CATAMA with an Interface (API) to the Dolphin Parts Catalogue: The Seamless Connection for Efficient Automotive Businesses

Seven minutes. That is how long it takes on average to look up a spare part manually in the catalogue, type in the article number and transfer it into the workshop system. Multiplied by 30 line items a day, several hours of pure searching quickly add up – time that is then missing in the workshop. This is exactly where CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue comes in: a direct data bridge that transfers spare parts from the Dolphin catalogue straight into job processing – including price, description and availability.

For automotive workshops and trading businesses in the passenger car sector, this represents a quantum leap in efficiency. Instead of juggling several programs, the entire process from vehicle identification through to invoicing runs in a single system. This article shows in detail how the integration works, which benefits it brings and what to look out for when setting it up.

Key Takeaways

• Direct data flow: articles from the Dolphin parts catalogue are transferred into CATAMA via API without any manual entry.
• Time savings of up to 60 % when recording jobs, because duplicate data maintenance is eliminated.
• Fewer errors: typing mistakes in article numbers and prices are a thing of the past.
• Full integration: shopping basket, ordering and invoicing mesh together seamlessly.
• Scalable: suitable for small workshops just as much as for large multi-brand businesses and independent workshop chains.

What is CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue?

CATAMA is a cloud-based automotive workshop software that bundles workshop management, invoicing, inventory management and customer administration into a single solution. The Dolphin parts catalogue, in turn, is an established electronic spare parts catalogue used by many independent workshops and parts wholesalers. It contains millions of article records, cross-references to OE numbers and detailed vehicle assignments.

The interface (API) between the two systems ensures that both worlds talk to one another on a technical level. Instead of a manual handover by copy & paste or typing an article number several times over, Dolphin passes the complete shopping basket directly to CATAMA. There the line items land in exactly the right job, on the right vehicle and with the right customer.

How does the technical connection work?

The API works in the background according to a clearly defined data standard. The sequence follows a fixed pattern:

1. The vehicle is selected in the CATAMA job (HSN/TSN or VIN).
2. The Dolphin parts catalogue is opened with a single click – the vehicle data is passed across with it.
3. The parts search takes place in the catalogue and the shopping basket is filled.
4. At the press of the transfer button, all line items travel back into the CATAMA job together with price and description.

This does away with the media break entirely. The interfaces of the CATAMA software to suppliers and e-commerce form a comprehensive ecosystem into which Dolphin fits seamlessly.

Why an API interface to the parts catalogue is indispensable

Workshops today work with ever tighter margins and, at the same time, rising customer expectations. Anyone who can only deliver an estimate hours later frequently loses the job to a competitor. A direct connection to the parts catalogue is therefore not a „nice-to-have“ but a decisive competitive factor.

„Every minute a service adviser spends typing at the counter is a minute in which they are not there to advise the customer.“

The most important benefits at a glance

Concrete time savings in everyday workshop life

An average workshop with five members of staff records around 40 to 60 jobs per week. With 8 to 15 line items per job, that quickly amounts to 400 to 900 individual items. With the API connection, the pure recording effort shrinks from several working days a month to just a few hours. A detailed look at how automotive workshops save time and money with CATAMA software shows the full savings potential.

How CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue works in detail

For the benefits to take hold in practice, it is worth taking a look at the individual functional building blocks. The interface is more than just a data channel – it is a carefully thought-out workflow.

Vehicle data as the key

Everything begins with the vehicle. CATAMA hands the most important identifying details over to Dolphin:

• HSN/TSN (manufacturer key number and type key number)
• VIN (vehicle identification number)
• First registration and engine version
• KBA data for narrowing down the variants

Just how important this data is for the correct allocation of parts is described in detail in the guide to HSN, TSN and KBA key numbers.

Search, selection and shopping basket

In the Dolphin catalogue, users navigate through the familiar interface: assembly groups, exploded views, OE cross-references and aftermarket alternatives. Once an article is selected, it lands in the shopping basket. Several articles can be gathered together without having to switch back to CATAMA in between.

