IN CONCEPT
IN CONCEPT is a French software company that designs and sells Formule 1, an ERP purpose-built for automotive parts distributors. Founded in 1980 and based in Cairon near Caen, it serves 150 companies across 420 sites with over 4,000 users in France and DOM-TOM.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersCairon, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
IN CONCEPT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IN CONCEPT
- Legal name
- I.N. Concept
- Website
- https://inconcept.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- IN CONCEPT is a French software company that designs and sells Formule 1, an ERP purpose-built for automotive parts distributors. Founded in 1980 and based in Cairon near Caen, it serves 150 companies across 420 sites with over 4,000 users in France and DOM-TOM.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IN CONCEPT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- ERP Software for Automotive Parts Distribution
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distribution & Wholesale ERP (Inventory, Order, Warehouse) (HDAEAEAC)
Keywords
Where IN CONCEPT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cairon
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
IN CONCEPT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Formula 1 ERP software licensing to automotive parts distributors, with ongoing updates and new generation graphical interface introduced in 2020
- Professional Services: Implementation, training, consulting, system hosting, business continuity planning, file migration, and merger/acquisition support services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
IN CONCEPT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IN CONCEPT designs, develops and publishes Formule 1, an integrated ERP software for wholesale and retail distributors of automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial spare parts. The platform handles sales, point of sale, invoicing and dematerialization, inventory and warehouse operations with barcode readers, supplier replenishment, after-sales/workshop management, CRM with online catalogs, EDI exchanges and real-time reporting on IBM Power i infrastructure. The company supplements the software with implementation, training, hosting, migration and consulting services.
Product overview
IN CONCEPT is a designer and publisher of Formule 1, an ERP software solution for auto parts distributors. The company has 44 years of experience serving 150 companies across 420 sites with 4000+ users in France and DOM-TOM. Formule 1 is a unified platform providing wholesale/retail sales, point of sale, invoicing with dematerialization, inventory management, supplier relationship management, workshop/SAR management, logistics with barcode scanning, CRM with online catalogs, EDI integration, and real-time reporting with Data Warehouse.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Formule 1: ERP software solution for automotive parts distributors, wholesalers, platforms, purchasing groups, and manufacturers covering sales, inventory management, purchasing, workshop management, logistics, and CRM functionalities
Products and services
- Formule 1 Integrated ERP software for automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial spare-parts distributors (wholesale and retail); covers sales, point of sale, invoicing with dematerialization, inventory with barcode readers, supplier replenishment, workshop/after-sales scheduling, CRM with online catalogs (TECDOC, VIVID, ETAI), EDI exchange, mobile sales-force tooling and Data Warehouse reporting; runs on IBM Power i servers and is sold as Formule 1 Nouvelle Génération Graphique.
- Professional Services for Formule 1 Implementation, training, consulting, system hosting, business continuity planning, file migration, and merger/acquisition support services delivered alongside the Formule 1 ERP for automotive parts distributors.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% satisfaction rating (BON) among trained users in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IN CONCEPT
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
IN CONCEPT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature7 records
IN CONCEPT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- VDN (Groupement VDN)coreGIE created in 2002, grouping 28 SSIIs of similar structure (Editors, Resellers, Integrators). Main strengths: national presence, weight with suppliers, technical complementarity. Laure Boublil serves as President of VDN.
- IBMcoreManufacturer of iSeries servers. Formula 1 runs on IBM Power i servers and has been recognized as IBM I Solution Edition in October 2011.
- ETAIcorePublisher of automotive technical databases. Formula 1 received ETAI certification for XAT2 V2 version in April 2019, ensuring proper functionality and basket exchange.
- TECDOCcorePublisher of technical database for automotive parts. Integrated as online catalog option within Formula 1 CRM for customer ordering.
- VIVIDcoreEuropean IT technology company providing technical data to the automotive industry. VIVID database integrated into Formula 1 graphical version and e-commerce capabilities.
