Pico MES

What Pico MES does

Pico MES is a private, venture-backed manufacturing execution system (MES) software company founded in 2019 and headquartered in Redwood City, California. The company targets small and mid-sized discrete manufacturers in the United States, offering a modular, no-code platform built around digital work instructions, real-time error-proofing (poka-yoke), manufacturing traceability, data and analytics, and connected supply chain visibility. The platform's underlying technology combines cloud-hosted or on-premise software with edge hardware (Pico Server and Pico Hubs) that connect to shop floor tools through industrial protocols including OPC UA, Modbus, Open Protocol (PFOP), TCP/IP, RS232, USB, and Bluetooth. Pico's device library exceeds 2,500 plug-and-play integrations covering torque tools, barcode scanners, vision systems, leak testers, and CNC machines, with all integrations offered free of charge to customers.

The company sells through a hybrid go-to-market combining product-led growth (a freemium tier for digital work instructions with self-serve onboarding) and enterprise field sales for larger deployments. Revenue mechanics include SaaS subscriptions, hardware sales (Pico Server at $1,500 per site, Pico Hubs at $150 each), premium support contracts, and custom tool integration development fees. Pico has raised approximately $23 million in total funding across multiple rounds, with the most recent being a $12.35 million Series A in August 2023 led by Bosch Ventures, alongside SE Ventures, Counterpart Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Union Labs, and Lemnos. The company maintains SOC 2 Type II and ITAR compliance and has been recognized on Software Advice Front Runners 2025 and Capterra Shortlist 2025.

Named customers span automotive Tier 1 suppliers (Pollington Machine Tool), battery and energy manufacturing (Lithos Energy), supply chain solutions (HJI Supply Chain Solutions), and environmental equipment (LI-COR Environmental), with leadership bringing prior experience from General Motors, Tesla, Alta Motors, Collins Aerospace, and GKN Aerospace. Pico positions itself as a modern, lower-cost alternative to legacy MES systems, claiming deployment in hours rather than 6-24 months and pricing an order of magnitude below traditional implementations.

Name

Pico MES

Legal name

Pico MES, Inc.

Website

https://picomes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pico MES is a private manufacturing execution system (MES) software company founded in 2019 that provides a no-code, modular platform with digital work instructions, error-proofing, and traceability for small and mid-sized discrete manufacturers in the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)

Keywords

• Manufacturing execution system
• Error-proofing software
• Digital work instructions
• Shop floor integration
• Manufacturing traceability

Headquarters

HQ city

Redwood City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: SaaS subscription model for PICO MES platform access. Pricing includes PICO Server at $1,500 per site and PICO Hubs at $150 each. No long-term contracts required with pay-as-you-go options. Free tier available for basic digital work instructions.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of physical hardware including Pico Server and Pico Hubs (edge devices). Hardware is purchased separately from software subscriptions and includes pre-installed software components.
3. Premium Support Contracts: Tiered support services with premium contracts available for manufacturers requiring timely attention. Response times measured in hours or days.
4. Custom Tool Integration Development: Additional development fees may be charged for creating custom tool integrations beyond the standard device library, at company's sole discretion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pico MES (PICO) is a modular, edge-based Manufacturing Execution System (MES) for discrete manufacturers that combines digital work instructions, IoT-enabled real-time error-proofing (poka-yoke), and unified traceability across people, tools, and machines. It is sold as a SaaS platform bundled with optional Pico Server and Pico Hub edge hardware, and it connects to 2,500+ shop floor tools via no-code plug-and-play integrations supporting protocols such as OPC UA, Modbus, Open Protocol (PFOP), TCP/IP, and RS232. The platform targets small and mid-sized U.S. factories with a free digital work instructions tier and paid server/hub subscriptions, aiming to deploy in hours rather than the months typical of legacy MES systems.

Product overview

Pico MES (PICO) is a modular Manufacturing Execution System built around an error-proofing platform for discrete manufacturing. The core PICO platform provides Digital Work Instructions with step-by-step operator guidance, Error-Proofing for real-time poka-yoke validation through IoT device integrations, Traceability for complete build history, Data & Analytics for real-time manufacturing visibility, and Supply Chain Monitoring for supplier-OEM data sharing. These core modules are complemented by the Device Library with 330+ no-code plug-and-play tool integrations, Training Center for onboarding, and a free entry-level tier. The platform supports both cloud and on-premise deployment via Pico Server hardware and Pico Hub edge devices, connecting to ERP systems (NetSuite, Odoo), SCADA platforms (Ignition), QMS, PLM, and analytics systems through open APIs and industrial protocols (OPC UA, Modbus, TCP/IP).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PICO Platform (Pico MES) Modular manufacturing execution system (MES) for discrete manufacturing that provides digital work instructions, IoT tool integrations for real-time data capture, error-proofing (poka-yoke), and full traceability across people, process, and tools. Designed for small and mid-sized manufacturers with no-code deployment.
• Digital Work Instructions Step-by-step operator guidance module with layered content, colorful images, and visual prompts. Modeled after familiar tools like PowerPoint and Google Slides for easy authoring, supports process variants and multilingual work instructions for high-mix, low-volume assemblies.
• Error-Proofing (Poka-Yoke) Real-time poka-yoke module that prevents operator errors from happening through torque validation, barcode checks, auto-gating, photo proof, sensor logic, and automated workflow advancement when assemblies are completed correctly.
• Manufacturing Traceability Module enabling instant tracing of any part's complete build history, automatically logging tool data, operator actions, device results, photos, timestamps, and station context across human and machine activity.
• Data & Analytics Real-time manufacturing analytics providing visibility into throughput, yield, operator performance, and production targets via Visual Factory TV dashboards for data-driven decision-making.
• Supply Chain Monitoring (Connected Supply Chain) Module that shares critical data between suppliers and OEMs with real-time visibility across the supply chain to coordinate production across the manufacturing network.
• Pico Server

