Press release - Automotive Digest

Press release January 2013 For immediate release

Sofico completes successful 12 months with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services go-live in the Benelux Mercedes-Benz Financial Services has gone live in the Benelux with Sofico’s Miles software solution to manage its fleet of around 60,000 vehicles, marking a highly successful 12 months for the Belgium-based software solutions provider.

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Benelux covers Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg and is part of worldwide financial services provider, Daimler Financial Services (DFS).

The company is using the Miles software solution to manage all administration and money flows related to its 60,000 unit vehicle fleet. This includes creating invoices, ordering vehicles, ordering third party services, such as insurances, maintenance, fuel cards, road side assistance, replacement vehicles and a host of other administrative tasks.

Steven Somers, Chief Operating Officer of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Benelux, said: “Sofico has been active in the leasing industry for the last 25 years and thanks to the experience they have gained in that time, they are able to offer unrivalled know-how in this complex market. “We were therefore confident to work with Sofico in order to make business critical changes at the heart of our organization. We are convinced that the Miles system will enable us to further optimize our customer service, productivity and efficiency.” Jan Bouckaert, Manager Business Development at Sofico, added: “At Sofico, we’re honored that our Miles solution has been selected by a renowned player in the leasing market like Mercedes-Benz Financial Services.

Sofico NV 07/02/2013

Technologiepark 1 B-9052 Zwijnaarde

Tel +32 9 210 80 40

[email protected]

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“Miles is a future proof, user-friendly system, based on the latest technologies. It evolves with the market and the latest market trends, offering customers like Mercedes-Benz Finance the guarantee that they are always working with the best software available,” he said. The go-live at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services marks a highly successful last 12 months for Belgium-based Sofico. At the start of 2012, leading Turkish leasing company, Hedef Fleet Services, went live after a 12 month implementation project, and now manages its fleet of 14,000 vehicles through the Miles software solution.

Sofico also implemented Miles at new start-up company, Masfina, in the Netherlands which offers total mobility solutions, including company cars, rail services, car sharing and cycling, to corporate clients.

And most recently, Athlon Car Lease, the largest leasing company in the Netherlands with a fleet in excess of 120,000 vehicles, implemented Sofico’s Miles software system in two countries – Spain and Italy – ahead of a wider European roll-out over the coming years.

Athlon, which operates in nine other European markets and manages a total of more than 234.000 vehicles across Europe, plans to introduce the Miles system into a third major market next.

This latest go-live takes the number of units being managed by Sofico systems globally to over one million in what is its silver jubilee year. Sofico’s Managing Director, Gémar Hompes, said: “It has been a highly successful 12 months for Sofico with seven implementation projects successfully completed. We have also seen our workforce grow to 120 employees. “For our 25th anniversary year, we anticipate an 18% growth, giving us a turnover of €20m by the end of 2013. To help achieve this, we have 20 more new starters planned for this year,” he said.

Ends Notes to Editors



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About Sofico Sofico is the world’s leading supplier of mission critical software solutions for leasing and fleet management companies and its software is used by a broad range of renowned leasing companies all over the world. Sofico was founded in 1988 in Ghent, Belgium and has 25 years’ experience and business expertise in the leasing and fleet management industry. It is privately owned, independent and currently employs 120 people. The company has installed its systems in 16 countries worldwide and Miles is currently managing more than 1 000 000 vehicles globally. About Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Benelux is part of Daimler Financial Services (DFS), a World renowned provider of financial services. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services provides high quality services to its customers with a varied product offering, tailored to each customer’s unique situation. This way the customer is offered a finance, insurance or leasing contract with great service, through their own familiar Mercedes-Benz dealer. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services has been active on the Benelux market for more than 20 years. With a wide mobility product offering it’s the preferential partner of more than 40 000 Mercedes-Benz customers in the Benelux. About Athlon Car Lease International Athlon Car Lease is an international provider of operational car leasing and mobility solutions, active in nine European countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Poland, Italy and Portugal. Focusing on all business and non-profit organizations, Athlon Car Lease offers mobility solutions, both for professional and/or secondary-benefit purposes. Athlon Car Lease has a total portfolio of approximately 234,000 active contracts. Athlon Car Lease is part of De Lage Landen, a global provider of high-quality asset-based financing products which is 100 % owned by Rabobank. For more information visit www.athloncarlease.com. Sales and marketing enquiries Wim Bauwens Sales & Marketing Sofico NV Technologiepark 1, B-9052 Zwijnaarde (Belgium) Tel +32 (0) 9 210 80 40 – Fax +32 (0) 9 210 80 41 Web www.sofico.be Email [email protected] Press enquiries: Mike Gunnell MGMedia Services Tel: 0044 (0)1832 275060 Email: [email protected] Ends



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