Thanks to assistance from Automation Alley, Michigan's largest technology business association, another international company is setting up shop in Southeast Michigan. Automation Alley International Business Center tenant Reply Inc., of Turin, Italy, has found a permanent home in Auburn Hills and is looking to hire local employees.

Reply, part of the holding company Reply Group, is a consulting, systems integration, application management and business process outsourcing company that works in new communication networks and digital media. The company's top customers include Chrysler Group and CNH, the industrial branch of Fiat.

In addition to Italy, Reply Group also has locations in Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Luxembourg and Brazil. Gianluca Di Stefano, president of Reply Inc., said the company opened an office in Illinois in August and wanted to expand its business further in North America to be closer to the automotive industry.

"We believe Michigan is the automotive center in North America, and we wanted to be as close as possible to Chrysler. We are now within walking distance in Auburn Hills," Di Stefano said.

To make this possible, Di Stefano sought help from Oakland County, who matched him with Automation Alley.