A new extranet system born out of year 2000 concerns is relieving headaches for a troubled car maker.
Rover, a British line of cars developed by auto manufacturer BMW AG, has converted to a Web-to-host solution developed by Modcomp Inc., a Fort Lauderdale-based provider of e-commerce software and solutions.
The solution was driven by Rover's worries about its existing x.25 dial-up connections. The company wanted to shift to a Web-enabled TCP/IP connection and needed to move quickly because its local telecommunications provider said the x.25 service would be discontinued after Dec. 31, said Jack Richter, project manager and senior technical architect at Rover.
"Modcomp's integration and development team helped us roll out this project very quickly so that we could meet [our] business needs for January 2000," Richter said. "We investigated the most cost-effective and cost-elegant way to get ourselves off of x.25 and on to TCP/IP, and they fit the bill."
Rover is using Modcomp's ViewMax solution to Web-enable its dealers to be connected to Hewlett-Packard Co.'s HP 3000 Web application servers. The system transmits important data between the dealers and the manufacturer, including information on vehicle ordering, warranty claims, stock invoicing and local market updates.
"The ViewMax solution will give Rover dealers continued access to existing business applications as BMW Group installs modern Web-technology-based systems," said Rob Crigler, vice president of Internet marketing in Modcomp's e-commerce division.
A key reason Modcomp was selected was because of its knowledge in the automotive industry. The integrator installed a similar system for Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
"We are very pleased because it hasn't changed the application and the actual business logic hasn't changed much, but on a Web environment, dealers click on buttons instead of pressing function keys, Richter said. "Moving into a Web server environment has definitely taken [weight] off the back end. The system runs much faster because they don't have to connect through the x.25."
Modcomp, a subsidiary of Billerica, Mass.-based CSP Inc., provided the project management, application development, installation and documentation of the ViewMax system.
The system actually prevented Rover from having to spend additional money on Web infrastructure or training because the dealers already were familiar with the system, Richter said.
Although BMW and Rover dealerships co-locate in some European regions, they still maintain separate systems, a situation that eventually could change, said executives at both companies.
Rover is expected to begin building BMW cars within the next few years, according to a report from The London Times.
For more on auto industry Web solutions: www.crn.com/ebiz
