PARIS, Feb. 12, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- NetManage, Inc. (Nasdaq:NETM), a software company that provides the fastest way to transform legacy applications into new Web-based business solutions, announced today that Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. has rolled out a new winning strategy, using NetManage's OnWeb solution, that enables them to access their mainframe data via convenient handheld devices. This new system revolutionizes their customer service capabilities without a costly overhaul to their mainframe data systems.
To increase the performance of their automobile service network in France, Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. uses OnWeb to allow dealers to remotely access online customer and vehicle data at the point of service, or wherever the information is needed. Honda service garages can now access this data, which is stored on several Mainframe servers in Europe and Asia, within seconds. Where previously this data was unavailable "in-the-field," today, a service representative greets the customer with a PDA, pre-loaded with relevant information. The OnWeb solution increases customer satisfaction and decreases the time it takes to service each customer, which ultimately adds to the bottom line with renewed part sales and service revenues.
Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. developed a specific PDA application using Windev, which is coupled with an optic character recognition (OCR) program developed specifically for the company. Each vehicle, as it enters the dealer's garage, has its licence plates scanned, the customer is identified and the information is transmitted in real time on the dealer's PDA.
"The real problem was matching our existing computer system with our objectives in the field. Dealers needed to be able to access the information stored on the Mainframe servers from the floor of their garages," said Regis Loumont, IT Manager, Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. "It was only after we had reached this conclusion that we became aware of the potential of NetManage's OnWeb solution. We needed a tool that was not only flexible, but very complete and could bridge the two architectures which, up until then, had been considered incompatible."
OnWeb provides a complete development and operating platform, which allows new services to be created using the company's existing computer systems in a non-invasive way, making it not only flexible, but offering unprecedented speed. Using OnWeb, Honda Motor Europe (South) created a complete line of Web services to correspond to their PDA functions. OnWeb handles the interoperability between Honda's Mainframe servers and the PDAs. With OnWeb, dealers can access the databases in real time to then consult or publish the information.
"OnWeb is a solution that is tailored to the needs of Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. It is flexible enough to connect ordinarily incompatible host systems, such as Honda's," explains Philippe Sebag, NetManage's Director for France. "The strength of our solution is that it allows our partners to rethink how they use their computer infrastructures and to continue to evolve. Many companies are faced with this problem today. This is a major issue and has quite an impact on their competitiveness."
"After implementation in France, this project will be offered to Italian and Spanish dealers. NetManage's OnWeb is an evolving solution and its extreme flexibility allows us to consider broadening our offering of this project. OnWeb also allows us to design the evolution of our computer resources under a new light, a winning bet for Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A.," adds Regis Loumont, IT Manager, Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A.
About Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A.
Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. is a subsidiary of Honda responsible for the importation and sales of Honda automobiles and motorcycles and their related services, for France, Italy and Spain. The head office of Honda Motor Europe (South) S.A. is located in France, at Marne-la-Vallee (Seine-et-Marne).
Honda is the world leader in motor manufacturing, with more than 22.6 million customers worldwide in 2006. Dedicated to sustainable mobility solutions, Honda is extending their services to robotics with ASIIMO, developing zero-emission mobility solutions with their FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car and a home hydrogen station, the production of solar panels and the development and sale of the HondaJet.
About NetManage
NetManage, Inc. (Nasdaq:NETM) is a software company that provides solutions for integrating, Web enabling and accessing enterprise information systems. More than 10,000 customers worldwide, including the majority of the Fortune 500, have chosen NetManage for mission critical application integration. For more information, visit www.netmanage.com.
NetManage, the NetManage logo, the lizard-in-the-box logo, Incremental SOA, OnWeb, Librados, RUMBA, ONESTEP, ViewNow, SupportNow, Chameleon and Chameleon design, are either trademarks or registered trademarks of NetManage, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
This press release contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding improvement in the Company's competitive position, improvement in financial results and business pipeline, the Company's positioning in its market, and the progress and benefits of the Company's execution on its business plan. The Company's actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others, that competitive pressures continue to increase, that the markets for the Company's products could grow more slowly than the Company or market analysts believe, that the Company is unable to integrate or take advantage of its acquisitions successfully, or that the Company will not be able to take advantage of growth in the Company's target markets. Additional information on these and other risk factors that could affect the Company's financial results is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.