Dear P&A Online:

This letter is in response to the April 7 article “New Technology Devices and Real-Time Processes to Guide 2011 Focus for Product Providers” posted in the Software & Technology channel. As part of the article, Diana interviewed Marty Zwolan of Open Dealer Exchange and Mark Virag from Open Dealer Exchange’s Provider Exchange Network (PEN) division. Our executives enjoyed the opportunity to enlighten readers with some of our unique offerings. However, there were a few inaccuracies included in the article which we’d like to clarify so they can better understand our company and its solutions.

Open Dealer Exchange was created in 2009 as a joint venture between industry giants Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) and The Reynolds and Reynolds Company. The company has always operated as an independent entity and with separate management. The Provider Exchange Network (PEN) is a division within Open Dealer Exchange that focuses specifically on the F&I Aftermarket Provider and is not a separate company.

Open Dealer Exchange’s technology is used by the dealership’s dealer management system (DMS) to communicate with lenders and F&I product providers and requires no external website or system. The technology does not extract data from the DMS. It simply allows the DMS to push the data to a lender or provider, making the customer purchase and/or financing transactions fully integrated into one seamless dealer system.

Both Open Dealer Exchange’s Lender Services and Provider Exchange Network (PEN) divisions are focusing on data validation within the various systems in 2011. The article is correct in stating this is key because the validation is done throughout the entire deal, not after it’s completed. It’s important to note that our solutions allow for changes and corrections to be made while the customer is still in the dealership and well before the contracts are signed.

As a final point of clarification, a safe and secure connection directly to the DMS is the primary factor in delivering Open Dealer Exchange’s products and services successfully to our customers.

Open Dealer Exchange