December 09, 2009 13:26 ET

ARI® Marks Twentieth Anniversary of Fleet Technology Customer Service Department

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ--(Marketwire - December 9, 2009) - Automotive Resources International (ARI), a leading global fleet technology and solutions provider specializing in complex car and truck fleets, announced the twentieth anniversary of its Customer Information Systems (CIS) department.

The CIS team is uniquely responsible for both technology innovation and customer service. Not only do they research and develop the application of new technology (mobile driver communications, GPS, RFID) and system solutions that address business challenges specific to complex fleets (integrated telematics and fleet management system, ERP integration, global reporting), they also have extensive direct communication with customers through focus groups and help desk support.

According to ARI Chief Information Officer, Bill Kwelty, the team was developed in December 1989 when the company recognized a need to provide both a direct contact for technology related customer service and a resource for gathering and applying valuable customer input to technology development.

"One of the team's primary objectives is to work directly with customers. We help each customer achieve an individualized system solution," commented Kwelty. "We also organize forums where customers provide feedback on our systems, and they let us know their additional needs and wants."

The ARI Garage Management System™ is an example of innovation as a result of direct interaction between customer input and IT development. Incorporating ARI's industry-leading data integration capabilities with feedback right from the garage floor, this single-system solution streamlines all fleet maintenance and repair activities from one central source.

The ARI CIS team is a strong contributor to the company's industry-leading reputation for customer service. It has maintained a 95% first call resolution goal for the past 44 months.

"Our team works to resolve customer issues quickly and comprehensively, enabling client personnel to leverage our systems to improve productivity," said Kwelty.

Under Kwelty's direction, the department has been named among Computerworld's "Top 100 Best Places to Work for IT Professionals" twice in the last five years.

About ARI

ARI, a subsidiary of Holman Enterprises, based in Mt. Laurel, N.J., is an industry leader and the largest privately held fleet leasing and management company in the world. As a single-source fleet management leader, ARI customizes innovative solutions that streamline fleet operations, help lower the cost of fleet ownership and create long-term value for customers.

Today, with a workforce numbering more than 1,400 and offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe, the company manages more than 2,000 outsourced fleets (over 650,000 autos and trucks) in North America and, combined with its strategic partners, more than 1.5 million global fleet vehicles.