DealerPoint Spawns Lead Management "Megaservice"

Microsoft has announced a service called ClearLead that Internet companies can build into their Web sites. Developed from its DealerPoint car sales application, the service is a sales lead management tool for small businesses; it enables automated tracking of contacts and interactions with customers throughout the sales process. With ClearLead, Microsoft is generalizing a DealerPoint service to create a product it can license to small business Web sites, which can then offer it to clients. Microsoft will also offer the service at its own small business Web site, bCentral. Despite the announcement, the ClearLead megaservice is still some way from completion, and its business prospects remain uncertain.

What ClearLead Will Provide

ClearLead is an extension of the “Prospect Manager” sales lead management tool developed for Microsoft’s DealerPoint. DealerPoint is a Web-based application that manages car sales leads and orders for car dealerships affiliated with the CarPoint auto sales Web site. Acura, Ford, and Honda have also licensed DealerPoint for their dealers in the United States.