FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. — Thanks to  a successful pilot that was launched not long after the iPad became available, Mercedes-Benz Financial announced this week that it is handing out iPads to all 355 dealers to give them instant mobile access to its point-of-sale system called MB Advantage.

The pilot provided 40 dealers with the iPad back in June. Mercedes-Benz Financial collected feedback from this program, and by and large, the response was positive.

"MB Advantage on iPad allows Mercedes-Benz dealers to increase their mobility and efficiency from the initial finance and lease process through the lease turn-in process," explained Adreas Hinrichs, Mercedes-Benz Financial's vice president of marketing.

"The dealer feedback was so positive, it became a clear decision to make this business tool available nationwide," he highlighted.

As a result of the feedback, the company said it has developed signature pad functionality for MB Advantage which can allow customers to sign certain documents electronically on the iPad screen. That functionality will be available by the end of October.

Dealers told officials that in addition to having access to MB Advantage on iPad, the device also enhanced the lease turn-in process such as expediting the inspection and agreement on maturity statements.

"As I process lease returns on the iPad, customers can accompany me through the turn-in inspection," pointed out Robert Bostwick, sales manager at Schumacher European in Phoenix, Ariz. "I can show them on the iPad what I'm noting and we can discuss it while the vehicle and the inspection forms are right in front of us."

Along with announcing it is providing its dealers with iPads, the company also pointed out that this is just one part of its mobile strategy. The company boasted that it became the first auto finance lender to create an app for customers to manage their accounts via iPhone more than a year ago. And that not long after, a mobile website was launched for all smartphone users in early 2010.

Since the new mobile payment channel was established about a year ago, Mercedes-Benz Financial reports that it has received more than $10 million in monthly lease and finance payments.