Transfer back into the CATAMA job

Once the search is complete, the data is handed back via the API. The following data is transferred:

• Article number (supplier number and, where applicable, OE number)
• Article description
• Purchase price and sales price
• Unit of measure and quantity
• Deposit or old parts tax, where applicable

Speaking of the old parts tax: how it is invoiced correctly is explained in the guide to the old parts tax in the automotive trade.

Ordering directly from the job

As soon as the line items have been recorded in the job, an order can be placed with the parts supplier directly from within CATAMA. The ordering system is seamlessly embedded in inventory management, so that stock levels, goods receipts and open orders remain transparent at all times.

Benefits for automotive workshops and the passenger car trade

The integration is aimed not only at service advisers but at the entire business. From the master technician and the warehouse manager through to accounting, every area benefits.

For the service adviser

• Faster estimates directly at the counter
• Up-to-date prices and delivery times during customer conversations
• Fewer queries, less rework
• More time for the actual customer consultation

For the workshop manager

• Better capacity planning thanks to prompt job approvals
• A transparent cost picture for every job
• Shorter vehicle downtimes because parts are ordered more quickly

For accounting

• Clean document data without manual reworking
• Automatic handover to invoicing
• Simplified interfaces to DATEV and e-invoicing

The matching automotive invoicing program with a DATEV interface and e-invoicing rounds off the end-to-end process.

For the vehicle trade

Pure trading businesses benefit too: anyone preparing used or new vehicles can cost add-on parts, repair parts and accessories directly via the API. The specialised automotive software for the vehicle trade shows more.

Setup and technical requirements

Activating CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue is pleasingly straightforward. Because CATAMA runs as a cloud solution, no server installations are necessary.

The requirements at a glance

1. CATAMA licence – ideally from the CATAMA Professional Suite upwards for the full range of functions
2. Active Dolphin access with valid login credentials
3. A stable internet connection (cloud architecture)
4. An up-to-date web browser (Chrome, Edge or Firefox, each in its current version)

Steps for setting it up

Activation takes just a few minutes:

• Log in to CATAMA with administrator rights
• Open the interface configuration
• Enter the Dolphin login credentials (user, password, client ID)
• Run a test connection
• Enable it for the users

Should any questions arise, contact and support for the CATAMA cloud software solution is available.

Training the staff

Even though operation is intuitive, a short briefing is worthwhile. Experience shows that staff are confident in using it after 30 to 60 minutes of practical exercise. The typical use cases such as direct reception, a repair job or a warranty case should be run through once. The guide to the importance of direct reception in automotive servicing provides valuable pointers for the workflow.

CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue compared with other connections

Dolphin is not the only parts catalogue interface that CATAMA offers. Rather, it forms part of a broad interface portfolio that can be combined according to the supplier structure of the business.

Overview of the available interfaces

When is the Dolphin connection particularly worthwhile?

The Dolphin interface is especially useful when the business:

• works predominantly with aftermarket parts
• serves several vehicle brands
• attaches importance to a large article database
• already uses Dolphin as a procurement platform

In combination with further interfaces, hybrid scenarios can also be mapped – for instance when OE parts for certain brands are sourced via Partslink24 and aftermarket goods for independent repairs via Dolphin.

A practical example: a typical working day with the integration

To make the theory tangible, here is a concrete example from everyday life in a medium-sized independent workshop with three vehicle lifts.

Monday, 8:15 a.m.: A customer brings his VW Golf in for a service. The service adviser scans the vehicle registration document and CATAMA automatically creates the vehicle – including HSN, TSN and VIN. With a single click, Dolphin opens directly with the correct vehicle data.

8:18 a.m.: In the catalogue, an oil filter, an air filter, a cabin filter and engine oil are selected. At the press of a button, the shopping basket is handed back to CATAMA.

8:20 a.m.: All line items appear in the job together with prices. The adviser adds the labour items from the stored catalogue. The quotation is ready after five minutes and is sent to the customer by email.

8:35 a.m.: The customer confirms with a click. The order travels automatically to the supplier.

