Nissan partners with Microsoft to create new Dealer Management System

Franklin, Tennessee - Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. and the Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq MSFT) have just announced a strategic relationship to jointly create a new dealer management system based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

(TorqueNews) Using Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the industry expertise of Nissan, the companies will merge dealer and customer relationship management and social media tools into a system allowing Nissan to develop a firmer relationship with their customers, enhance the sales process thereby increasing Nissan’s market share worldwide. The system will also utilize the Windows Azure platform, taking advantage of Microsoft's public cloud offerings.

"Customer loyalty and retention are essential to the success of any business. Microsoft Dynamics CRM helps businesses better understand and build deeper relationships with their customers and partners," stated Kirill Tatarinov, president, Microsoft Business Solutions. "We look forward to working with Nissan to deliver a solution that effectively connects with their customers and to win in today's business environment while also helping organizations such as Nissan meet the specific needs of the automotive industry."

"Nissan delivers some of the most innovative vehicles in the automotive industry, and we bring that same innovation and passion to ensure customer and partner satisfaction," said Andy Palmer, executive vice president, Nissan. "We are delighted to be working with Microsoft to deliver the next-generation dealer management system. Nissan is seeking a solution that will help meet our business needs, especially to better understand our customers and dealers. This will enhance our sales and brand power as we enter a new growth phase under our midterm business plan, Nissan Power 88."

The new dealer management system will launch in Nissan's dealerships in Japan and other regions about the globe. The system can be customized to the needs of a specific country, region or automotive manufacturer, with broader availability to be explored in the future.

Nissan also intends to explore how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Windows Azure can work as a platform for applications across the company's network, standardizing its information architecture in the cloud.

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., is Japan's second-largest automotive manufacturer, headquartered in Yokohama, and part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. With over 248,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.1 million vehicles in 2010, totaling $102.37 billion in revenue.