Helion Automotive Technologies Wins Cisco "Show Me the Video" Challenge

TIMONIUM, Md., July 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Helion Automotive Technologies, a leading provider of IT solutions for auto dealers, today announced that the company has won second place in the Cisco "Show Me the Video" Challenge for its success with the John Eagle Auto Group, improving collaboration among ten dealerships with Cisco TelePresence®.  Cisco challenged its partners to demonstrate an example of innovative and impactful use of video that changes the way people work, collaborate and communicate. Helion has been a partner with the John Eagle Auto Group for six years, managing the auto group's IT infrastructure and network. In 2014, Helion recommended upgrading the dealership's outdated videoconferencing system to Cisco TelePresence® technology and mobile HD video conferencing. John Eagle Auto Group has ten stores in the Dallas and Houston areas, where managers and associates now use Cisco's Telepresence system to reduce travel time and expenses, while connecting face-to-face with colleagues.

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Traffic in both Houston and Dallas is congested, and it often takes hours to commute between stores in the same city, let alone the half day or more that it takes to drive or fly between Dallas and Houston. Helion upgraded and combined the auto group's three networks into one, reducing networking costs by 75 percent and increasing data throughput more than 1,000 times. Then Helion installed large video screens in each of the ten conference rooms at John Eagle's dealerships.

A Telepresence meeting is initiated by simply pushing a button and choosing a contact or group of contacts to connect with. Participants in meetings are displayed in a tile pattern on the large video screens, and the camera automatically zooms in on whomever is speaking. The Telepresence system offers a completely immersive experience.  The managers at John Eagle Dealerships use Telepresence for:

Monthly finance meetings: This call involves more than 60 sales and finance managers, GMs and partners; with an agenda that reviews numbers, policies, incentives and more.

Weekly service meetings: This call involves service managers, used car managers, partners and GMs; with an agenda that reviews numbers, opportunities, advertising, goals and other issues.

Trainings: John Eagle Auto Group recently used Telepresence to roll out its new healthcare program. Without Telepresence, dealership management would have had to travel to each individual store to explain the new plan in person. With Telepresence, they instantly connected all the HR managers, controllers and partners, and completed the rollout training in two hours.

One of the greatest advantages of the Telepresence system is that meetings can be accessed remotely from desktop computer, laptop or even an iPad. All that's required is launching an app.

Since Telepresence was launched in late 2014, the John Eagle Auto Group has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars. The ROI has been achieved primarily through:

·       Reduced travel time and costs

·       Increased productivity and sales as a result of less travel time

·       Newer, more efficient network reduced IT networking costs 75 percent

·       Strengthened relationships and rapport

·       Improved problem solving and accountability

·       Ability to access remotely from a variety of devices

·       Flexibility and ease of use increases overall usage

As a result of its success with the John Eagle Auto Group, and for winning second place in the "Show Me the Video" Challenge, Cisco rewarded the company with a professionally produced business outcome video case study, along with two Cisco TelePresence SX10 units and one MX300 G2 unit for internal use.

"I am excited to see the results John Eagle Auto Group has achieved with Cisco TelePresence® technology and mobile HD video conferencing. The system has made such a huge difference in efficiency and productivity at the dealership," said Erik Nachbahr, President, Helion Automotive Technologies. "As our job is to recommend the very best in technology for our auto dealer clients, and to make the entire process as simple and painless as possible, it is wonderful to work with such a leading technological innovator as Cisco."

Helion Automotive Technologies can handle all of the IT needs for any size auto dealership.  The company provides IT solutions from fully managed services to IT assistance and Service Desk help.  For more information, or to schedule a demo, call: 443-541-1500, email [email protected] or visit: https://www.heliontechnologies.com/.

About Helion Automotive Technologies:Helion Automotive Technologies was formed in 1997 with the goal of bringing strong Information Technology strategies and leadership to businesses of all sizes. Helion offers dealerships short term IT fixes for what they need now, and long-term IT solutions for what lies ahead. Helion has provided IT solutions for dealerships across the country for more than a decade. When it comes to dealer IT systems, the company has been there-done that better than anyone else and is there to help.

Helion can make sure any dealership's IT systems are well managed and provide solutions for any IT headaches. Helion is not just any tech company; it is the tech company for auto dealers. It's all they do.  

Media Contact: casi Dow, Helion Automotive Technologies, 443.541.2110, [email protected] 

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SOURCE Helion Automotive Technologies