Time is ticking. The automotive aftermarket is accelerating, with billions in new revenue up for grabs between now and 2028. But while demand soars, so do challenges. Misfit parts, disconnected systems, and operations that cannot keep up are common obstacles. The winners in this market will not just have great catalogs. They will have integrated platforms that ensure accuracy, speed, and scalability. If you are still relying on legacy tools, now is the moment to upgrade. PC Bennett’s AutoFitmentPlus on Acumatica is how you do it.

The Aftermarket Explosion: A Rare Window of Opportunity

The U.S. light-duty automotive aftermarket is projected to grow from 435 billion dollars in 2025 to over 500 billion by 2028. This is not an incremental trend. It is a structural shift in how vehicle parts are bought, sold, and managed.

Multiple forces are converging to fuel this growth. More vehicles are staying on the road longer, leading to increased demand for replacement parts. eCommerce is growing rapidly, reshaping how consumers shop for and expect to receive parts. On top of that, vehicles themselves are becoming more complex. There are more configurations than ever before, from trims and engines to software-based systems.

This adds up to a major opportunity. But only if you are prepared to deal with the complexity that follows.

Growth Brings Pain: What Scaling Challenges You Should Expect

With more demand comes more responsibility. If you are planning to grow, these are the most common operational challenges that can hold you back.

1. Inventory Overload and SKU Chaos

As you expand your catalog to support more vehicles and variations, your inventory naturally becomes harder to manage. Without a centralized, intelligent inventory system, visibility fades. Parts go missing. Stockouts happen. And overstock ties up your cash flow.

You need real-time inventory control, not next-day reconciliation.

2. Fitment Errors and Costly Returns

The most expensive type of mistake is a misfit part. It leads to returns, frustrated customers, and margin erosion. If your team is trying to match parts manually or using outdated databases, the risk is high.

Accurate fitment requires live integration with ACES and PIES standards, full VIN decoding, and constant updates to your year, make, model, and engine data.

3. Siloed Systems and Operational Inefficiencies

You might use one platform for sales, another for inventory, and a third for accounting. If these tools are not connected, data lives in silos. The result is duplication, delays, and frequent errors.

You need a system that unifies your operations, giving everyone access to the same real-time information.

4. Forecasting in a Volatile Market

Parts demand can shift quickly. If you cannot forecast what will sell and when, you risk either missing out or getting stuck with unsold stock. With increased SKU counts, this gets even harder.

Better forecasting helps you stay ahead of trends and protects your bottom line.

Meet Your Competitive Advantage: Acumatica and AutoFitmentPlus

PC Bennett’s AutoFitmentPlus, built on the Acumatica Cloud ERP platform, is designed specifically for the automotive aftermarket. It is not a generic ERP or a collection of plugins. It is a complete, unified solution made to handle the complexity of fitment data, parts logistics, and modern selling.

One System That Covers Everything

AutoFitmentPlus connects your entire business in a single cloud-based platform. From inventory and sales to order fulfillment and financials, everything runs through one system. That means you get accurate data, faster workflows, and a more agile business.

No more duplicate entries. No more surprises. Just clarity and control.

Built-In Fitment Intelligence

With AutoFitmentPlus, you get fitment tools that are built into your ERP. It supports the ACES and PIES data standards, handles VIN decoding, and allows multi-vehicle mapping. You can validate fitment before fulfillment, reducing the chances of misorders.

This feature alone saves you time, improves customer satisfaction, and protects your margins.

Real-Time Inventory and eCommerce Sync

Inventory updates are reflected immediately across all your platforms. That includes your warehouse system, eCommerce store, and financials. Whether you are fulfilling orders from your website or selling through online marketplaces, you will always have a clear view of what is available.

You avoid overselling, backorders, and last-minute shipping issues.

Scalable and Cost-Effective

As your business grows, Acumatica grows with you. Add more users, open new locations, or expand your catalog without worrying about expensive per-user licensing or needing custom development. This scalability makes it a smart long-term investment.

Real-World Impact: What Success Looks Like

Aftermarket parts businesses that use AutoFitmentPlus have seen major improvements in their operations. One distributor reduced part returns by over 30 percent by using automated fitment validation. Another company eliminated more than 70 percent of manual data entry by consolidating their sales, inventory, and fulfillment into one system.

These companies were able to scale quickly without adding new staff. They improved order accuracy, fulfilled faster, and increased customer satisfaction.

You do not need to rebuild your entire business to see these results. You just need the right system backing you up.

ROI: Why the Numbers Make Sense Now

Upgrading to Acumatica and AutoFitmentPlus is not just about fixing problems. It is about unlocking real business value. Here are some of the key returns you can expect.

Lower Return Rates
More accurate fitment means fewer returns, lower shipping costs, and fewer lost sales.
Higher Order Throughput
You can process more orders per day without adding headcount or burning out your team.
Improved Inventory Performance
Smarter stocking decisions reduce overstock and help you move high-demand parts faster.
Reduced Operating Costs
Automation and system unification reduce the time and money spent managing disconnected tools.
Better Preparedness for the Future
As vehicle types diversify and EV adoption increases, your system will be ready to support new parts, new standards, and new workflows.

The Bottom Line: This Is the Moment

The automotive aftermarket is on track to add billions of dollars in value over the next few years. But growth brings pressure. More parts. More vehicles. More platforms. And more room for error.

You need more than spreadsheets and bolt-on apps to keep up. You need a centralized, automotive-specific platform that can scale with your business and reduce your risk. Acumatica and AutoFitmentPlus, delivered by PC Bennett, provide exactly that.

Make the move now, before your systems become the thing holding you back. Your competition is not waiting. Neither should you.

References

Auto Care Association. 2025 Auto Aftermarket Size Forecast. https://www.autocare.org
PC Bennett Solutions. AutoFitmentPlus Overview. https://www.pcbennett.com
Acumatica. Automotive ERP Case Studies and Blogs. https://www.acumatica.com
KPMG. Automotive Aftermarket Industry Update Q2 2025. https://corporatefinance.kpmg.com
S&P Global. Aftermarket Trends and Forecasts 2025. https://www.spglobal.com