- GOLDAcoreGroupement for Optimization of Automotive Links. Enabled standardization of EDI exchanges between equipment manufacturers and distributors.
- OrangeminorIN Concept is a reseller of Orange internet access solutions and site interconnection services.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
IN CONCEPT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACG Equipement / Carl Software: French software vendor serving automotive aftermarket and parts distribution with management/ERP suites. Comparable vertical specialization for parts distributors and after-sales workshops.
- Divalto: French mid-market ERP publisher serving distribution, services, and manufacturing with similar customer size and recurring-software model; competes for the same French wholesale/distribution accounts.
- VIP Synergic (Synerp): French ERP vendor focused on automotive parts distribution and similar aftermarket verticals. Directly comparable niche specialty, target customer (distributors, platforms, garages), and multi-site inventory management scope.
- DL Software (Hexagone Software / Gihe): French editor of ERP and management solutions for distributors and wholesalers, including automotive parts. Comparable mid-market, vertical ERP positioning with similar GTM and customer profiles.
Broad incumbents
- Cegid: Leading French enterprise management software publisher offering ERP, finance, and retail/distribution suites. Large incumbent operating broadly in the same customer base (French SMB/mid-market distributors) with significant resources and brand reach.
- Ebp Informatique (EBP): Major French SMB accounting and ERP software vendor targeting very small to mid-size businesses, including distribution. Broad incumbent offering general management software with overlapping distribution features.
- Sage (Sage Group): Global ERP/accounting software provider with strong presence in France via Sage Ligne 100/1000 and Sage X3. Serves wholesale distributors with similar EDI, inventory, and finance functionality as Formula 1.
Regional players
- AABSYS / A-Parts: European automotive parts software specialists offering ordering, catalog, and ERP-adjacent tools for independent parts distributors. Comparable niche vertical with regional (Benelux/EU) presence and similar aftermarket customer base.
Emerging players
- Odoo: Open-source, modular ERP/CRM suite with growing adoption among French SMEs and distributors. Lower-cost, web-native alternative that could compete with or complement Formule 1, particularly for customers seeking SaaS delivery.
- Hexagon PPM / Apologic-style Aftermarket Players: Specialized aftermarket/part-distribution software providers (e.g., MAM Software part of Reynolds; PartsTrader; IDEAL-tek). Comparable automotive aftermarket focus with strong EDI and catalog workflows, mostly in North America but globally relevant.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IN CONCEPT compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
IN CONCEPT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IN CONCEPT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
IN CONCEPT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IN CONCEPT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IN CONCEPT
What does IN CONCEPT do?
IN CONCEPT designs, develops and publishes Formule 1, an integrated ERP software for wholesale and retail distributors of automotive, commercial vehicle and industrial spare parts. The platform handles sales, point of sale, invoicing and dematerialization, inventory and warehouse operations with barcode readers, supplier replenishment, after-sales/workshop management, CRM with online catalogs, EDI exchanges and real-time reporting on IBM Power i infrastructure. The company supplements the software with implementation, training, hosting, migration and consulting services.
Is IN CONCEPT a public or private company?
IN CONCEPT is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was IN CONCEPT founded?
IN CONCEPT was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is IN CONCEPT based?
IN CONCEPT is headquartered in Cairon, France, in the Europe region.
How does IN CONCEPT make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Who are IN CONCEPT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACG Equipement / Carl Software, Divalto, VIP Synergic (Synerp) and DL Software (Hexagone Software / Gihe). Broad incumbents are Cegid, Ebp Informatique (EBP) and Sage (Sage Group). AABSYS / A-Parts is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Odoo and Hexagon PPM / Apologic-style Aftermarket Players.
Does IN CONCEPT have an API?
No public API is recorded for IN CONCEPT.
What industry is IN CONCEPT in?
IN CONCEPT's product category is ERP Software for Automotive Parts Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAEAC, Distribution & Wholesale ERP (Inventory, Order, Warehouse). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.