Skoots (formally AutoBid Systems) made a big splash at this years National Automotive Dealer Association (NADA) conference in San Francisco this past week. Readers to my blog may recall I discussed their innovative solution which is set to transform the way consumers shop for cars and also make it easier for thousands of dealerships worldwide to make their inventory visible to an unlimited audience. Automotive News have just picked them as one of the top 10 (they made #5 on the list) of innovative companies at the conference.  I am currently working with the Skoots management team  on a Silverlight implementation of their product which is coming soon and will be even cooler! See the article below and see my prior blog about this company here

10 cool dealership technologies found at NADA

Ralph Kisiel
Automotive News | March 3, 2008 - 12:01 am EST

SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of dealers roamed the exhibition floors here at the National Automobile Dealers Association Convention & Exposition, looking for everything from software to carwash equipment.

Computer services, Internet services and customer relationship software vendors accounted for about a third of the 700 vendor booths spread out in three halls of the Moscone Center. It's an open marketplace of technology that will help dealers keep their customers and sell more vehicles.

Here are some cool technologies that I found while walking the halls.

5. More than 200 dealerships are now allowing customers to electronically negotiate the sales price of a new or used vehicle by using LIVEoffer and eNegotiate from Skoots Inc. For the dealership, it's all automated. A consumer can use this to negotiate without human interaction. Dealers establish a hidden floor price on their vehicles in stock.

Want to see it in action? The Checkered Flag automotive group in Virginia Beach, Va., calls it "Make My Deal" and features the option at www.checkeredflag.com.