QBC

What QBC does

QBC Systems, Inc. is a privately held, founder-era software and IT services firm founded in 1978 and headquartered at 25 Hazelwood Drive, Suite 112, Amherst, New York. The company sells three cloud-based, MySQL-powered ERP applications to small and midsized wholesale/retail distributors in North America: TireServ (tire and automotive supply distribution), BeautyServ (beauty supply distribution), and ShadowERP (general wholesale/retail distribution). Core capabilities across all three products include sales processing, financial management, inventory management, replenishment, reporting (with ShadowERP exposing over 150 standard reports and inquiries), mobile access for field sales and service technicians, and an integrated e-business module that allows customers to check stock, pricing, availability, and place online orders. The architecture is described as open platform, browser-accessible, platform-independent, and low-network-footprint, with no proprietary technology dependencies. QBC monetizes through recurring ERP software subscriptions, professional services (implementation and end-user training), and hardware/network sales delivered through partnerships with Cisco, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, SuperMicro, Brother, Netgear, and Nordic Backup. Go-to-market is a direct, contact-driven sales motion led by a single named contact "Patrick," supplemented by product-specific webinar demonstrations (TireServ, ShadowERP, BeautyServ) that serve as both demand generation and sales qualification. Marketing channels include the corporate website, an email newsletter funnel, and webinar registration. The company has 1-10 employees, no known external funding, no parent or subsidiary relationships, and no disclosed customer logos or named accounts. It has operated continuously since 1978 under the tagline "Software with a Personal Touch."

Name

QBC

Legal name

QBC Systems, Inc.

Website

https://qbc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QBC Systems, Inc., founded 1978 in Amherst, NY, sells three cloud-based, MySQL-powered ERP applications—TireServ, BeautyServ, and ShadowERP—plus hardware and managed IT services to small and midsized wholesale and retail distribution businesses across North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Distribution ERP Software

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045)

akta.pro primary industry

Distribution & Wholesale ERP (Inventory, Order, Warehouse) (HDAEAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB), ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA)

Keywords

• Distribution ERP software
• Cloud ERP platform
• Tire distribution software
• Beauty supply ERP
• Wholesale distribution software

Headquarters

HQ city

Amherst

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, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. ERP Software Licensing: Cloud-based ERP software subscriptions providing access to ShadowERP, BeautyServ, and TireServ platforms. Software is delivered as a service with ongoing access fees.
2. Implementation and Training Services: Professional services including software implementation, end-user training, and consulting for ERP deployment.
3. Hardware and Network Solutions: Sale of hardware solutions including desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, printers, network equipment, and related products through vendor partnerships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

QBC Systems develops and sells cloud-based ERP software products—TireServ for tire/automotive distributors, BeautyServ for beauty supply distributors, and ShadowERP for general wholesale/retail distributors—built on an open MySQL platform accessible via web browser. The company complements its software with hardware procurement, network infrastructure deployment, and managed IT services delivered through vendor partnerships.

Product overview

QBC Systems offers a portfolio of three cloud-based ERP products—TireServ, BeautyServ, and ShadowERP—designed for specific distribution verticals (tire/automotive, beauty supply, and general distribution respectively). All three products are built on an open platform powered by MySQL database, accessible via web browser from anywhere. They share core capabilities including sales processing, financial management, inventory management, replenishment, mobile access, and e-business features. In addition to software, QBC provides hardware, network infrastructure, and managed IT services through partnerships with major technology vendors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TireServ: Cloud-based ERP software designed exclusively for tire and automotive supply distributors, wholesalers, retail stores, and warehouses. Powered by MySQL database with features including sales processing, financial management, inventory management, replenishment, mobile access, and e-business capabilities.
• BeautyServ
• ShadowERP

