Microsoft and Nissan establish strategic relationship to blend technology and business

Microsoft and Nissan has announced a strategic relationship to collaborate and create a next-generation dealer management system based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Using the powerful foundation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the automotive industry expertise of Nissan, the two companies will blend dealer and customer relationship management and social collaboration tools into a solution that will help Nissan develop a stronger relationship with its customers, drive dealer sales and increase market share on a global scale. The solution will then utilize the Windows Azure platform, taking advantage of the economies of scale and flexibility offered by Microsoft’s public cloud offerings.

“Customer loyalty and retention are essential to the success of any business. Microsoft Dynamics CRM helps businesses better understand and build deeper relationships with their customers and partners,” said Kirill Tatarinov, president, Microsoft Business Solutions. “We look forward to working with Nissan to deliver a solution that effectively connects with their customers and to win in today’s business environment while also helping organizations such as Nissan meet the specific needs of the automotive industry.”

“Nissan delivers some of the most innovative vehicles in the automotive industry, and we bring that same innovation and passion to ensure customer and partner satisfaction,” said Andy Palmer, executive vice president, Nissan. “We are delighted to be working with Microsoft to deliver the next-generation dealer management system. Nissan is seeking a solution that will help meet our business needs, especially to better understand our customers and dealers. This will enhance our sales and brand power as we enter a new growth phase under our midterm business plan, Nissan Power 88.”

The new dealer management system will initially be rolled out to Nissan’s dealership networks in Japan and other strategic regions across the globe. The system will have the flexibility to be customized for the needs of a specific country, region or automotive manufacturer, with broader availability to be explored in the future. Nissan also intends to explore how Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Windows Azure can work together as a platform to deploy applications across the company’s global network and to standardize its information architecture on the cloud.

Source: Microsoft