AutoWorld.co.za, SA's premier independent buying, selling and searching auto Web portal, is reinventing the auto industry through innovative use of technology and traditional automotive business processes.
AutoWorld has engaged the services of telecommunications company storm, whose technicians have developed the site and integrated the 'Storm Responder' application, an SMS solution that adds creative interaction between the site host and visitor
The implementation of this technology has enabled vehicle buyers to interact with private sellers and dealers, in real-time, thus empowering all parties involved in the buying and selling of motor vehicles. AutoWorld supports the motor industry by integrating the customer, motor dealer and the motor manufacturer into a user-friendly Web portal whereby they can all interact on a faster, more efficient basis, 24-hours-a-day.
Storm Responder allows AutoWorld.co.za customers to get in touch with the relevant contact, whether this be the advertiser or dealer, via a 'send us an SMS now' function, at no cost to the user.
Additionally, AutoWorld has incorporated another storm development, Braby's, the online business directory available at www.redindex.com, Through this association with Braby's, AutoWorld currently displays a comprehensive auto business directory which allows browsers to search for auto-related items and services.
Other aspects included on AutoWorld.co.za are the 'dealer Web site builder' and the private seller 'place-your-ad' features. These allow dealers to build their own Web sites with ease, using pre-established templates developed by AutoWorld in conjunction with Storm's technical team and key motor industry players.
Nick Heygate, marketing director at AutoWorld.co.za, says: "Customers want their Web experience to be interactive and trouble-free. Storm's implementation has provided our customers with the tools to ensure their experience is fast, efficient and informed."
Rob Fisher, special projects director at storm, says: "AutoWorld is a development tailor-made for the automobile industry and represents the next-generation in the evolution of how private sellers and dealers can work together. With an increasing amount of customers having less time to conduct their personal affairs, their number one requirement is convenience and ease-of-use."
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Storm was incorporated as a South African limited company in December 1998. The business launched in Cape Town in June 1999. Storm is challenging the telecommunications status quo in SA. The company provides over 2 000 businesses with a range of high quality, low-cost alternatives to existing providers of voice and data communication, reducing the cost of their phone, fax and Internet access bills. Storm lowers the cost of international calls for businesses using callback technology. Additionally, storm has services which lower the cost of national and international faxing, by carrying faxes over the Internet and the cost of calls to cellular phones, utilising cellular leased cost routing technology.
With the acquisition of ITI's ISP business in 2000, storm offers a full range of Internet access, Web and data hosting services. With its IP infrastructure and expertise, Storm is ideally positioned to offer converged voice and data services on one network, once deregulation of the local telecommunications market takes place.
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