BT Retail and Canadian business process outsourcing company Minacs have formed an alliance to create a centralised ‘virtual service reception’ for franchised dealer networks.

The concept is being demonstrated to a number of carmakers and aims to provide scheduled and winter service marketing, parts and accessories promotions, safety recalls, extended warranty sales, customer satisfaction surveys, dealer event marketing, vehicle deliveries and life cycle marketing.

The system, pioneered by Minacs in the North American automotive retail sector, is also capable of being configured to include scheduling for sales appointments and test drives as well as vehicle return at the end of leases.

Minacs' chief executive Elaine Minacs says: “Our goal is to deliver value to the manufacturers, increase sales and service for their dealers and strengthen relationships with their end customers.” Minacs declined to say which VMs they have been talking to.