Celebrating 25 Years of TecCom
Twenty-five years ago, in the halls of Automechanika Frankfurt in 2000, something extraordinary was set into motion. Backed by the vision of twenty aftermarket giants, TecCom GmbH was born. Not just as a software company, but as an answer to a challenge the entire industry faced: the need to streamline and digitalise the order-to-cash process across an increasingly fragmented landscape.
At a time when the dotcom bubble had just burst and B2B digitalisation was still in its infancy, TecCom dared to think big. It offered a shared platform to replace inefficient manual processes with automated, standardised digital transactions.
TecCom was founded on the belief that true progress in the automotive aftermarket requires collaboration across the entire industry.
“Connecting the Aftermarket” — TecCom’s original slogan — captured the essence of its founding mission. What started as a bold initiative soon became a market-defining standard — and that was just the beginning.
Building the Infrastructure of the Independent Aftermarket
From the first installations in 1998 to today’s globally connected network, TecCom has transformed, rebranded, and expanded. What began as a pioneering solution for order processing has grown into a comprehensive B2B platform used by more than 35,000 wholesalers and 280 suppliers worldwide, processing over 12 million orders annually in over 50 countries.
The name of the flagship solution changed, from TecOrder to Order Manager, to today’s TecCom Order, but the mission remained constant: reduce costs, increase service quality, and enable industry-wide collaboration.
From Catalogue to Connectivity to Telematics
The TecCom journey is an integral part of the broader transformation led by TecAlliance, formed in 2013 through the merger of TecCom, TecDoc, and AuDaCon.
TecDoc provides vehicle and spare parts data based on the TecDoc Standard and offers one of the world’s most comprehensive automotive aftermarket catalogues. TecCom focuses on integrated solutions and consulting services for digital order handling, connecting manufacturers and wholesalers. AuDaCon contributed comprehensive repair and maintenance information, which became the foundation for TecRMI, TecAlliance’s platform for repair and maintenance data. TecRMI’s services will now be even stronger thanks to the acquisition of AutoTecnic in January 2025.
Together, along with the integration of Headline in 2015 (offering OE vehicle and product data plus global vehicle-in-operation data) and the foundation of Caruso in 2017 (enabling standardised access to connected vehicle data), TecAlliance formed a unified ecosystem delivering data, solutions, and analytics across the automotive aftermarket.
Each step addressed an industry-wide need. Each one solved a problem too complex, too costly, and too essential for any single player to tackle alone.
Beyond Borders: From Europe to the World
TecCom’s expansion beyond its German roots accelerated rapidly following its foundation. By 2003, it had already become the market leader in Europe, thanks to broad adoption across the independent automotive aftermarket. That same year, TecCom entered the French market through a strategic partnership with GOLDA (Groupement pour l’Optimisation des Liaisons dans la Distribution Automobile). This relationship deepened in 2009, when TecCom acquired a 25% stake in GOLDA, underlining its long-term commitment to the French market.
In 2007, TecCom reported a 35% increase in aftermarket orders—a clear signal of growing momentum. The most significant surges came from emerging markets such as Turkey, Russia, and China.
That same year, TecCom also entered the UK and Irish markets through a collaboration with PACT (in cooperation with Fourth Ltd), expanding its digital platform to local buying groups, wholesalers, and suppliers.
In 2008, TecCom partnered with nexmart, extending its digital expertise to the tool and construction industries and proving the flexibility of its platform across verticals.
In 2023, TecCom officially launched operations in North America, bringing its established European platform to a new continent. To support global scalability and ensure regional relevance, its parent company TecAlliance realigned in 2024 into four dedicated commercial regions: EMEA, Americas, Asia-Pacific, and China. This new structure enhances TecCom’s ability to serve local market needs while strengthening its role as a global enabler of efficiency and collaboration in the automotive aftermarket.
A Community Built on Collaboration
For a quarter of a century, TecCom has proven that the aftermarket thrives when it works together. By connecting parts manufacturers, distributors, and service providers, TecAlliance built more than a platform—they've built a community.
Where does TecCom go from here? Already, TecCom Managed Data and the TecCom Excellence Program are helping partners optimise operations and increase competitiveness through trusted, validated data exchange. And with the recent launch of Market Share Analysis, companies can now benchmark and defend their performance in real time.
🎉 25 Years of TecCom: Milestones, Moments & More! 🎉
Take a scroll down memory lane! The anniversary infographic brings together 25 years of TecCom highlights, from founding faces to major breakthroughs, voices of the pioneers, and some seriously retro photos from the early 2000s. You might even spot someone you know…
