Turn of the century growth and sale
In 1993, Polk combined their Canadian activities with Blackburn Marketing Services to form Blackburn/Polk Marketing Services Inc. (BPMSI). Polk also acquired a 35% interest in Carfax from Blackburn Marketing Services. In 1995, Polk entered an alliance with Marketing Systems GmBH and acquired a substantial minority interest in The Ultimate Perspective (T.U.P).
In 1996, Polk completed acquisition of the Blackburn/Polk operations and renamed it Polk Canada Marketing Services Inc. (PCMSI).
In 1997, Polk acquired the MSS division of Automatic Data Processing's European operations.
In 1999, Polk sold Advertising Unlimited, Inc. to Norwood Promotional Products.
The Polk Company announced on August 2, 1999 that it had completed a 100% acquisition of Carfax. Polk had previously owned 35 percent of Carfax, in partnership with the Blackburn Group, Inc. of London, Ontario.[9] Carfax compiles vehicle histories from various sources, with about 75 percent of the information coming from Polk data. Using the vehicle identification number (VIN), each history provides potential buyers with all available facts about a used car being considered for purchase. This may include original use of the vehicle, odometer records, number of owners, and other items that might affect a purchase decision.[9]
In 2000, Polk sold its Consumer Information Solutions (CIS) business units, including Direct Marketing, Data Information Services/Polk Verity, City Directory, and the Compusearch and Prospects Unlimited units of Polk Canada, to Equifax. Polk launched Garage Predictors and Polk Canada, Inc. announced Polk Canada Net. Polk acquired Marketing Systems Group.
Ralph Lane Polk II was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan in 2001,[10] and into The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) Hall of Fame in 2002.[11]
In 2002, Polk launched the Polk Vehicle Lifecycle System and the Polk Cross Sell.
In 2003, PolkInsight is launched. Polk Total Market Predictor (Polk TMP) is also introduced.
In 2004, R. L. Polk & Company launched Polk Cross Sell Report and RLPTechnologies, a new wholly owned subsidiary, is established. The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) awards R. L. Polk & Company with a Level II Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI) rating.
In 2005, R. L. Polk & Company introduced the Polk Inventory Efficiency Award, which recognizes and rewards outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory efficiency.[12]
In 2007, R. L. Polk & Co. acquired a majority interest in ROADTODATA, a supplier of automotive price and specifications data.[13]
In 2010, R. L. Polk & Company partnered with Citytwist.[14]
In 2013, IHS Markit announced a $1.4 billion purchase of R.L. Polk.[15]
