IBM Implements e-business application for Mercedes Benz cars in Saudi Arabia

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Mercedes Benz Saudi Arabia will now use an online automated quotation system powered by IBM's e-business and database software solutions. The web-based system will be utilised by JACO's sales and marketing force to present a live visual system to customers, whereby car models and specifications can be entered to deliver an accurate price and delivery period instantly for customers in the Kingdom.

Developed using IBM WebSphere and DB2 in the back-end system and enhanced with the power of Javascript and HTML in the front-end, the solution provides Mercedes Benz marketing employees and salesmen tools that automatically generate and print high quality text and image quotations. The web-based system is more efficient and user-friendly than the previous quotation methods, and helps customers make choices with ease. Customers are then provided with an instant offer with images detailing the car and features required.

It also allows salesmen to instantly customize the quotation, with prices changing with features, and includes facilities for JACO executives to manage and administer car information, prices and pre-ordered car packages.

'The new system works very well to maintain the image of Juffali Automotive Company as an adopter of cutting-edge technology and caters to our customers requirements', said Mr. Khalid Al Juffali, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Juffali Automotive Company.

'The options available to us were either a ready quick-to-implement package that can only be customized to a certain extent, or a tailor-made solution that fits in with our requirements but requires long development time,' explained Mr. Al Juffali. 'IBM's solution however, allowed us enough flexibility to use much of the existing work with quick development time, and enough room for developing the specific applications required'.

The solution was developed in only three months and tested for another three before its set-up in all Central, Eastern and Western province Mercedes showrooms in the Kingdom. The system operates in a secure Intranet, allowing access only to JACO's sales and marketing personnel at present, but with flexibility to open it directly to customers in the future if the need arises. Using the latest version of IBM Websphere 5.0, content available from Daimler Chrysler was fed into the system with the logic programmed by the Juffali Group IT team to ensure that the application meets the local business and customer requirements.

Saudi Business Machines was instrumental in introducing the IBM technology to Juffali not only from the hardware and software points of view but also in terms of on-site training and support. 'The success of this project along with the other award winning e-business projects that Juffali developed can be attributed to the excellent support that IBM, through Saudi Business Machines (SBM) have given to Juffali', commented Dr Jamil El-Imad, General Manager of IT Services at Juffali Group.

'This implementation is an excellent example of how a combination of IBM's e-business and database software can quickly and easily convert a business's processes and offer a real advantage to customers', said Jean-Christophe Knoerzter, Manager of IBM Software, Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan.