Direct Communications, Inc.

    DCi is the leader in business-to-business communications solutions for manufacturers, warehouse distributors and retailers. With historical roots in the performance and accessory automotive aftermarket, DCi has developed services to handle manufacturing's most complex parts and applications systems. DCi's 15-year's experience in innovative communications delivery has led the company to, again, lead the way in Electronic Cataloging. 

One Mission - 4 Divisions

Print Media -
DCi is the leader in business-to-business communications solutions for automotive manufacturers marketing through the aftermarket's complex distribution channels. Nearly 20  years ago, DCi developed the first automotive aftermarket business-to-business database created solely to speed the process of moving manufacturers' printed catalogs, price sheets and collateral materials to wholesale distributors and retail outlets.

The users of DCi's Print Media Division range from car companies like General Motors and Ford, to the leading specialty aftermarket brands like Mr. Gasket, Dee Zee, Edelbrock, B&M, Holley, Auto Meter and Lund.

Telemedia -
When interactive voice response telephony technologies were first introduced, DCi set about to develop its Telemedia Division of service solutions.

The service focus for telemedia is helping manufacturers link consumers to local retail outlets through its DealerQuik^SM Local Dealer Response Networks. Specialty automotive manufacturers like K&N Filters, Warn, Dee Zee and Deflecta-Shield were some of the early brands to use DealerQuik Networks.

i-DealerQuik ^SM, a companion service integrates the telephone with the web. In the process, it turns an Internet-based Local Dealer Look-Up process into a 1-on-1 database marketing tool by including an "opt-in" mail and e-mail consumer database. Recognizing manufacturers in other industries could use these solutions, a special sales group was developed to provide telephony solutions for non-automotive manufacturers, TV show producers and magazine publishers.

Consumer Base -
In recent years, DCi's ConsumerBase Division made the process of product purchase registration by mail and over the Internet affordable for the first time in the automotive aftermarket. AnswerCard^SM and AnswerCard Over-the-Internet^SM were the initial services which provide manufacturers with marketing communication reporting derived from consumer reported product purchases. The resulting consumer database provides the foundation for easy-to-implement consumer UpSell/Cross Sell 1-on-1 sales promotions.

Electronic Cataloging -
DCi established its Electronic Cataloging Division in 1997 as a result of its involvement to set industry standards. This division's focus is to provide a group of services for performance and accessory parts manufacturers that allows them to provide cataloging and sales transaction data electronically to their various distribution channels. The first service was its "Enter Once -- Service EVERYBODY!" ALL-Channels^SM electronic cataloging database.

This service plus a second service, e~CAT NetServ^SM, allows manufacturers to provide electronic cataloging data to any of the e-cat networks used predominately by chain stores and program groups.

i-WebCat^SM, a third service, allows manufacturers with an ALL-Channels database to have an automatically updated electronic catalog on their consumer web site. This service lets consumers "discover" exactly which products a manufacturer makes to fit the consumer's vehicle.

CatalogRack.com ^SM, a fourth service, is essentially an electronic catalog rack for retail outlets provided over the Internet. Manufacturers with an ALL-Channels electronic cataloging database are included in this service free. Retail outlets pay a small monthly subscription fee so no CatalogRack.com operational costs are borne by the manufacturer.

AutoPartsData.com^SM is the newest service. It provides password-protected free access to a manufacturer's part number related sales transaction data for qualified businesses. AutoPartsData.com's industry-standard file layout will interface with every auto parts distributor's purchasing, pricing, sales transaction, advertising and sales promotion material development process. Manufacturers control the release data of all data elements as they do updates via secured Internet access.

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