What Are Automotive Business Solutions and How Do Barcode Systems Help Dealership Parts Inventory?
Automotive business solutions are services and software built specifically for dealership operations — and in the parts department, the most established example is barcode-based inventory tracking. ABS BarCode, from Automotive Business Solutions LLC, lets a parts department scan incoming stock orders and compare them directly against its inventory system, so shortages and overages surface immediately instead of during a later reconciliation. This matters most for dealerships that receive large, frequent stock orders and want to verify them accurately without manual keying.
How barcode scanning fits into a dealership parts department
The core workflow is a check-in-and-compare loop:
- Receive a stock order. Parts arrive from the manufacturer or distributor with barcoded labels.
- Scan each part with a barcode gun as it is checked in.
- Compare the scan results to the inventory system to confirm what was ordered, what was shipped, and what actually arrived.
- Spot shortages and overages quickly — the system flags discrepancies while the shipment is still being processed, not weeks later.
That last step is the practical payoff. Catching a short shipment at check-in gives the parts manager time to file a claim or reorder, rather than discovering the gap when a technician needs the part.
What ABS BarCode is, according to the company
Automotive Business Solutions LLC was founded in 1999 by Kevin Berkhimer and Frank Burrows, who between them have over 68 years of experience managing large automobile dealerships. The company's stated purpose is to combine that retail dealership experience with current and emerging computer-driven technologies.
The company reports that in the first national survey of bar code systems conducted by an automobile manufacturer, ABS BarCode was selected #1 in both the number of installed systems and the satisfaction level of the parts managers using it. That claim comes from ABS's own site and reflects a manufacturer-run survey; treat it as the vendor's stated positioning rather than an independent benchmark.
Hardware and usability considerations
Parts departments are not office environments, and the equipment has to survive them. ABS describes its barcode guns as rugged enough to stand up in a parts department, and the system itself as easy to use. If you are evaluating any barcode system for this setting, those two factors — scanner durability and a short learning curve for counter staff — are worth testing directly, since they determine whether the system actually gets used during a busy check-in.
Where third-party companies fit
Beyond selling directly to dealerships, ABS also works with third-party companies that want to reach dealerships — helping them leverage their product and improve dealer efficiencies. If you are a vendor with a parts-adjacent product, that describes a partnership channel rather than a dealership-facing tool.
Choosing this kind of solution: what to weigh
| Factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Fit with your inventory system | Confirm the scan results can be compared against the DMS or inventory system you already run |
| Discrepancy handling | Ask how shortages and overages are flagged and what the output looks like |
| Hardware | Verify scanner ruggedness and replacement/support terms for a parts-counter environment |
| Staff adoption | Test the interface with the people who will actually check in orders |
| Vendor background | Dealership-operations experience, as ABS emphasizes, tends to shape how well the tool matches real workflows |
Contact and next steps
Automotive Business Solutions is based at 7681 Green Mountain Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787, and can be reached at 703-467-0685. The site provides a contact form and a W9 form for vendors and partners. Pricing is not published on the page, so ask directly about cost, licensing, and support terms before committing.