Alien Technology and MyDealerLot have unveiled an RFID-based automated vehicle tracking service for Mercedes-Benz Manhattan. The system relies in nine Alien readers over the 333,000 square foot facility to provide welcoming information to customers and to relay customer arrival information to the appropriate dealership personnel, as well as targeted messaging to anyone within the facility.

The system combined Alien’s technology with MyDealerLots’ ACRMS technology using passive EPC Class 1 Gen 2 RFID tags.

“Our web-based client recognition technologies are designed to help auto dealerships create new sales opportunities, enhance the customer experience, manage inventory and streamline operations,” said George Cresto, MyDealerLot’s founder and CEO. “Alien Technology’s RFID readers are core to our solutions as we work to enhance the automotive retail and service experience for both customers and dealers nationwide.”

Cresto says that the average return on investment for most dealerships is three to four months. Because the RFID-based service links service and sales teams, Lexus of Orlando has been able to sell 15 additional cars each month by knowing when car owners are in the building for service.

At the dealership, Service Drive Concierge capabilities leverage RFID to provide automated customer-arrival information, and antennas positioned over service lanes capture the unique ID number of an RFID sticker affixed to the back of an automobile’s rearview mirror.

When the unique ID numbers are captured, the system references each ID with the customer information, causing two large LCD TVs to automatically welcome the individual by name.