ERP & Inventory Management System Built for the Car Trade
Vehicle inventory, spare parts, purchasing, and sales – all in one system. AutoPult replaces Excel chaos with an ERP designed for the automotive trade.
What Is an ERP and Inventory Management System?
An inventory management system – often also referred to as an ERP system (Enterprise Resource Planning) – centrally controls all merchandise-related business processes of a company. For car dealers, this means: vehicle inventory, spare parts, accessories, tires, and all inventory movements come together in a single system.
Unlike a pure Document Management System (DMS), an ERP maps the entire flow of goods – from purchasing through warehousing to sales – and links this with accounting and the CRM.
Why Standard ERP Systems Fail in the Car Trade
Every vehicle is unique with its own history, costs, and individual documents. Margin taxation under §25a UStG requires vehicle-specific margin calculation, and integration with vehicle portals like mobile.de and AutoScout24 is industry-specific. Standard solutions like xentral, JTL, or weclapp quickly reach their limits here.
Many car dealers still manage their inventory with spreadsheets. A direct comparison shows why this is risky…
ERP System vs. Excel – The Comparison
Many car dealers still manage their inventory with spreadsheets. A direct comparison shows why this is risky:
| Criterion | Excel / Standalone Solutions | AutoPult ERP |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle management | Manual, error-prone | Automated with VIN decoder |
| Cost calculation | Separate spreadsheets per vehicle | Integrated in the vehicle file |
| §25a Margin taxation | Manual calculation | Fully automatic margin |
| DATEV export | Not possible | One-click export |
| Multi-user | Data conflicts | Simultaneous collaboration |
| GoBD compliance | Not guaranteed | Certified |
| Portal integration | Manual listing | Automatic multi-listing |
ERP Implementation in 3 Steps
Switching from Excel or an outdated standalone solution to an integrated ERP sounds complex – but it doesn’t have to be. With AutoPult, the transition is structured:
Analysis & Data Migration
We analyze your existing processes and import vehicle inventory, customer data, and supplier information from Excel, CSV, or existing systems like Loco-Soft or Autrado.
Configuration & Training
AutoPult is configured for your business: locations, storage sites, tax rates, chart of accounts, and portal connections. Your team receives practical, role-based training.
Go-Live & Support
After go-live, our support team is at your side. During the first 30 days, we provide intensive assistance to ensure a smooth transition.
Data Migration: The Most Common Stumbling Block
When switching from Excel to an ERP system, data migration is the most critical step. Common issues: duplicate customer records, missing VIN numbers, inconsistent price formats, and unassigned receipts. That’s why AutoPult offers guided migration with automatic duplicate detection, data validation, and a manual post-processing protocol. Plan for two to five business days for data cleanup – depending on the data quality of your existing solution.
The Most Important ERP Modules for the Car Trade
Vehicle Inventory
Central management of all vehicles with VIN decoder, cost calculation, location management, and automatic vehicle file. Each vehicle is treated as an independent economic unit.
Spare Parts & Accessories
Manage parts inventory, define minimum stock levels, trigger automatic reorders. With TecDoc integration for fast parts search and identification.
Inventory Management
Manage multiple storage locations, track inventory movements, conduct stocktaking. Barcode scanning for quick intake and retrieval of parts and accessories.
Purchasing & Suppliers
Supplier management, order suggestions, incoming invoices, and goods receipt inspection – all in one integrated workflow.
Stocktaking
Date-based stocktaking, perpetual inventory, or sample-based inventory – AutoPult supports all legally permissible methods. Variance reports are generated automatically.
Analytics & Reports
Real-time dashboards for inventory value, turnover rate, days on lot, contribution margins, and inventory profitability. Exportable to DATEV, Excel, or PDF.
Seamless Integration with All AutoPult Modules
The ERP system forms the heart of AutoPult. It connects seamlessly with all other modules, creating a continuous data flow:
- Invoicing software: Create invoices directly from the sales process – with automatic §25a calculation
- E-invoicing: ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats are generated automatically
- DATEV interface: All journal entries are exported automatically
- Workshop module: Take spare parts directly from inventory and post to the work order
- Multi-listing: List vehicles from inventory on all portals simultaneously
- CRM: Link customer inquiries directly with vehicles
Who Is AutoPult ERP For?
Switching from Excel to an integrated ERP system is worthwhile from as few as 50 vehicles in stock. AutoPult grows with your business – from the Starter plan for independent dealers at EUR 99/month to the Enterprise plan for dealer groups with cross-location inventory management, centralized reporting, and B2B features for vehicle exchange between branches.
Ready for an ERP That Understands the Car Trade?
Try AutoPult free for 14 days – including data migration and personal onboarding.
Frequently Asked Questions About the ERP System
The terms are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, an inventory management system is part of the ERP: it focuses on the flow of goods (purchasing, warehousing, sales), while an ERP additionally encompasses financial accounting, CRM, human resources, and other areas. AutoPult combines both in one platform.
Yes. AutoPult supports imports from Excel spreadsheets, CSV files, and common dealer management systems like Loco-Soft or Autrado. Our onboarding team accompanies the migration process free of charge.
AutoPult is a purely cloud-based solution. All you need is a web browser. All data is stored in German data centers and archived in GoBD-compliant format. Updates are applied automatically.
Yes, in the Professional and Enterprise plans, you can create as many storage locations as needed – for both vehicles and spare parts. Inventory movements between locations are fully logged.
Typically, the full implementation takes two to four weeks – depending on the data volume and the number of locations. Small businesses with one location are often productive after just one week.