Solware Group
Solware Group, operating as Solware Auto, is a French family-owned software publisher founded in 1987 that builds and implements DMS software for automotive dealers, multi-site networks, independent garages, and ELV recyclers across six European countries, with subscription and services revenue plus a predictive marketing add-on.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersDardilly, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Solware Group does
Solware Group is a French family-owned software publisher founded in 1987, operating primarily through its Solware Auto division as a specialist provider of Dealer Management System (DMS) software for the automotive sector. The company designs, develops, and implements management solutions for automotive dealers, multi-site networks, independent garages, and end-of-life vehicle recyclers across six European countries, with selected deployments in North and sub-Saharan Africa. Its core product portfolio includes winmotor2 (an integrated DMS with native manufacturer integrations for Renault, Citroën, and Peugeot), winmotor next (a next-generation DMS for repair professionals), winmotor cloud (a cloud-native DMS for small garages launched in 2026), autogest (specialized for ELV/VHU recyclers), and incadea.dms (an enterprise DMS certified by BMW France for premium brand networks).
The company generates revenue primarily through annual and multi-year subscription fees for its DMS products, supplemented by professional services including Qualiopi-certified training programs, implementation, deployment, and ongoing technical support. A secondary recurring stream comes from Solware Performance, a predictive marketing service that analyzes customer data to deliver targeted campaigns and retention analytics across winmotor, winmotor2, and incadea platforms. Distribution occurs through direct enterprise field sales for large dealer groups, digital self-serve channels for independent garages via winmotor cloud, and the incadea distribution network for premium and international brand customers. Recent product expansion includes WM Digit'all (electronic invoicing ahead of France's mandatory 2026 reform, via Open Bee partnership), WM Connect (digital customer journey module), and a B2B eshop for existing customers, signaling a continued broadening of its product surface around the installed DMS base. The company is led by President and CEO Gérald Ferraro, with Christian Lepain heading international development and Laetitia Ravassard as HR Director.
Solware Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solware Group
- Legal name
- SOLWARE HOLDING
- Website
- https://solware.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Solware Group, operating as Solware Auto, is a French family-owned software publisher founded in 1987 that builds and implements DMS software for automotive dealers, multi-site networks, independent garages, and ELV recyclers across six European countries, with subscription and services revenue plus a predictive marketing add-on.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Solware Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dardilly
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Solware Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- DMS Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Annual or multi-year subscription fees for DMS solutions including winmotor2, winmotor next, winmotor cloud, autogest, and incadea.dms. Revenue generated from software licenses, maintenance contracts, and updates.
- Services and Support: Implementation, deployment, training, and ongoing technical support services. Includes Qualiopi-certified training programs for DMS users.
- Solware Performance: Predictive marketing service generating additional revenue from customer data analysis, campaign management, and performance tracking features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise multi-site automotive groups |
| Subscription | Monthly | Independent garages (winmotor cloud) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Solware Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solware Group develops, publishes, and implements Dealer Management System (DMS) software for the automotive sector, sold under proprietary brands winmotor2, winmotor next, winmotor cloud, autogest, and incadea.dms. Its solutions cover vehicle sales (new and used), after-sales workshop operations, manufacturer warranty tracking, integrated real-time accounting, electronic invoicing (WM Digit'all), predictive customer marketing (Solware Performance), and end-of-life vehicle recycling. The company serves automotive dealer groups, independent garages, and ELV recyclers across six European countries.
Product overview
Solware Group propose un portefeuille cohérent de solutions DMS pensées pour les professionnels de l'automobile. L'offre s'articule autour de winmotor2 (DMS historique pour groupes multi-sites), winmotor next (nouvelle génération), et winmotor cloud (solution cloud pour garages indépendants de 1 à 20 salariés), complétés par autogest pour le recyclage VHU, incadea.DMS pour les marchés premium européens, WM Digit'all pour la facturation électronique obligatoire 2026, WM Connect pour le parcours digital client, et Solware Performance pour le marketing prédictif et fidélisation. Ces solutions s'articulent entre elles de manière native pour garantir la cohérence des données à tous les niveaux.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- winmotor2: Integrated DMS for automotive garages, agents, and dealers, covering vehicle sales, after-sales, accounting, and marketing.
- winmotor next
- WM cloud
- autogest
- WM Digit'all
- Performance
- incadea.DMS
- Solware Performance
Products and services
- winmotor2 Integrated Dealer Management System (DMS) for automotive garages, agents, and dealers covering all operations including mechanical and bodywork after-sales (APV), manufacturer process integration, new and used vehicle (VN/VO) sales, real-time accounting, and after-sales marketing.
- winmotor next Next-generation DMS solution designed for automotive repair professionals featuring a simplified interface and modern technologies for performance and ease of use.
- winmotor cloud 100% web-based (full web) cloud garage management software designed for automotive repair professionals at garages with 1 to 20 employees, providing the same level of support adapted to agile, smaller structures.
- autogest Management software for automotive recycling professionals (VHU - Véhicules Hors d'Usage / End-of-Life Vehicles), including dismantling sheet management and full lifecycle management of end-of-life vehicles.
- incadea.dms Premium DMS solution for multi-site automotive groups and international dealers, distributed by Solware Auto in partnership with publisher incadea for the European market. Certified and recommended by BMW France; handles multi-brand, multi-site operations with consolidated reporting.
- WM Digit'all Electronic invoicing module integrated with winmotor2. Compliant with France's 2026 electronic invoicing mandate, powered by certified Plateforme Agréée partner Open Bee. Provides invoice lifecycle tracking, automatic document classification, and supplier purchase integration without re-entry.
- Solware Performance Predictive marketing and business intelligence service for automotive networks. Provides weekly performance indicators, customer analysis, targeted campaign execution with personalized action plans, and ROI tracking. Connects to winmotor next, winmotor2, incadea, and other DMS platforms.
