create condition reports and invoices online. The new site features improved navigation and always visible search features aimed at enhancing the user experience. Faster turnaround means effort and cost savings to all parties. Learn more at www.recoveryims.com.

Speed Up Assignment Process

Manually entering an assignment location is easier than ever in AutoIMS. All you need is the vehicle location's phone number. Our phone number based address lookup feature auto-populates the pickup location and then our mapping technology offers a list of your 5 closest AASC auctions. The distance (in miles) between those auctions and the vehicle's location is indicated after the auction name.

AutoIMS Earns Honorable Mention

AutoIMS received an honorable mention in the prestigious 2008 Automotive News PACE Award competition in the Information Technology category. The 14th annual PACE (Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence) Award is jointly presented by Automotive News, Microsoft, SAP and Transportation Research Center Inc.

"NAAA is a great opportunity for us to see our auction clients. Usually we mainly talk to them on the phone," said Keely Smith, head of customer service at AutoIMS. "We plan to use the occasion to coordinate auction training dates at NAAA."

AutoIMS was recognized for bringing innovations to the remarketing industry through technology. Companies connect their systems on AutoIMS' standard platform and database; saving significant time and expense in data management. Streamlined and organized processes may eliminate or replace legacy systems. Today one record can be created and shared between systems, where each entity updates and adds to the existing record rather than recreating it. This improves accuracy and cuts down on duplicate records.

The suite of applications offered by AutoIMS continue to cross pollinate and morph into a system that produces "self perpetuating innovations".

"The Automotive News PACE Award process has been a rewarding opportunity for AutoIMS to analyze and reflect on past accomplishments and future potential," says Don Meadows, president/CEO of AutoIMS. This award belongs to the creative employees at AASC and the visionaries in the industry who believed in the concept and backed the efforts of AutoIMS. The original Board of AASC represents a "Who's Who" in the auction industry. They were Larry Brasher of the Servnet Auctions; Darryll Ceccoli, former head of Manheim Auctions; Jim Hallett from ADESA Auctions; Tony Moorby, former head of ATD Auto Auctions; and Ray Nichols, the president of BSC, who represented an esteemed group of independent auction owners.

For complete details of the 2008 Automotive News PACE Award, visit www.autonews.com/PACE.
The award is additionally sponsored by OESA, Sprint and WCSX 94.7FM in Detroit, Mich.

Press Releases

New Survey Results: How Remarketing Industry Accurately Values Vehicles During Strong
Market Conditions

Majority of Commercial Consignors Strive to Balance Sale Rates and High Returns in the Lane

For Immediate Release (March 12th, 2012) Auto Auction Services Corp. (AutoIMS) today released the results of a survey they conducted about floor pricing, including aggregate findings from over 325 commercial vehicle consignor responses. Goals of the survey included assessing the preferences held and the challenges faced by the commercial consignor community as it relates to pricing vehicles for auction sale.

Survey responses came from all types and sizes of commercial remarketers, a true cross section of the AutoIMS client base and the industry. While prices continue to soar in the lane, 44% of the consignors surveyed still cited their biggest challenge is accurately appraising vehicles. The comments posted in the survey discussed the opportunities to obtain more thorough, accurate, and timely condition reports. Balancing high sale rates with maximum monetary returns was also a concern, ranking second at 21%, followed by finding accurate, relevant guide book data at 19%.

The companies whose primary focus was to achieve highest monetary return stated they were more likely to send a representative to the auctions to manage the active lane sales. Across all participants, 52% said they usually or always send a rep to auctions, and just 10% said they never attend auctions in person.

In terms of guide book data preferences, the survey showed that Manheim Market Report and Black Book® are used almost equally - about 2/3 of AutoIMS respondents use both guides. 49% also use NADA Used Car Guide, and 22% use various guide book values provided by auctions. West coast respondents also mentioned Kelley Blue Book, and several northeastern consignors cited Galves. A number of companies factor proprietary, internal data analysis into their valuations as well.

Over 1/3 of consignors use the AutoIMS guide book integration to access guide book values alongside condition report and bid history information, and 49% of survey respondents access guide book data directly on the website of the guide book company in question. Only 3% of consignors chose mobile app as their preferred, guide book access method.

The survey further revealed insight about the optimum number of times a vehicle should be run through an auction lane, whether consignors keep separate, private floor prices, how damages are factored in, and what metrics consignors use to gauge pricing effectiveness. A comprehensive presentation of the survey results is available from AutoIMS Customer Service by email customer.service@autoims.com or calling (888) 683-2272.

AutoIMS Announces Pilot Phase of Internet Selling Hub

New tool aims to provide real-time inventory information across multiple online and in lane channels

September 7, 2010 (Atlanta, GA) Auto Auction Services Corporation (AutoIMS) is expanding its vehicle assignment and management toolset to allow for maximum inventory exposure and coordinated selling across internet and physical auction platforms through the creation of the AutoIMS Hub. Striving to provide real-time data connections between consignors, auctions, and auction internet platforms, the AutoIMS Hub will allow posting of inventory in front of every dealer in North America while minimizing the risk of duplicate sales.

