Press Release – For Immediate Release
Contact:
Alan Minton
Cornerstone Information Systems
(812) 269-0014
Cornerstone Invests in CIMA Systems
Investment Expands Cornerstone’s Technology Reach into the Auto Industry
Bloomington, IN - November 20, 2008: Cornerstone Information Systems announced today that they have invested in CIMA Systems located in Pleasanton, California. CIMA is a technology company that delivers products designed to help auto dealers improve the way they communicate, interact with, and proactively market to their customers, resulting in higher customer satisfaction and greater sales with lower overhead.
“CIMA is one of the automobile industries leading marketing communications companies that serve a sector of the economy that is facing challenging times. There are some very exciting parallels between auto dealers and travel agencies. Both serve as a midpoint in the distribution chain, have historically had high operational costs and have a primary value proposition being service,” said Mat Orrego, President and CEO of Cornerstone. “Just like Cornerstone, CIMA’s product offering illustrates how technology can help service oriented companies streamline operations, improve service and increase margins.”
In February of this year CIMA announced a partnership with Chrysler LLC to provide automated marketing and communications applications to its Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge dealerships. Under the program, Chrysler privately labeled the new system Chrysler Interactive Management Application (CIMA). It was made available immediately through Chrysler's "Dealer Connect" Web site. CIMA also is a preferred vendor for such automobile manufactures as Mitsubishi Motors North America and Suzuki Motor America.
“We are excited to be associated with Cornerstone as we continue to grow our business within the automotive sector,” states Gary Nixon, CEO CIMA Systems. “This partnership allows us both to take advantage of our technologies to even better serve our individual clients”.
The CIMA investment continues Cornerstone’s tradition of acquiring or investing in companies that can deliver mutual benefits by leveraging technological, financial, operational and marketing expertise. Previously Cornerstone acquired two companies and two product lines that helped them increase their outreach within the travel industry. More recently Cornerstone’s ownership, Mat Orrego and DG Elmore, have invested in six separate companies that serve industries as diverse as real estate, food preparation and professional sports.
“I was asked by a colleague if now was a good time to invest. I understand that he was alluding to an economy that has limited many companies’ ability to grow and innovate. Fortunately, Cornerstone is in a position to take advantage of opportunities in the market and leverage our expertise and experience to produce more products and services that will enable our customers to meet their objectives and be more successful,” said Orrego.
The investment by Cornerstone will not affect day-to-day operations of CIMA. Cornerstone will gain a seat on the Board of Directors. The financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
About Cornerstone
Cornerstone Information Systems is a professional services company helping travel management companies, corporate travel departments, airline and global distribution systems work more efficiently and more profitably. Founded in 1992, Cornerstone Information Systems is a privately held company based in Bloomington, Indiana with personnel in eight locations worldwide. Further information about the company is available at www.ciswired.com or by calling Alan Minton at (812) 269-0014.
About CIMA Systems
CIMA Systems patent-pending solution was founded in 2001 with the goal of creating an automated customer interaction tool for the automotive Industry. After years’ worth of development time, CIMA Systems, a Customer Interactive Management Application (CIMA), was born. The application helps serve as a 24 hour, automated BDC for dealerships. Developed exclusively for the automotive Industry, CIMA helps dealers communicate with their customers in the way the customer wants to be contacted, via telephone, mail, email or text message and analyzes the success of those communications with reporting and mapping tools. To find out more about CIMA, visit www.cimasystems.net