- WM cloud Cloud-based management solution accessible via browser or mobile application for steering automotive networks with consolidated dashboards.
- WM Connect (Parcours Digital Client) Digital customer journey module that digitizes the end-to-end customer experience with online appointment booking, real-time repair tracking, transparency on work performed, and simplified payment.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25% increase in workshop revenue for customers using Performance marketing service
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Solware Group
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solware Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability3 records
Feature7 records
Solware Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BMW FrancecoreBMW selected Incadea as partner for developing new DMS API interfaces enabling DMS platforms to interact with BMW manufacturer systems. incadea.dms is certified for BMW network with over 18,000 BMW users globally using incadea solutions.
- RIMCO MOTORS (Yeshi Group)minorRIMCO MOTORS, subsidiary of Yeshi Group (exclusive distributor of KIA, SINOTRUK, HAVAL, GREAT WALL in Ivory Coast), implemented incadea.dms BC with Solware Auto for deployment and support.
- ARTES (Tunisia)minorARTES, official importer/distributor of Renault, Dacia, Lada, Nissan in Tunisia, migrated from incadea.engine to incadea.dms Business Central with Solware Auto support.
- DAF PACCARcoreDAF PACCAR selected incadea.dms as the DMS solution for its subsidiaries and recommended DMS for the DAF dealer network. Solware Auto implements and supports the solution across DAF operations.
- incadeacoreincadea is a major DMS publisher for automotive sector. Solware Auto distributes and implements incadea.dms for large automotive groups. incadea.dms is certified and recommended by BMW France for the network. Partnership enables Solware to serve enterprise and premium brand customers.
- Open BeecoreOpen Bee is a French document dematerialization platform (Plateforme Agréée PA). Partnership enables WM Digit'all to offer compliant electronic invoicing with secure exchange, status tracking, and regulatory compliance for France's mandatory e-invoicing reform.
- Renault Networkcorewinmotor2 includes native integration with Renault manufacturer processes, enabling seamless data exchange for Renault dealers and agents.
- Citroën Networkcorewinmotor2 includes native integration with Citroën manufacturer processes, enabling seamless data exchange for Citroën dealers and agents.
- Peugeot Networkcorewinmotor2 includes native integration with Peugeot manufacturer processes, enabling seamless data exchange for Peugeot dealers and agents.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solware Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cox Automotive / Dealertrack: Broad automotive technology stack including Dealertrack DMS, Kelley Blue Book, and Manheim; competes with Solware for dealer group wallet share and brings substantial data and capital resources.
- Solera Holdings: Owner of several automotive software brands (including Dealertrack-adjacent assets and HaynesPro); broad automotive data and software incumbent whose portfolio breadth competes for the same dealer/aftermarket wallet as Solware.
- CDK Global: Global incumbent in automotive retail technology, offering DMS, CRM, and F&I software to dealers worldwide; overlaps with Solware across dealership and aftermarket management but operates at significantly greater scale.
- Microsoft (Dynamics 365 Automotive): Underlying ERP platform for incadea and various automotive DMS templates; Dynamics 365 partners and ISVs compete with Solware at the enterprise layer and shape the technology ceiling of Solware's premium tier.
Others
- Constellation Software / Jonas Software: Vertical software acquirer with a long track record of buying niche software businesses like Solware; a plausible strategic acquirer given Solware's vertical specialization, recurring revenue, and European footprint.
Emerging players
- Tekion: Cloud-native automotive retail platform targeting dealer groups with modern UX and integrated data; represents the new generation of DMS competitors Solware's winmotor cloud product is positioned against.
- Incadea: DMS publisher built on Microsoft Dynamics that powers Solware's premium enterprise tier; the technology partnership overlaps with Solware's offering and Incadea sells direct in some geographies, making it both partner and competitor.
Direct peers
- PBS Systems: DMS vendor focused on automotive dealerships with a comparable product breadth (dealership operations, CRM, accounting); competes for multi-site dealer group contracts analogous to Solware's winmotor2 and incadea.dms customers.
- Reynolds and Reynolds: One of the largest North American DMS vendors for automotive dealers, serving franchised dealerships with end-to-end management software — directly comparable to Solware's incadea.dms and winmotor2 offerings in the dealership segment.
- Quorum Information Technologies: Canadian DMS vendor (dealerFX/Quorum) serving franchised dealers and powersports; comparable product depth for dealership operations and a similar target customer base to Solware's dealer group segment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Solware Group social profiles
Digital presenceSolware Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Solware Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solware Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Solware Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solware Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solware Group
What does Solware Group do?
Solware Group develops, publishes, and implements Dealer Management System (DMS) software for the automotive sector, sold under proprietary brands winmotor2, winmotor next, winmotor cloud, autogest, and incadea.dms. Its solutions cover vehicle sales (new and used), after-sales workshop operations, manufacturer warranty tracking, integrated real-time accounting, electronic invoicing (WM Digit'all), predictive customer marketing (Solware Performance), and end-of-life vehicle recycling. The company serves automotive dealer groups, independent garages, and ELV recyclers across six European countries.
Is Solware Group a public or private company?
Solware Group is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Solware Group founded?
Solware Group was founded in 1987. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Solware Group based?
Solware Group is headquartered in Dardilly, France, in the Europe region.
How does Solware Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. DMS Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are services and Support and solware Performance.
Who are Solware Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cox Automotive / Dealertrack, Solera Holdings, CDK Global and Microsoft (Dynamics 365 Automotive). Constellation Software / Jonas Software is listed as an others. Emerging players are Tekion and Incadea. Direct peers are PBS Systems, Reynolds and Reynolds and Quorum Information Technologies.
Does Solware Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solware Group.