Dealers with a “do nothing attitude” are jeopardising their businesses by failing to integrate their IT systems, said Q.Bit Systems managing director Nigel Pates.

Other car retailers were investing in software development, he said. “Since launching a little over 12 months ago we now work within 41 dealerships,” said Mr Pates.

The company forecasts growth to 100 dealers by the end of the year and already has Mercedes-Benz Direct, Carland and Camden Motors on its books. In the first week of July Q.Bit formed a licensing agreement with Harrogate-based Universal Training to sell its dealer calculator software 'Track'.

The system is widely used within the franchised dealer sector and broadens Q.Bit's range of services in the market.

Gary Cuthbert, Universal Training managing director, said: “We were asked by Q.Bit if we wanted to licence the Track product as part of the Q.Bit product range and saw no drawbacks.”

Q.Bit anticipates gaining a 25% share of the DMS integration market.