MEDFORD, MA – May 19, 2008– Cross Country Automotive Services (Cross Country) a leading provider of vehicle and driver programs today unveiled a new business-to-business brand identity for the company’s telematics suite of products and services – MERJ™. Intelligent Solutions from Cross Country SM.
The new branding represents a significant milestone in the company’s 36-year heritage and further signifies the company’s dedication to providing personalized, innovative solutions that enhance customer loyalty for our clients and improve the overall driving experience for their customers. Since the company’s founding, Cross Country has developed award-winning Customer Relationship Management (CRM) optimized vehicle and driver programs to leading automotive manufacturers, insurance providers, wireless companies and other leading brands.
MERJ [pronounced like “Merge” (mûrj)] serves as an extension of Cross Country’s offerings and represents the “merging” of best-of-breed technologies, communications, and Cross Country’s sophisticated CRM model. With MERJ, Cross Country can better meet the demands of automotive customers today and in the future, while improving the overall driving experience.
MERJ represents Cross Country’s ability to integrate a highly configurable set of services for its telematics clients – from emergency assistance to vehicle diagnostics, infotainment, connected navigation, proactive ETA alerts, and other convenience services. Cross Country’s technology platform maximizes flexibility, enabling clients to offer their customers personalized solutions tailored to meet their needs.
Cross Country employs cutting edge technologies that provide drivers with an unprecedented degree of interaction in their vehicle and in their lives. MERJ creates a fully-integrated, intelligent, turnkey solution that adapts to any communication protocol, platform or device. Key features of MERJ’s comprehensive telematics offering include:
• Location-enabled, information rich services including 8 million POIs.
• Advanced handset functionality – Cross Country offers handset applications that can be tailored to client brand and
functional requirements, and support a variety of features including POI selection, information download to vehicle
navigation systems, and enhanced roadside assistance. This gives users access to information and services wherever
they are in a natural and convenient way, and adds important functions such as vehicle locator and remote door
unlock from their handset.
• Automated speech technology - Cross County has integrated several best-of-breed providers to enable
automated-speech technology into a unique, full-featured platform that gives the user multiple means of
getting the information and assistance they need.
• Voice assisted navigation and turn-by-turn directions get drivers safely and accurately from point A to point B.
Voice-driven local searches are also available via mobile phones and in-vehicle interface.
“We are thrilled to announce our new brand and vision for our telematics suite of services. The unveiling of MERJ is well-timed to take advantage of the tremendous opportunity for telematics within North America,” said Niall Berkery, Vice President Business Development Telematics. “The Cross Country brand is synonymous with CRM and MERJ represents the next level of helping our clients to retain their most precious asset – their customers. We intend to grow the value of the MERJ solution to our clients, as we continue to innovate and evolve our business offerings."
Cross Country’s innovative approach to telematics is easily extended to a range of markets beyond automotive manufacturers making it easy for non-automotive companies, such as insurance providers, device manufacturers or wireless companies, to take advantage of the benefits of telematics technology. Cross Country’s telematics offerings are tailored to fit the unique requirements and challenges of these markets.
About Cross Country
Headquartered in Medford, Massachusetts, Cross Country Automotive Services ( www.crosscountry-auto.com ) is a leading provider of integrated vehicle and driver programs in North America. Over 1,800 Cross Country employees serve more than 100 corporate clients and their more than 75 million customers each year. Cross Country Automotive Services is a member of The Cross Country Group, one of the largest privately held providers of customer service programs in North America.
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