Albany, N.Y. – November 16th, 2015 – Auto/Mate Dealership Systems (http://www.automate.com) announced today that Kaarma has completed integration with Auto/Mate's Dealership Management System (DMS). Auto/Mate's Fixed Ops Suite in its DMS now seamlessly integrates and sends customer payment and communications records to Kaarma's service applications.

"Auto/Mate makes it easy and inexpensive for vendors to integrate with our DMS because we like to encourage companies like Kaarma, that are producing new and innovative applications that keep dealership service departments on the cutting-edge," said Mike Esposito, President and CEO of Auto/Mate. "An open standards integration keeps costs low for both vendors and dealers."

The integration automatically transfers customer data from Auto/Mate’s DMS to the Kaarma App to allow Auto/Mate dealerships to seamlessly use Kaarma’s industry leading communication and payment solutions.

"Our service applications have been shown to drastically improve customer satisfaction and retention, and can save dealerships thousands of dollars," said Ujj Nath, CEO of Kaarma. "Our tools allow service departments to simplify communication with the customer and enable transactions in a way that works best for them."

Kaarma offers the following service applications:

eBridge is a full payment software system for the service department, enabling mobile payments so that customers can pay their bills online before coming into the dealership to pick up their vehicles; eliminating customer wait time and allowing them to pick up their vehicle after hours.

DirectConnect is a bi-directional communication tool for the service department. Research shows that text messages are answered ten times faster than voice mails. With the Kaarma app, the service adviser can text or email the customer instead of calling to leave a voice mail; and all texts, emails and phone calls are aggregated on one screen to keep communications organized regardless of which channels the customer and service adviser are using.

Auto/Mate's Fixed Ops Suite is a full-featured solution that offers the following benefits to further streamline processes:

• One-screen access allows all service merchandising functions to be accessed within one screen via user-friendly pull-down menus and buttons
• Automated dispatch and electronic RO capabilities enable hands-free, customized and flexible dispatching
• Graphics-rich calendar allows service managers to view color-coded appointments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis "at-a-glance"
• Instant merge feature that merges duplicate customer information with a single click of a button
• "OEM Button" to access manufacturers’ online information at any time within Auto/Mate's DMS

Auto/Mate offers low-cost, seamless integration for third-party vendors with its Open/Mate program. Auto/Mate is an advocate of open standards integration as a way to increase competition, lower prices and improve the quality of products offered by all vendors.

Auto/Mate's DMS is an industry-leading solution designed for single and group franchise dealerships, proven to increase efficiencies and boost dealer profits. For more information call Auto/Mate at 877-340-2677.

About Kaarma:

Kaarma is a startup software company that focuses on enhancing the retail experience for the service departments of car dealerships.  The Kaarma application gives the dealership the ability to offer 21st century technology such as, a digital point of sale system, mobile payments, and bi-directional texting/calling/email all in one application that is integrated with their current software systems. Enabling the dealership with the conveniences of the Kaarma Application have proven to drastically improve retention by increasing customer satisfaction, and have saved dealership’s thousands of dollars by removing inefficiencies in the dealership.  The tools that Kaarma provides are pioneering a space called Customer Interactions Management, which focuses on giving the customers the experience they want while they are actually at the dealership, rather than solely directing energy to bringing the customer back after they have left.

Kaarma’s philosophy of integrating technology to help build trust with the customer has resonated with the franchised dealership community, this has led to Kaarma’s customer base now representing major leading dealership groups, as well as a preferred partner relationship with Mercedes Benz USA. Kaarma is based in Los Angeles, California. For more information, please visit http://mykaarma.com or call (310) 982-7707.

About Auto/Mate

Auto/Mate Dealership Systems is a leading provider of dealership management system (DMS) software to retail automotive dealerships, typically saving dealers thousands of dollars per month from their current provider. Our Automotive Management Productivity Suite (AMPS) is a user-friendly, feature-rich DMS in use by more than 1,100 auto dealers nationwide. Auto/Mate has received DrivingSales Dealer Satisfaction Awards in 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Auto/Mate’s employees have more than 940 years of combined experience working in franchised auto dealerships, the foundation of its “Designed By Car People For Car People^TM” slogan. Auto/Mate is committed to winning its customers’ business each and every month with no long-term contracts and free software upgrades. For more information, visit www.automate.com