What DSI Solutions does

DSI Solutions, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington, Texas (now co-located at parent Karmak's Carlinville, Illinois campus following the September 2025 acquisition), is a niche vertical software provider specializing in dealer management systems (DMS) for the commercial vehicle industry. Its flagship product, Blaze, is positioned as the first and only full-featured, browser-based business management platform for commercial vehicle sales and service dealers, running on Linux infrastructure and offered as both SaaS (DSI Cloud, hosted on Google Cloud with 99.99% uptime) and on-premises deployments. The platform is organized as a core DMS with integrated modules covering accounting, parts management, service management, vehicle sales, CRM (CRMplus via 1CustomerPlus), dealer alerts, imaging/archiving, leasing/rental, contracts financing, and the DSI Connect customer self-service portal.

The company's revenue model is predominantly subscription-based (annual billing for Blaze and DSI Cloud), supplemented by legacy one-time licenses for Classic and Pro products (with free upgrade to DataBridge/Blaze), professional services revenue from training and consulting delivered by industry-specialist CPAs, and managed services for cloud backup and document archiving. DSI also captures ancillary revenue from alliance partner integrations such as IBS receivables. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, targeting enterprise multi-location dealership networks through direct outreach, industry events (e.g., Navistar Parts and Service Expo), and referral channels through technology partners like FleetCross, Elite EXTRA, and TSYS. DSI's customer base spans medium and heavy-duty truck dealers (Peterbilt, Kenworth, International/Freightliner networks), trailer dealers, equipment dealers, warehouse distributors, independent repair facilities, and truck up-fitters across the US and Canada. Notable enterprise customers include Palmer Trucks (18 locations), Kenworth Northeast (8 locations, 250 employees), E.M. Tharp (5 California locations), Stahl Peterbilt (4 Alberta locations), Cumberland Truck Equipment (12 locations), and Jay Alosa's 12-dealership Freightliner/Kenworth group.

Following the September 30, 2025 acquisition by Karmak, Inc., DSI Solutions operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary that, combined with Karmak, owns more than 50% of PACCAR's DMS market share — a structurally significant consolidation in heavy-duty dealer software. The company is privately held with 11-50 employees, 6,000+ active users, 100+ customer companies, and 800+ dealership rooftops on its platform.

Name

DSI Solutions

Legal name

DSI Solutions

Website

https://dsisolutions.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DSI Solutions provides Blaze, a browser-based dealer management system, and supporting modules (accounting, parts, service, CRM, leasing) to commercial vehicle dealers across North America, serving 800+ rooftops and 100+ companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dealer Management Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Services Automation (PSA) & Services ERP (HDAEAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise Application Managed Services Outsourcing (ERP/CRM/HRIS AMS) (BPAEAMAI)

Keywords

• Dealer management software
• Commercial vehicle software
• Truck dealership DMS
• Browser-based ERP
• Automotive accounting software

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions (Blaze, DSI Cloud): Browser-based dealer management software delivered as subscription service. Includes cloud hosting options with 99.99% uptime. Core product suite includes Blaze platform with multiple integrated modules for accounting, parts, service, leasing, vehicle sales, CRM, and dealer alerts.
2. Software Licenses (Classic, Pro): Legacy on-premises software products (Classic and Pro) offered to dealers, with DataBridge available as free upgrade for existing customers.
3. Professional Services (Training & Consulting): Customizable training and consulting services including virtual and in-person training sessions, system utilization reviews, accounting consulting with CPAs having 20+ years industry experience.
4. Cloud Backup & Archiving Services: Data backup services to Google Cloud with restore capabilities. Electronic archiving of documents including parts invoices, repair orders, and reports.
5. Alliance Partner Services (IBS Receivables): Revenue from integrated third-party services like Interstate Billing Service for receivables collection, where DSI receives integration fees or referral arrangements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DSI Solutions provides Blaze, a browser-based dealer management system (DMS) purpose-built for commercial vehicle dealers selling and servicing heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and related equipment. The offering bundles an integrated ERP platform covering accounting, parts inventory, service shop management, vehicle sales, leasing/rental, contracts financing, dealer alerts, and CRM, with DSI Connect providing a customer-facing self-service portal and DSI Cloud delivering managed hosting and backup services.

Product overview

DSI Solutions offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Blaze, a browser-based dealer management system (DMS) for the commercial vehicle industry. The core Blaze platform is supplemented by integrated modules including Accounting System, Service Management, Parts Management, Vehicle Sales Management, CRMplus, Dealer Alerts, Imaging & Archiving, Leasing & Rental, and Contracts Financing. DSI Connect serves as the customer self-service portal, while DSI Cloud provides cloud hosting and backup services. The product lineup evolved from legacy Classic and Pro systems, with DataBridge rebranded as Blaze. DSI also offers training and consulting services to support implementation and optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blaze: Browser-based full-featured business management software for the commercial vehicle sales and service sector, offering modules for accounting, parts management, service management, vehicle sales, CRM, dealer alerts, imaging & archiving, and leasing & rental.
• DSI Connect
• DSI Cloud
• DataBridge

