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We get questions!

PFW Password - winter 2002/03 Here are some questions we are asked regarding PFW as a company, as well as our products and services.

Q: What does the acronym PFW stand for?
A: Not Purveyors of Fine Wine! Actually, the acronym PFW stands for Doug Prout, Bill Farquhar and Ron Watt, three of the original owners. Over 20 years later, Doug and Bill continue to develop the PFW Dealership Management System.

Q: How long has PFW been in business and is it a public or private company?
A: PFW was incorporated in 1981 and is a privately-owned company.

Q: Is the PFW system a Deere system?
A: Although originally designed for John Deere dealerships, the PFW Dealership Management System supports all types of dealerships.

Q: What does PFW offer me - other than the main system?
A: In addition to the core Dealership Management System, you can expect: all aspects of dealer automation, customizable software applications, on-site employee training and consulting, general dealership practices, sales force automation, and electronic services for customers.

Q: What sets PFW's software apart from the competition?
A: One principal difference is the fact that PFW's Dealer Management System is HTML-enabled - in other words, the browser-based solutions offered (such as eServices and Management Central) are not simply "screen scrapers," or software that is a superficial GUI representation of traditional green-screen systems. PFW's Windows-based products use specific Microsoft tool sets, standards and applications and are created using Java and LANSA tools.

Q: If we were to switch to the PFW Dealership Management System, how much of our existing data and history can be utilized in your system?
A: After taking into account the customer's existing system limitations, as much system history is retained as possible. Through the use of reports and files - and in the case of John Deere systems, a conversion utility - equipment history of at least five to seven years, parts history of at least two years, customer sales history involving at least total revenues and as much financial history as possible is transferred.

Q: What is the ratio of dealerships to branch stores using the PFW system?
A: Currently, 45 percent of our customer base have multiple locations and product lines. Illustrating the flexibility of the Dealership Management System, some dealers have 20-plus branch stores using the system concurrently.

Q: Does PFW's system have a relational database?
A: PFW's Dealership Management System has an open, relational SQL (note: IBM developed the SQL relational model) database (DB2). This allows customers critical access to internal data using third-party reporting tools such as Crystal Reports, MS Office applications (Access, MS-Query, Word etc.), as well as IBM Query.

Q: What other industries does PFW deal with?
A: While PFW specializes in agricultural and construction dealership management solutions, other types of businesses, such as automotive dealerships, trucking firms, power suppliers, lawn and-garden equipment dealerships and hydraulic-equipment sellers are also effectively using the PFW Dealership Management System.

Q: What kind of follow-up training is available? What is the possibility we could train for two weeks and come back for more as necessary?
A: PFW offers training in whatever area you feel needs strengthening, whenever you feel you need it. Train with a PFW trainer at your dealership or, alternatively, train at PFW.

Q: Does PFW's Dealership Management System use Windows NT?
A: The PFW Dealership Management System resides within the iSeries native operating system environment. The OS/400 software combined with IBM processors provides a high-performance computing system with a high degree of reliability. The iSeries offers total networking, with cutting-edge features that guarantee security, scalability and maximum uptime.

Q: Does PFW offer ASP (Application Service Provider) services?
A: Yes, PFW does offer this hosting service. The IBM iSeries architecture and the PFW Dealership Management System is an ideal environment in which to run this solution. PFW is currently studying the economics of ASP services, so speak with your salesperson for an analysis of whether this service will suit your needs.

Note: PFW does offer browser-based tools like Management Central, eServices and a new next-generation application that are software-independent and are integrated with the Dealership Management System. The result is a total solution to power your dealership and help satisfy your customers.