Products and services

• TireServ Cloud-based distribution ERP software designed exclusively for tire and automotive supply distributors, wholesalers, retail stores, and warehouses. Powered by a MySQL database, it provides sales processing, financial management, replenishment, inventory management, mobile field access, and B2B e-business capabilities.
• BeautyServ Cloud-based distribution ERP software designed exclusively for beauty supply distributors, wholesalers, retail stores, and warehouses. Built on a MySQL database with comprehensive features including point of sale, inventory management, customer management, accounts receivable/payable, general ledger, purchase order management, sales analysis, and customer history tracking.
• ShadowERP Open platform ERP software solution for distributors, wholesalers, retail stores, and warehouses. An open-source distribution management software powered by a MySQL database with sales processing, financial management, replenishment, inventory management, reporting, mobile field access, and an integrated e-business module for 24/7 B2B ordering.
• Hardware, Network and Managed Services Hardware procurement, installation, and managed IT services covering desktops, laptops, tablets, servers, printers, network equipment, data center solutions, remote desktop management, virus protection, off-site backup, and disaster recovery. Delivered in partnership with technology vendors including CISCO, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, SuperMicro, Brother, Netgear, and NORDIC BACKUP.

Quantifiable outcome

• Improves Day-To-Day Management, Sales Margins, Overall Profitability
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CISCOcoreTechnology or IntegrationHardware solutions partnership providing network equipment, security solutions, and infrastructure products for QBC's managed services offerings.
• Hewlett-PackardcoreTechnology or IntegrationHardware solutions partnership providing servers, workstations, and enterprise computing equipment for client network deployments.
• LenovocoreTechnology or IntegrationHardware solutions partnership providing laptops, desktops, and tablets for client hardware needs.
• SuperMicrocoreTechnology or IntegrationHardware solutions partnership providing servers and data center solutions for client infrastructure requirements.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Cin7: Cin7 provides inventory and order management software for product sellers including distributors and wholesalers. While narrower than full ERP, it competes for the same SMB/mid-market distribution technology budget with modern cloud-native architecture.
• Brightpearl: Brightpearl offers cloud ERP designed for retail and wholesale distribution SMBs with strong automation and e-commerce integration. Targets similar mid-market distribution buyers with a more modern, retail-native feature set than QBC.
• Fishbowl Inventory: Fishbowl offers inventory management and manufacturing software targeting SMB distributors and wholesalers, often integrated with QuickBooks. Competes in adjacent lower-end of the distribution ERP market that QBC also serves.

Broad incumbents

• NetSuite (Oracle): NetSuite is a leading cloud ERP platform serving mid-market distribution, wholesale, and retail companies with broad functionality. As a broad incumbent, it competes against QBC for the same mid-market distribution buyers with a much larger suite.
• Blue Yonder: Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software) provides supply chain and distribution planning software to large enterprises. While more focused on supply chain optimization than core ERP, it competes in adjacent distribution technology categories.

Direct peers

• Aptean: Aptean offers vertical-specific ERP including distribution and process manufacturing solutions. Its industry-focused model and mid-market target overlap directly with QBC's vertical ERP approach for distributors and wholesalers.
• Acumatica: Acumatica provides cloud-native ERP with strong distribution and retail editions targeting SMB/mid-market. Its modern cloud architecture and flexible licensing model position it as a direct contemporary competitor to QBC's vertical ERP offerings.
• Epicor: Epicor provides ERP software purpose-built for distribution, manufacturing, and retail verticals including automotive aftermarket. Its industry-specific approach and SMB/mid-market focus directly mirror QBC's vertical ERP strategy in tire and general distribution.
• Sage X3: Sage X3 (formerly Sage ERP X3) targets mid-market distribution, manufacturing, and service businesses globally. Competes directly with QBC for distribution ERP customers with broader geographic reach and deeper feature set.
• Infor Distribution ERP: Infor offers distribution-focused CloudSuite solutions (formerly Infor Distribution SX.e) targeting wholesale distributors with industry-specific functionality. Direct competitor to ShadowERP in distribution verticals with significantly greater scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 QBC