Products and services

• Blaze Blaze is a browser-based, full-featured dealer management system for commercial vehicle sales and service dealers, providing integrated accounting, parts, service, vehicle sales, leasing/rental, CRM, dealer alerts, and document archiving with access from any device via the cloud or on-premises deployment.
• DSI Connect DSI Connect is a customer self-service portal that integrates with Blaze, allowing commercial vehicle dealer customers to search and order parts, schedule service, update vehicle information, view and print past invoices and service histories, and see outstanding invoices due 24/7.
• DSI Cloud DSI Cloud is a managed cloud hosting service for DSI business management software that delivers 99.99% uptime, automatic daily backups to Google Cloud, electronic document archiving, and secure global access via any internet-connected device.
• Training and Consulting Services Virtual and in-person training and consulting services for DSI customers, covering migration to Blaze, new staff onboarding, system utilization reviews, and accounting consulting delivered by industry-specialist CPAs with 20+ years of commercial vehicle experience.
• DSI Classic and DSI Pro (Legacy On-Premises DMS) Legacy on-premises dealer management software products (Classic and Pro) for commercial vehicle dealers, with continued one-time licensing and a free upgrade path (DataBridge, now Blaze) to the browser-based platform for existing customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reporting time reduced from hours to minutes (Palmer Trucks case study)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Karmak, Inc.flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 September 2025Karmak acquired DSI Solutions effective September 30, 2025, to strengthen its position in the heavy-duty software market. The acquisition expands Karmak's product portfolio and includes ownership of more than 50% of PACCAR's DMS market share.
• Interstate Billing Service (IBS)coreTechnology or IntegrationIBS provides receivables collection, credit checks, and bad debt management services. DSI integrated IBS into its software so that at the end of each day the DSI system automatically sends an electronic file of all IBS customer invoices to IBS. DSI describes IBS as an Industry Alliance Partner.
• FleetCross (Motor Information Systems)coreTechnology or IntegrationDSI became the first heavy-duty vehicle dealership software provider to integrate FleetCross parts-search system. FleetCross allows parts managers to search hundreds of millions of parts to match needs, with automatic cross-referencing and inventory indication. DSI offers the FleetCross module for the same price as standalone.
• Elite EXTRAcoreTechnology or IntegrationElite EXTRA is a real-time, GPS-based dispatch management solution integrated into DSI's dealership management software. Sales entered into DSI automatically load into Elite EXTRA for dispatch and delivery tracking. The partnership has been active for three years.
• TSYS Merchant SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationTSYS provides payment processing for credit cards, debit, chip cards, Apple Pay, and Android Pay. The TSYS processing system is fully integrated into DSI software. TSYS handles more than 44 million transactions per day with 24/7 US-based support. DSI describes TSYS as an important industry partner.
• 1CustomerPluscoreTechnology or IntegrationDSI partnered with 1CustomerPlus to provide a state-of-the-art Sales & Marketing CRM platform integrated with Blaze. CRMplus features include 2-way text chat, lead capture from Facebook/Google/Instagram, Google review management, social media management, email campaigns, and workflow automations.
• Google CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationDSI offers cloud hosting and backup services using Google Cloud infrastructure. Client data is backed up to Google Cloud daily and can be restored within hours. Clients can be moved to hosted hardware on Google Cloud within 24 hours.
• International Trucks (Navistar)coreTechnology or IntegrationDSI became the first dealer software provider certified by International Trucks for a repair estimating tool that integrates DSI software with International's vehicle specifications, parts requirements, and repair time data. The tool was unveiled at the 2016 Navistar Parts and Service Expo.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Broad incumbents

• CDK Global: CDK Global is a large, established DMS provider primarily serving automotive dealerships but with adjacent offerings in heavy equipment; it represents a broad incumbent with significantly greater R&D and distribution resources than DSI.
• Dealertrack (Cox Automotive): Dealertrack, part of Cox Automotive, offers a broad DMS and dealer technology stack for franchised dealers; while primarily automotive, its scale, financing arm, and CRM/data products make it a relevant broad incumbent comparable to DSI's ecosystem positioning.
• Reynolds and Reynolds: Reynolds and Reynolds provides DMS, document services, and retail management solutions primarily to automotive dealers; it is a broad incumbent comparable to DSI on integrated dealership workflows, though focused on the automotive segment rather than commercial vehicles.

Emerging players

• ManagerPlus: ManagerPlus offers asset and maintenance management software used by fleets, service shops, and equipment operators; while more narrowly focused on maintenance than full DMS, it represents an emerging player competing for parts of DSI's service management footprint.

Direct peers

• Karmak, Inc. Karmak is a long-standing provider of heavy-duty truck dealer management software and is now DSI's parent company following the September 2025 acquisition. It is the most direct comparable given shared focus on heavy-duty DMS, PACCAR dealer relationships, and overlapping product portfolios.
• PBS Systems: PBS Systems provides a DMS platform for automotive, powersports, marine, and RV dealerships with modules for parts, service, and accounting; it overlaps with DSI's dealer-focused suite and competes for adjacent vertical dealer segments.
• Texada Software: Texada offers dealer management software for the equipment, powersports, and automotive industries, with overlapping functionality in parts, service, and rental management that competes for the equipment dealer segment DSI also targets.
• Frazer DMS: Frazer offers a dealer management system widely used by independent auto and specialty dealers; while more focused on independent dealers, it competes for adjacent dealer segments such as trailers and equipment that DSI also serves.
• e-Emphasys (HBS Systems): HBS Systems provides ERP and dealer management solutions for heavy equipment dealers and rental operators, overlapping with DSI's equipment dealer and rental/leasing modules and serving as a comparable vertical specialist.
• Procede Software: Procede Software provides Excede, an ERP/DMS platform purpose-built for the commercial truck industry, directly competing with DSI's Blaze for heavy-duty dealer customers including Volvo, Mack, and other commercial vehicle brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DSI Solutions