Poway, California -- January 5, 2012 -- Summit Software and Marketing Solutions has launched a new division, e-Marketing Sherpa’s. This new division, which has been created through an acquisition and merger, will focus on the design, development and implementation of digital marketing, communications and customer retention technologies and services for small businesses, beginning with collision repair facilities.

According to Summit, e-Marketing Sherpa’s initial focus will be on helping auto body shops capture, service and retain more cars, customers, revenue and profit. Summit stated it plans to enter other service and repair based vertical markets such as auto repair, detailing, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, and others within the next 12 months.
 
The new division has big plans as described by Summit CEO, Frank Terlep. “World-wide statistics support the fact that e-mail, text messaging, smart phones, mobile and location based marketing, social media, and digital advertising are essential components of a successful marketing, communications and customer retention strategy. We expect this new division to be a world leader in the development and delivery of technologies and services related to marketing, communications and customer retention.”

Terlep continued, “Over the past 25 years I have had the opportunity to help thousands of auto body and repair businesses become more efficient and profitable by designing, developing and implementing leading edge shop management software. Our new division will now allow us to help repair businesses capture, service and retain more cars, customers, revenue and profit through leading edge digital marketing, communications and customer retention software and services.”

Summit states that its new e-Marketing Sherpa’s division is now prepared to offer auto body shops throughout North America, the following digital marketing, communications and customer retention solutions:

e-MarketPlace is a single, integrated digital marketing, communications and customer retention platform that allows a shop to build a marketing database through automated integration with Audatex, CCC and Mitchell, use email and text messaging to send automated vehicle status updates, thank you messages, e-newsletters, advertisements, promotions, and an e-couponing platform. The e-MarketPlace platform also incudes integration with Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, all major smart phone platforms, an integrated customer survey, review, ratings and reporting platform, automated performance reporting and much more.

DigitalDeals is an advertising, promotion and e-couponing platform that allows small businesses to create, manage and measure email, text, internet and social media based advertisements, promotions and coupons.

e-Raving Fans is a web based platform that helps small businesses capture, control and share validated customer reviews on their shop’s website, Facebook page and other internet sites that leads to improvements in customer referrals, retention, closing ratios, web site traffic, and insurance relationships.

Virtual Marketing Manager will allow shops to “hire” Summit to create, manage and perform their digital marketing, advertising communications and customer retention activities for them. Summit’s experienced e-marketing managers will create, manage and distribute digital ads, promotions, e-coupons, and other materials via emails, text messages, social media, websites, and other digital platforms.
 
Mobile Vehicle Assist allows auto body and repair shops the opportunity to create a personalized phone app and offer a smart phone based, scheduling and roadside assistance service.
 
SEO Optimized Websites provide shops with a powerful, customizable website designed to help them attain the highest search result placement on most major search engines and integrate customer reviews, ratings, digital ads, promotions, and other powerful marketing, advertising and retention tools.

For more information, please visit summitsoftwaresolutions.com.