11:00 a.m.: The parts have arrived and the mechanic starts work. The process is cleanly documented and the vehicle history is recorded without any gaps.

What would previously have cost 30 minutes of pure recording time is dealt with in under seven minutes.

Frequently asked questions about the CATAMA Dolphin integration

Can I use the interface without a premium licence?

As a rule, the interface is available from the higher-value CATAMA editions upwards. A look at the CATAMA software solutions and prices 2026 provides clarity about the modules included in each case.

What does the connection cost?

The API connection itself is included in the corresponding CATAMA editions. The normal Dolphin usage fees charged by the catalogue provider do apply, however. The outlay is typically recouped within a few weeks through the saved working time alone.

Are prices and stock levels transferred in real time?

Yes. Because the API accesses Dolphin live, prices and availability are up to date at the moment of transfer. This avoids miscalculations.

Can the interface be combined with others?

Of course. CATAMA has an open architecture and can run several catalogue and supplier interfaces in parallel. That is a major advantage, particularly for multi-brand and mixed businesses.

How secure is the data?

CATAMA is operated in certified data centres in Germany. Data transmission to the Dolphin API is encrypted. The details are governed by the privacy policy of the CATAMA automotive software.

Tips for getting the maximum benefit from the interface

So that the investment in the digital connection unfolds the greatest possible effect, a few accompanying measures are worthwhile.

Keep master data clean

Even the best interface is of no help if customer and vehicle master data is incomplete. Consistent maintenance of centralised vehicle and customer management is the foundation.

Standardise workflows

Anyone who always follows the same sequence – open the vehicle, start Dolphin, transfer the shopping basket, place the order – works faster and makes fewer mistakes. A short internal work instruction creates clarity.

Make use of the reports

CATAMA delivers detailed reports on revenue, margins and ordering trends. These should be analysed regularly in order to improve purchasing terms and identify slow-moving stock.

Involve the staff

Even the best software is of no use if the users do not accept it. Hands-on sessions, short training courses and an open ear for suggested improvements pay off. Frequently the best ideas for optimisation come straight from the team.

An economic view: return on investment

The investment in modern workshop software with a Dolphin API usually pays for itself very quickly. A simplified example calculation:

• 5 members of staff each record 8 jobs a day with 6 line items each
• Time saved per line item: approx. 50 seconds
• Daily saving: 5 x 8 x 6 x 50 sec. = 12,000 seconds = 200 minutes = 3.3 hours
• Monthly saving (20 working days): approx. 66 hours
• At an internal hourly rate of 45 euros: 2,970 euros per month

Even if only half of this theoretical saving is actually realised, it covers the software costs many times over. A well-founded calculation of your own hourly rate is made possible by the free hourly rate calculator for automotive workshops.

An outlook: AI, OCR and automated workflows

The integration of the Dolphin parts catalogue is only one building block. CATAMA is continuously being developed further. An intelligent vehicle capture using OCR technology is already available today, automatically evaluating vehicle registration documents. Combined with the API connection to Dolphin, this creates an almost fully automatic recording process: scan – master data – parts search – job – order. Over the coming years, AI-supported functions will enable further leaps in efficiency, for example with parts suggestions based on past repairs or with predictive stock management.

Conclusion and next steps

CATAMA with an interface (API) to the Dolphin parts catalogue is more than a technical detail – it is a strategic lever for greater efficiency, fewer errors and higher customer satisfaction in automotive workshops and trading businesses. Anyone still typing article numbers in manually today is giving away hard cash and valuable advisory time.

Concrete next steps:

1. Take stock: how many line items are currently recorded manually each day? Which suppliers are the most important ones?
2. Check your requirements: does Dolphin suit your supplier structure? Which further interfaces make sense?
3. Request a demo: a free trial of the cloud workshop software gives a hands-on impression.
4. Involve your staff: communicate and train early, so that acceptance within the team is high right from the start.
5. Start with a clear roadmap: a step-by-step introduction, accompanied by CATAMA support.

The digitalisation of everyday workshop life is no longer a distant prospect – it is already reality today. Anyone who sets the course now will noticeably extend their lead over the competition in the years to come.