"We are excited about the opportunity to participate in the pilot phase of the AutoIMS Hub," said Paul Seger, VP, Asset Remarketing for GE Capital Fleet Services. "As online sales continue to evolve, this one-platform, online solution provides GE and other sellers with the tools needed to efficiently remarket vehicles while allowing buyers to source their inventory needs."

The creation of the Hub comes at a time when more vehicles are being sold online through an increasing number of channels. "Sellers need help assigning vehicles to multiple venues, and managing inventory effectively in one place, using consolidated reporting, pricing, condition reports, and other information they need to run their business. This is a logical point of expansion for AutoIMS, and we are pleased to be making such rapid progress on this platform," said Don Meadows, President/CEO of AutoIMS.

AutoIMS Appoints a New Customer Service Director

ATLANTA, GA (January 29, 2010) – Joe Miller has been named Director of Customer Service at Auto Auction Services Corporation. Miller previously held management and marketing positions at Gartner, Inc., The Hackett Group, and BearingPoint, Inc.

"Client support has grown substantially over the past few years with more than 28,000 licensed users accessing AutoIMS to manage remarketing inventory. AASC looked for someone with a background in data analytics to incorporate client feedback with data mining to push system improvements. We've found that person in Joe Miller," says Don Meadows, President/CEO of AASC.

Miller started at AASC in September of 2009, leading a research project focused on the repossession industry which included survey and focus group execution. The results paid off quickly, leading to system changes that benefit all recovery application stakeholders.

"Our customer service team holds the keys to the castle and serves as the front line to our client base. They know the system and our clients inside and out, and can translate issues into actionable recommendations for the next generation of AutoIMS," says Miller.

Auto Auction Services Corp. Licenses AutoIMS to Copart

FAIRFIELD, CA – Copart, Inc., and Auto Auctions Services Corp. (AASC) have reached an agreement that enables Copart to use AASC's Automotive Inventory Management System (AutoIMS).

Under the agreement, Copart will be able to receive vehicle assignments through AutoIMS – an electronic vehicle inventory management system used by commercial vehicle sellers such as banks, finance companies, credit unions and fleet operators.

"This agreement means we can now combine Copart's great technology with AASC's great technology to provide vehicle sellers with a choice they didn't have before," said Willis J. Johnson, Copart's CEO and founder.

"AutoIMS connects data from more than 450 auctions to the databases of over 1,300 commercial clients," added AASC President and CEO Don Meadows. "Adding Copart to that mix enriches our product. Copart is a strong company with good technology and we are excited to have them share in our effort and help drive our product offerings forward in these changing times."

Copart sells more than 1 million vehicles per year using its patented, state-of-the-art VB2 technology which breaks down geographical barriers by allowing buyers to bid in a virtual-auction format online. Copart has more than 100,000 buyers in more than 100 countries that use VB2 to compete for vehicles.

AutoIMS is owned and operated by AASC, a leader in information technology for the automotive industry, processing more than 4 million sold vehicle records annually and handling more than 32 million transactions daily, and 5 million images monthly.

"It makes sense that Copart and AASC – both leaders in the auto remarketing industry who embrace technology and customer service – are now working together," Meadows said.

"We are proud to be doing business with AASC and are looking forward to a wonderful working relationship with them," added Johnson.

Copart and AutoIMS expect to be fully integrated in the second calendar quarter.

LiveRepos.com is Updated and Renamed to More User-Friendly RecoveryIMS.com

Atlanta, Georgia - Thursday, January 08, 2009

Auto Auction Services Corp. is pleased to announce the launch of RecoveryIMS.com (formerly LiveRepos.com), on February 1, 2009. The online application assigns, tracks, and manages repossessions. Recovery agents access repo assignments, communicate with clients and create condition reports and invoices online. Clients and agents benefit from streamlined communications and access to real-time data that flows uninterrupted between the recovery side and the auctions side. Also, reporting covers the full remarketing cycle. "The new name emphasizes the connection with AutoIMS and its prime functionality as an inventory management system," says Don Meadows, AASC president.

Improving user workflow is part of the development process at AASC. With input from customer service, the technical team restructured the Repossession interface to improve customer interaction. "RecoveryIMS.com was born out of this effort to reduce clicks and also to improve the range of services AASC can offer to enhance the repo workflow experience," says Venkat Krishnamoorthy, director of IT at AASC.

Login is easier; navigation more intuitive. New graphics reflect an updated sensibility which goes hand-in-hand with the user-friendly approach. A new one-stop navigation panel on the left provides quick access to repossession processes and communications. The "back button" has been eliminated. Along those lines, the "Search" criteria section is now on every page in the header area helping users process quickly throughout the entire site. Looking up a vehicle is at your fingertips; searches for vehicle groups are painless.

Phase II will contain add-on services that will provide enhanced transaction based services to the repo agents. E.g. A repo agent who now has multiple logins for different AASC consignors can request the logins to be combined into one single login.

Agents will notice a sharp difference between RecoveryIMS and LiveRepos. Clients benefit indirectly since the agents can now process information faster on RecoveryIMS.com. Anything that saves time on RecoveryIMS.com is a benefit for the repo client with faster turnaround.

Disclosure

Press releases contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied by our statements and comments. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time on our behalf.

AASC Press Release Information

Shannon Brickey
Advertising Manager
678-597-3920
Shannon Brickey