Advance Auto Parts Selects SPSS Predictive Analytics Software

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In today’s economy, more car owners are opting to keep their current vehicle longer and invest in preventative maintenance than purchase a new car, according to a recent study. Therefore, automotive retailers need to stay one step ahead of car owners and repair shops by providing the best product availability. To help improve inventory control, customer satisfaction and increase sales, Advance Auto Parts chose SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS), the leading global provider of Predictive Analytics software and solutions.

“Our organization has a 77 year history of providing our customers in-stock, quality, affordable auto parts, driving tremendous satisfaction. SPSS Predictive Analytics Software helps enable our organization to bring the right product closer to the customer improving product availability, overall profitability, and the propensity to move SKUs at stores.”

Supporting its ‘Availability Excellence’ initiative, defined as ‘delivering the right parts to the right place at the right time - every time’, Advance Auto Parts, the second-largest retailer of automotive parts in the United States, selected SPSS Predictive Analytics Software (PASW). Advance Auto Parts is using PASW Modeler (formerly Clementine) and PASW Collaboration & Deployment Services (formerly Predictive Enterprise Services) for market basket analysis and to help optimize its supply chain to accurately manage inventory at warehouses and individual stores.

Jim North, vice president of inventory market replenishment at Advance Auto Parts, said, “Our organization has a 77 year history of providing our customers in-stock, quality, affordable auto parts, driving tremendous satisfaction. SPSS Predictive Analytics Software helps enable our organization to bring the right product closer to the customer improving product availability, overall profitability, and the propensity to move SKUs at stores.”

Jack Noonan, SPSS chairman, president and CEO, said, “Organizations such as Advance Auto Parts are using SPSS Predictive Analytics Software to capture, predict and act on customers’ needs, preferences, and habits over time to ensure longer-term customer loyalty, grow revenue, reduce fraud and mitigate risk.”

Availability

The entire portfolio of SPSS Predictive Analytics Software – data collection, statistics, modeling, text analytics and deployment – is available by calling 1-800-543-2185

About Advance Auto Parts

Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States, serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. As of April 25, 2009, the Company operated 3,405 stores in 40 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, customer services, and on-line shopping for parts and accessories can be found on the Company’s web site at www.AdvanceAutoParts.com

About SPSS Inc.

SPSS Inc. (Nasdaq: SPSS) is a leading global provider of Predictive Analytics software and solutions. The company’s Predictive Analytics technology improves business processes by giving organizations forward visibility for decisions made every day. By incorporating Predictive Analytics into their daily operations, organizations become Predictive Enterprises -- able to direct and automate decisions to meet business goals and achieve a measurable competitive advantage. More than 250,000 public sector, academic and commercial customers rely on SPSS technology to help increase revenue, reduce costs and detect and prevent fraud. Founded in 1968, SPSS is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. For more information, please visit www.spss.com.