Bergamaschi chooses Soft Way for international ARCO Service launch
Described as a "revolutionary new international project for independent repair shops, dealerships and distributors", Milan based spare parts, component and accessory distributor Bergamaschi has selected Soft Way - a specialised two-wheeler software house owned by Editoriale Domus - to develop and distribute an innovative and potentially important web product across Europe.
ARCO Service has been designed specifically for the independent motorcycle repair sector, a segment that, lacking major OEM backup and resources, is a valuable but often overlooked and ill served source of sales and profits for the international motorcycle industry's service and workshop sector.
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| Domenico Mainoli, General Manager of Bergamaschi (right) with Francesco Pasquali, CEO of Soft Way |
The Soft Way-designed product, for which Bergamaschi is the Master Distributor in Europe, has already made its debut within Bergamaschi's affiliated Italian workshop network, operating under the Ride Up brand. Ride Up currently encompasses around 150 independent repairers across Italy - a number projected to double by 2028.
A well-established and internationally recognised motorcycle industry software specialist, Bergamaschi has built on its already successful domestic Italian market collaboration with Soft Way. The newly developed international version of the Soft Way ARCO platform will reach national workshop networks in key European markets through local spare parts distributors, aiming to establish a continent-wide motorcycle repair network.
When asked what exactly Arco Service is, and why it has "all the hallmarks of a gamechanger for motorcycle repair" in Europe, Bergamaschi General Manager Domenico Mainoli told International Dealer News that "Arco Service is a fully web-based DMS [Dealer Management System] specifically tailored for motorcycle repair operators. It enables users to order from over 800,000 part numbers directly and seamlessly from the management system while integrating Autodata information. This minimises service times, eliminates margins of error, and provides instant access to labour times and fluid specifications.
"The product is scalable, regardless of the distributor's host country, can be integrated with third-party databases, is infinitely replicable internationally due to its cloud-based architecture, and naturally multilingual.
"It is an exceptionally powerful tool with a global reach that will allow operators across the supply chain - from distributors to workshops - to identify vehicles and spare parts using unified terminology throughout Europe."
Bergamaschi General Manager Domenico Mainoli Francesco Pasquali, CEO of Soft Way describes this new international version of ARCO service as "a one-of-a-kind software product that not only represents the world's first DMS that has an integrated database, but also because it combines a vertical tool - a spare parts database with the horizontal target of territorial distribution.
"By its very nature, it is capable of forging an international network of distributors and repairers. For the first time in the two-wheeler sector, a single software solution seamlessly connects data with networks and we are already seeing strong interest across European markets".
The initial targets for the project are Spain, Germany, France, UK and Portugal, with Spain first, where preliminary research among local spare parts distributors has already generated strong interest. However, Bergamaschi and Soft Way say they expect to be active with ARCO Service in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Portugal in time for the system to be active in independent distributors, dealerships, service workshops and repair centres in time for the 2027 riding season.
"The objective is twofold," says Francesco. "To build a continental network of distributors (for both spare parts and the Arco Service application) and to progressively expand the database itself. As this wealth of information grows, it can be made available to numerous public and private mobility stakeholders in each participating country, such as insurance companies and rental providers.
ARCO Service represents Incremental business for European distributors – according to Francesco "distributors will be able to generate new revenue streams by monetising data through an add-on service that streamlines processes and leverages modern technology.
"Arco Service is not only a powerful driver for modernising parts distribution - allowing workshops to place orders directly through the system - but it also opens up new revenue opportunities by optimising order channels and offering margins on reselling the software to repair networks. Ultimately, it represents both a major technological leap forward and a lucrative commercial opportunity."
