ADP buys BZ Results??

[Jeff Kershner]

I keep hearing a rumors that BZ Results has been bought by ADP? Is this true? Does anyone have any inside information on this? What would this mean for BZ Productions and ADP? Share your Comments with the "comments" link below.

UPDATE:

WardsAuto announces that ADP did buy BZ Results;

WardsAuto.com, Mar 17, 2006 12:23 PM Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) steps up its presence in the world of dealership websites this week by acquiring BZ Results, a digital marketing and consulting company.

The acquisition is the latest in a series of announcements that shows ADP is intent on putting some teeth into its dealership Web initiatives.

Details of the deal have not been announced, but ADP officials confirm that BZ President Sean Wolfington will remain with the company as a part of ADP’s digital marketing management team. BZ, based in Coventry, RI, is a 10-year-old company with more than 100 employees and 650 dealership customers.

The acquisition provides ADP with a critical piece to its Internet initiatives, Dynamic Web Site and Web Marketing, launched earlier this year.

ADP expects BZ’s technology and process for managing customer relationships and managing prospects to be an important addition to its Dynamic Website suite.

“With BZ Results comes the proven ability to drive sales in greater volumes from online marketing efforts, as well as improved success in closing deals when online prospects arrive at the showroom,” says Steven Anenen, president of ADP Dealer Services.

ADP’s efforts in dealer online initiatives, for the most part, have been lackluster in recent years. But late last year, it became evident the company was about to turn its attention to dealers when AutoNation Inc., the nation’s largest dealership group, confirmed it had chosen ADP to build and host its websites.

AutoNation is launching its new websites in April and hopes the move will enable its customers to complete more of the sales process online, says Gary Marcotte, senior vice president-marketing.

What are your thoughts?

How will BZ or ADP change with this
acquisition?

Leave your COMMENTS!

New Update: ADP buys Cobalt

 

[Gary Bouldin]

I just heard from my "raving fan manager" that it is true. ADP has purchased BZ Media.

 

[Cliff Banks]

Rumors are true. ADP acquired BZ last Monday -- Wolfington is staying on with the company.

ADP confirmed it to me on Thursday.

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wardsauto.com

 

[Dirk Wilhelm]

Are you kidding? Now there are 2 disfunctional companies together to oversell the dealers. Imagine, one selling worthless multi-media emails and the other leasing $500 printers for $22,000.. a match made in heaven

 

[Wayne Anderson]

I just heard a comment today from a GSM in Tempe about BZ Results being an inferior product because once the trainers leave, the system is not used. No buy in.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

You can have the best process or system in the world but without full buy-in, it's going to fail. I would not say that BZ has an inferior product..though it's not the best or even great. Matter of fact no vendor in the automotive business offers anything above average if you ask me. Especially in the website realm. If a dealer has full buy-in and places the process that BZ establishes or tries to establish I have not doubt it could not work.

 

[Fred Winston]

Read a first hand experience with BZ Results. You'll be floored!!! Zoomshare: Home

 

[Tom McGrath]

I don't know about you, but the more I hear from Lloyd at AAISP the more he sounds like a flim flam. Now he is selling stock? Is this registered, legal, or for real?? Just wondering, but he has lost me.

 

[Ryan Gerardi]

BZ is a marketing machine and they have done wonders for this sector of the industry. BZ gets a lot of bad rap from vendors, competing vendors particularly, but often times I find it unwarranted and out of spite. Few companies can solicit to its audience members the way BZ can.

Keep in mind that BZ originally was a marketing company that entered into the automotive industry by creating a website product and BDC philosophy. Most agree that their product is not the silver bullet, but an honest professional in this industry should acknowledge that BZ did raise the bar on what can be done in the dealer website market. BZ pushed the envelope and as a result landed themselves in the lap of sound and stable industry giant ADP. This did not occur by luck, stupidity, bad product, and bad business. It came from vision and dedication.

ADP was smart for acquiring BZ and probably has more vested interest in the deal than most outsiders could know. And BZ was becoming too big for its own good so it was smart for them to be acquired.

 

[Stew]

At least Ryan isn't affraid to stick up for the guys paying him.