BMW custom model

By ADAM GIFFORD

BMW New Zealand has resolved problems created by the adoption by its global parent of a high-end, expensive customer relationship management package by customising the low-end GoldMine software.

Its solution will be tested this Friday, and will then be sent to BMW subsidiaries in Argentina, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Canada, Russia, Scandinavia and other small markets.

"We proposed the project because the Top Drive system BMW AG in Germany was rolling out, based on Clarify software, has more features and is more complex than is needed in a small market," said BMW NZ customer relationship manager Tony Rogers.

"It would also cost us ten times as much."

The GoldMine project cost BMW NZ about $100,000, including extra hardware, with BMW AG picking up the rest of the bill.

"BMW AG saw the advantage in using our expertise here to develop it," Rogers said.

GoldMine would also link into the Prima dealer management system used by BMW dealerships.