On this episode of the PartsEdge Podcast, Kaylee Felio sat down with Chuck Hartle, the founder of PartsEdge—and the original parts nerd (his words!) to break down what most dealerships get wrong about their DMS… and what happens when you finally get it working for you.

The Problem? Most Stores Use Just One Source Structure 

Back when Chuck was managing inventory himself, he saw it over and over: one default source structure trying to do the job of twenty. Tires, accessories, special orders—all dumped into the same bucket. That led to all kinds of chaos: inaccurate pricing, unclear reporting, messy accounting.
The issue wasn’t the DMS—it was how it was set up.

The Solution? Build a Source Structure That Reflects Reality

Chuck started with around 20 carefully thought-out sources, each designed to manage a specific category—fast-moving parts, special orders, tires, accessories, manufacturer programs, and more. That structure helped control stock levels, tailor pricing, simplify returns, and eliminate daily manual fixes.

But when Chuck partnered with Cliff Cope and they built PartsEdge, the structure evolved. Thanks to the custom technology they developed, what started as 20 sources scaled into a dynamic system of 50 to 100 optimized sources—all working together without adding complexity for the manager. The DMS wasn’t just better organized—it was now automated, consistent, and smarter than ever.

You don’t need to jump to 100 sources overnight, especially without PartsEdge. Chuck recommends starting with just 4 or 5—enough to create clarity and unlock better decisions from your existing system.

The Result? Less Guesswork, More Clarity

Instead of scrambling through spreadsheets or explaining away exceptions, Chuck could pull accurate reports that matched what was really happening in the parts department. Accounting had fewer issues. Leadership had better visibility. And most importantly, the DMS was finally doing its job—so Chuck could do his better.

Takeaways

• One default source structure creates confusion and extra work
• Grouping parts by category = better pricing, ordering, and tracking
• A few sources can drastically improve clarity and confidence
  
  
  

  Once the DMS is doing the work for you and not the other way around, it changes everything.” -Chuck Hartle

Listen to the full episode 🎧

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/920fKGhWwUb

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