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,000 units assembled with zero defects during automotive Safe Launch qualification
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration34 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ingersoll RandcoreTechnology or Integration · 23 April 2024Integration partnership for precision fastening systems. Pico MES connects with Ingersoll Rand torque controllers (INSIGHTqc, INSIGHTqcx) and torque tools (QE2, QX, QXXD/QXXN series) for real-time torque validation and error-proofing. Joint presence at The Assembly Show South 2024.
• ZebracoreTechnology or Integration · 23 April 2024Integration partnership for barcode scanners and data capture devices. Zebra provides real-time data capture for traceability and quality assurance on the shop floor.
• KolvercoreTechnology or Integration · 23 April 2024Integration partnership for industrial electric screwdrivers. Joint marketing at The Assembly Show South 2024. Kolver provides precision fastening tools that integrate with Pico MES for error-proofed assembly.
• KeyencecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration for laser marking systems. Keyence laser markers connect to Pico MES for traceability and quality documentation.
• Detect-ItcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration for AI camera vision systems. Detect-It's AI cameras provide real-time visual validation integrated into Pico MES workflows for error-proofing.
• Pollington Machine ToolminorOthersCustomer case study partner featured in webinars and blog posts. Joint content on advanced traceability implementation.
• NetSuitecoreTechnology or IntegrationERP integration for data synchronization between shop floor and business systems. Pico MES connects to NetSuite to sync production data.
• Industry 4.0 AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with industry accelerator focused on manufacturing digitalization and Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Tulip Interfaces: Tulip is a frontline operations / connected worker platform for manufacturers, directly named by Pico as a primary competitor in its own comparison pages. Both target discrete manufacturing with no-code apps, IoT device connectivity, and digital work instructions for operators.
• Dozuki: Dozuki is a standard work instructions and connected worker platform explicitly compared against Pico on Pico's website. Both serve manufacturers digitizing paper-based procedures and training frontline operators.
• iBASEt: iBASEt provides a MES / manufacturing execution and quality platform for complex discrete and aerospace/defense manufacturers. It is a direct competitor for mid-market and enterprise MES deals, particularly where traceability and compliance are required.
• Augmentir: Augmentir is an AI-connected worker platform for industrial companies offering digital procedures, training, and remote collaboration for frontline teams. It competes with Pico for the same digital work instruction and operator guidance budgets in discrete manufacturing.
• Poka: Poka is a connected worker platform for manufacturers focused on knowledge sharing, training, and digital work instructions on the shop floor. It targets the same SMB/mid-market discrete manufacturing buyer as Pico MES with overlapping functionality.
• VKS (LightGuide): VKS / LightGuide provides electronic work instructions and visual guidance for manufacturing assembly, and was directly compared against Pico in a customer evaluation (LI-COR). Both compete for shop floor digital work instruction and error-proofing budgets.

Broad incumbents

• Rockwell Automation (FactoryTalk MES): Rockwell Automation offers FactoryTalk MES / ProductionCentre as part of a broad industrial automation portfolio. It competes with Pico for manufacturing execution, traceability, and quality use cases, particularly inside Rockwell's installed PLC/automation base.
• Siemens Opcenter Execution: Siemens Opcenter (formerly Camstar) is a flagship enterprise MES offering from Siemens targeting global discrete and process manufacturers. It competes with Pico at the high end of the MES market and serves as the incumbent alternative for larger customers considering Pico.
• Dassault Systèmes DELMIA: Dassault's DELMIA portfolio delivers MES, manufacturing operations management, and digital twin solutions for global manufacturers. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Pico for enterprise manufacturing software spend.

Emerging players

• Critical Manufacturing: Critical Manufacturing provides a modern MES specifically for high-tech and discrete manufacturers, with strong overlap to Pico on shop floor execution, traceability, and quality. It is a more enterprise-focused alternative competing for similar buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pico-mes
• Facebookfacebook.com/PicoMESoftware

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pico MES