Our Milestones

HBS Systems » Our Milestones

A legacy built on innovation

For nearly four decades, HBS Systems has pushed the equipment dealership industry forward—one milestone at a time. Our history is defined by purpose-driven innovation, customer-focused progress, and a commitment to building solutions that stand the test of time. This timeline highlights the advancements, breakthroughs, and industry firsts that have shaped who we are today.

 = First in the Industry

1985

HBS Systems is founded by Bob Stone and Max Higgs. The company launches with the Uniflex operating system, marking the beginning of four decades of innovation in dealership management software.

1986

Lynn Reed joins HBS Systems as one of the first employees, helping establish the company’s foundation for long-term technical leadership.

1987

HBS Systems is highlighted at a major dealer event, gaining 77 new dealership signups in one weekend—a breakthrough moment in company growth.

First to move to the Xenix operating system, leveraging commodity servers for multi-location dealerships.

1991

Launch of EPIC (Electronic Parts Information Catalogue), the first of its kind in the industry, providing digital access to OEM parts data for multiple manufacturers.

Manufacturers supported include AGCO, Gleaner, Massey Ferguson, White, Deutz-Allis, Bobcat, Vermeer, Kinze, and Sunflower.

EPIC is later branded as “Support Pro” for Case and New Holland dealers.

1992

Transitioned to the UNIX operating system, improving system stability and scalability.

1995

Chad Stone joins HBS Systems, beginning in support and later moving into sales and leadership roles.

1996

Launch of COIN (Crossover Information Network), enabling dealers to cross-reference parts across multiple vendors.

Introduced integrated repair orders that connected service, general ledger, and whole goods management—advancing unified dealership operations.

1997

Significant company growth as Karen O’Connor and Scot Kirkegaard join HBS Systems.

Opened Canadian and Des Moines, Iowa offices, and expanded the team by hiring 27 dealership specialists with hundreds of years of combined experience.

1998

Introduced the first classroom-style training for dealerships, using real customer data.

Released electronic user guides on CD-ROM, began Y2K preparation, and launched the industry’s first integrated rental system.

1999

Completed full Y2K readiness, converting two-digit dates to four-digit format to ensure system continuity.

2002

Launch of NetView, HBS’s native browser-based dealership management system—years ahead of competitors still on legacy green-screen systems.

Introduced the eCustomer Gateway, allowing dealerships to access customer account information online.

2005

Released Eclipse, automating all software and data updates including price files and tax tables—eliminating manual update processes.

Transitioned infrastructure to Linux, enhancing system stability and scalability.

2006

Expanded OEM integrations with multiple manufacturers.

Introduced the first mobile inventory scanning system for dealerships.

Launched GraphXpress, a Windows-based visualization tool for graphs and charts across general ledger and parts.

2007

Introduced automated statement processing with multi-invoice-per-page printing—reducing paper and mailing costs.

2010

Co-founder Max Higgs retires. Bob and Chad Stone move toward full ownership of HBS Systems.

Launched NetView Cloud, a private cloud-hosting platform designed and built by Lynn Reed—years ahead of most DMS providers.

Partnered with The Delta Group (Ayres Delta), expanding to six locations and forming a dedicated data conversion team.

2011

Bob and Chad Stone assume full ownership of HBS Systems, ushering in a new era of innovation and growth.

Baker Implement becomes the first cloud customer with nine locations.

Michael Prengler joins the team, later leading development and operations to modernize software and processes.

2012

Launch of the reimagined NetView Rental system, further enhancing dealership rental operations.

2014

Launch of NetView ECO, a fully web-based DMS that sets a new standard for user experience.

Introduced Active Desktop, a customizable dashboard bringing real-time reporting, OEM data, and searches into a single interface.

Rolled out online user guides and the first interactive tile-based reporting system.

2015

Expanded into construction and industrial equipment dealerships, building on the success of the rental platform.

Integrated telematics with Kubota, enabling real-time equipment connectivity.

Nueces Power Equipment joins as a major multi-location partner.

2016

Reached 50 employees.

Enhanced NetView Rental with a modernized availability engine.

Launched Active Desktop enhancements and introduced the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model.

2017

Expanded SaaS adoption across dealerships nationwide.

2020

Implemented CSAT and NPS tracking, achieving exceptional satisfaction scores (95% CSAT, 60 NPS).

Transitioned to remote work during COVID-19 and introduced new recruitment strategies to attract national talent.

Introduced Business Intelligence (BI) enhancements for advanced reporting and analytics.

2022

Established a dedicated OEM Integrations Team, further strengthening manufacturer connectivity.

Expanded BI capabilities and data-driven dashboards.

2024

Achieved SOC 2 Type II certification, reinforcing HBS Systems’ commitment to security and data protection.

Launched SmartIron Financial, expanding into embedded financial services for dealerships.

2025

Introduced HBS Academy, a Learning Management System for dealership training and certification.

Launched NetView CORE+, delivering resilient, scalable infrastructure with disaster recovery and virtual data center capabilities.

2025–Future

Rebuilding SQL database architecture to enhance speed and scalability.

Integrating AI-powered features including natural language queries, predictive analytics, and assistant-style interactions for next-generation dealership intelligence.