Introduction to MPi

History

Mission & Vision

Executive Management

Sales Management

Other Management

MPi Board of Directors

Industry Advisory Council

WCI

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ABOUT US
History

Mobile Productivity, Inc. (MPi) was founded in 2003 by Kevin Rogers, an Industrial Psychologist, Les Silver, an automotive industry leader, and Warburg Pincus, a global leader among the top private equity and venture capital firms. Their shared vision was to create a new generation of tools that enhance a New Car Dealers’ ability to increase profits and productivity in their Fixed Operations. 

Based on a decade of research and development, MPi engineered a highly unique and innovative productivity improvement and profit-making solution for the automotive industry called Advanced Repair Guidance Information System (ARGIS™).  ARGIS™ enhances service technician productivity by finding, diagnosing and fixing vehicle problems faster and more accurately; and increasing customer satisfaction.  In addition, ARGIS™ increases a Service Department’s profitability through a disciplined inspection process that provides a customer service experience never before provided. 

The ARGIS™ engineering history originates from an application developed by Kevin Rogers for the United States military. Kevin realized a need to help military technicians adapt to the inefficiencies they experienced with the diagnostic information available for repairing and servicing military air and land crafts, as well as submarines.  Kevin created a proprietary system called KnowledgeStreaming™ which is an information delivery, task-based performance support system.  The system easily delivers information to technicians based on the specific requirements for solving diagnostic and repair needs using either super search or search free capabilities. KnowledgeStreaming™ enabled the less seasoned (C and B level) military technicians to perform at the equivalent skill-set levels of their A-level counterparts.

Recognizing the KnowledgeStreaming™ concept was adaptable to other industries; ARGIS™ was developed for the automotive service industry. ARGIS™ addresses many of the growing concerns the OEM industry faces, such as a qualified technician shortage and an inability to capture additional customer pay repair sales in a declining economic marketplace. In addition, ARGIS enhances C and B-level technicians to perform at A-level status.

ARGIS™ is composed of two main functionalities, Vehicle Maintenance (ARGIS/VM™) and Quick Service (ARGIS/QS™).  ARGIS/VM™ enhances technician quality of work by providing all the required information to resolve a specific vehicle problem. Using a wireless tablet PC, technicians can quickly access diagnostic information, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) and recall information, trouble-shooting information, along with wiring diagrams and schedule maintenance information. This knowledge is delivered using a “knowledge cluster” format that eliminates the technicians’ need to hunt and find the required information in multiple locations.  ARGIS/VM™ instantly downloads all of the diagnostic information in a systematic format to enable technicians to work smarter and more efficiently.

The second component of ARGIS™ is ARGIS/QS™.  ARGIS/QS™ is a disciplined inspection process that provides the customer with a complete overview of their vehicles‘ current “health” status.  Service Departments are able to generate a consumer friendly and detailed (full color, multiple page) “health report”, called Know Your Vehicle™ for each inspection provided.  Technicians perform a bumper to bumper inspection, noting in a “green light, yellow light, red light” approach the condition of the vehicles’ parts and performance.  Service Advisors provide the customer with repair or service recommendations based on necessary scheduled maintenance programs and/or a need for part replacement in a format that is easy for the consumer to understand.  Offering such service is demonstrating a higher level of quality, professionalism and credibility to an audience that has for many years been skeptical.

Incorporating ARGIS™ into service departments across the country is increasing customer pay repair profits, increasing CSI, improving productivity, creating additional capacity in the dealership fixed operations, as well as creating a professional work environment that is attractive to employees.

ARGIS™ is a win-win situation for both the consumer and dealership.  Consumers are becoming better educated on the health status of their vehicles and service departments are increasing productivity and efficiencies which add up to higher profits.

In January 2005, MPi acquired an online diagnostic information and repair hotline service provider, Automotive Information Systems (AIS), which markets under the brand name Identifix.  Identifix provides the automotive service industry with two highly regarded products, Direct-Hit™ and Repair Hotline™. 

Identifix® Direct-Hit™ is the most comprehensive source for quick fix and troubleshooting challenges. The online database draws from over 2 million calls received by our repair hotline, with nearly 1,000 new repair problems with solutions added online each week. Direct-Hit™ gives technicians time saving diagnostics using proven real-world information.