OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — NCM Associates today announced an alliance with Auto Master Systems, a leading dealership management software solution provider to the buy-here, pay-here industry.

The joint promotion is designed to provide AMS clients an opportunity to attend and evaluate the merits of NCM BHPH 20 Group participation at little to cost to them, according to management.

The offer runs through the end of 2011 and those AMS clients who take advantage of it will receive a $500 travel credit for each meeting they attend, officials pointed out. The offer is valid for two consecutive meetings, for a total travel subsidy opportunity of $1,000 when booking the travel through NCM Travel Solutions.    

NCM is a leading provider of retail automotive 20 Group services, education and retail operations consulting and is also the originator of the NCM Benchmark for Success program for auto dealers.

Brent Carmichael, executive conference moderator for NCM's BHPH 20 Groups, is excited about the partnership. 

"It is an honor to be endorsed by one of the industry's leading software solution providers. Auto Master Systems has long supported the NCM 20 Group program and is an advocate of BHPH operations Benchmarking," he said. "In fact, AMS was one of the first BHPH dealership management solutions providers to program a report, export feature into its system to enable NCM BHPH 20 Group clients' financial statement data to easily and securely be transferred to NCM each month." 

The data download feature is a highlight for NCM Group members who regularly share and compare their operating performance results through an NCM Benchmark composite.

Brian Hoppel, vice president of Auto Master Systems, led the promotion development effort and explained why AMS chose NCM as its preferred NCM 20 Group provider. 

"It's important to AMS that NCM is the pioneer in automotive 20 Groups and has leveraged its expertise working with franchise and independent car dealers to provide an industry-leading 20 Group program for buy-here, pay-here dealers," he said. 

"Furthermore, we have the utmost confidence in Brent Carmichael to help our clients succeed through his knowledge and understanding of all facets of the BHPH dealer experience," Hoppel said.   

Representatives from both companies are on hand in their respective exhibit booths at the National Alliance of Buy-Here, Pay-Here Dealers conference this week at the Venetian in Las Vegas.

NCM currently serves BHPH dealers through its 20 Groups, specialized consulting services and exclusive benchmarking tools, including a proprietary operating performance trend analysis tool for BHPH operators called FIDO for BHPH.  

NCM also recently announced the addition of a new suite of BHPH training programs through the NCM Institute, as well.   

For more information on the 20 Groups, visit www.ncm20.com/twenty-groups/buy-here-pay-here-20-groups.html.