News Release

For Immediate Release
04-23-01

For more information, contact Rich White, (301) 654-6664.

AAIA Selects AutoPartner to Power i·SHOP Demonstrations

BETHESDA, MD - April 23, 2001 --The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced today that they have reached an exclusive agreement with AutoPartner, Inc. to supply an i·SHOP branded version of their BayMaster Lite shop management software product. The i·SHOP SMS software will be used to demonstrate the features of the i·SHOP standards at the AAPEX trade show and other venues. The product will be included in the i·SHOP developer's kits and may be distributed for free by i·SHOP participating companies.

i·SHOP is a set of computer standards that makers of shop equipment, information servers and shop management software will engineer into their products, thereby, enabling connectivity and network computing in the vehicle service industry. AAIA launched the i·SHOP initiative to increase repair shop productivity by enabling discrete pieces of PC-based equipment to communicate between the front and back shop.

"We are pleased to support the leadership shown by AAIA and it's members and add value for our repair shop clients," said Jeff Lichterman, AutoPartner CEO. "AutoPartner is proud to be an active participant in developing these significant standards for the vehicle service industry."

The i·SHOP standards, which are still in the development and testing phase, will be available to all makers of shop management software, repair information servers, parts and labor information servers, and PC-based repair and diagnostic equipment. Release of the i·SHOP specification and software developers' kit is expected this summer.

"i·SHOP represents an unprecedented level of cooperation between manufacturers of hi-tech products in our industry. AAIA is particularly grateful for the contributions of AutoPartner in supporting the shop management software portion of the i·SHOP standard," said Scott Luckett, AAIA's senior director of information technology.

i·SHOP is a volunteer effort under the leadership of the AAIA Electronic Commerce Committee. The charter participants are ALLDATA, Canadian Tire Corporation, Hunter Engineering, Mitchell Repair Information Corp, Snap-on, SPX, and Vetronix. Information is available from the Web site at www.ishopstandards.org.

In October 2000, AutoPartner, Inc. acquired all of the assets and customer base of Applied Computer Resources (ACR), the parent company of the Bay-Master Shop Management System. AutoPartner, Inc. provides business software, services and solutions to independent auto repair shops. The services offered by AutoPartner affect the entire repair shop business process including customer acquisition and retention, back office support and shop productivity. The Web site is www.bay-master.com.

About the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association:

The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose member companies manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, tools, equipment, materials and supplies. The organization is comprised of manufacturers, distributors, jobbers, wholesalers, retailers, manufacturer's representatives and other companies doing business in the automotive aftermarket. AAIA formerly served the aftermarket as APAA and ASIA. Information about e-commerce standards can be found on the AAIA site at www.aftermarket.org.

To download a printable, PDF version of this press release click here (pdf/16KB).