VOCA AS
VOCA AS is a Norwegian AI and computer vision company developing digitalization, remote-control and autonomy solutions for the offshore industry, ports, terminals and onshore supply bases via its Software Platform, Optilift hardware sensors and Digital Logistics cargo tracking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersKristiansand, Norway
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What VOCA AS does
VOCA AS is a Norwegian AI and computer vision technology company developing digitalization, remote-control and autonomy solutions for harsh, uncontrolled industrial environments, with primary applications in the offshore industry and adjacent ports, terminals and onshore supply bases. Its core asset is the VOCA Software Platform, in continuous development since 2014, which integrates perception (cameras, lasers, OCR), machine control, physics-based simulation, AI training infrastructure, digital twin, work order management and a remote control room. The platform powers the Optilift product line (wholly-owned subsidiary Optilift AS) — including the patented Motion Reporter, People Detector and Autonomous Crane Control System — as well as the Digital Logistics solution (Digital Logistics AS subsidiary) for closed-loop planning, execution and automatic tracking of cargo handling. Hardware consists of retrofit sensor kits (Sensor ONE Kit for Zone 1 EX offshore cranes, CORE Kit for quay side cranes, Drive Kit for forklifts and reach stackers, Gangway Kit for vessel-mounted gangways, plus a Zone 1 ATEX Laser Sensor and a Metron adaptable sensor base). VOCA reports labor cost reductions of 40-60% and materially reduced accident exposure as customer outcomes, with marquee engagements including Aker BP (autonomous offshore crane co-development) and ASCO (operational since Q2 2023 at a container port for quay side cranes and automated container identification).
The company generates revenue across three streams: hardware sales (proprietary sensor kits), software/subscription (Optilift and Digital Logistics platforms) and customized R&D services for AI and computer vision digitalization. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales targeting offshore operators, ports and terminals globally, with the headquarters in Kristiansand, Norway serving an international market. Operations have been substantially supported by non-dilutive grant funding, notably a 2017-2019 EU Horizon 2020 SME Instrument award and a 2020-2023 Norwegian Research Council grant of 12.9 MNOK to develop next-generation autonomous cargo handling. The company is privately held (ISIN NO 001 0649304, 42,000,990 VPS-registered shares), led by founder-CEO Torbjørn Engedal, with Kjell Skappel (founder/managing director of Stavanger Venture) as Chair of the Board; team size is small (1-10 employees).
VOCA AS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VOCA AS
- Legal name
- VOCA AS
- Website
- https://voca.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- VOCA AS is a Norwegian AI and computer vision company developing digitalization, remote-control and autonomy solutions for the offshore industry, ports, terminals and onshore supply bases via its Software Platform, Optilift hardware sensors and Digital Logistics cargo tracking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VOCA AS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial AI & Computer Vision Software for Offshore Autonomy
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Hyperautomation Platforms (HDAEAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Enterprise PaaS (App Runtime & Managed Application Platforms) (HDAEAKAB)
Keywords
Where VOCA AS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kristiansand
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
VOCA AS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Sensors: Sale of proprietary sensor hardware including Sensor ONE Kit (Zone 1 EX certified for offshore cranes), CORE Kit (weather-proof for quay side cranes), Drive Kit (for forklifts and reach stackers), Gangway Kit (for vessel-mounted gangways), Laser Sensor (Zone 1 ATEX certified), and Metron (adaptable sensor base).
- Software Platform & Solutions: Software solutions including autonomous crane control, motion reporting, people detection, and digital logistics. These can be retrofitted to existing machines and integrated into existing infrastructure.
- Customized R&D Services: Customized solutions for AI- and computer vision-based digitalization, remote control and autonomy as part of R&D project engagements.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
VOCA AS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VOCA AS is an AI technology development company that builds and sells a computer vision and AI software platform enabling digitalization, assisted remote control, and autonomous machine control for harsh industrial environments. The platform powers the Optilift product suite (autonomous crane control, Motion Reporter, People Detector) and the Digital Logistics solution, complemented by ruggedized sensor hardware kits certified for offshore (Zone 1 EX/ATEX) and port environments that can be retrofitted to existing cranes, forklifts, reachstackers, and gangways.
Product overview
VOCA AS is an AI technology development company offering a portfolio of hardware sensors and software solutions for industrial digitalization and autonomy, primarily serving the offshore industry including ports and terminals. The core offering is the VOCA Software Platform (established 2014), which powers AI-enabled applications through modules for perception, machine control, digital twin, and remote control. This platform underpins the Optilift product line (a fully owned subsidiary brand) for cargo handling safety and efficiency, including Motion Reporter (patented), People Detector, and the Autonomous Crane Control System. Hardware offerings span specialized sensor kits (Sensor ONE Kit for Zone 1 EX offshore environments, CORE Kit for quay cranes, Drive Kit for forklifts/reach stackers, Gangway Kit for vessel gangways, Laser Sensor, and Metron adaptable base). R&D Services provide customized AI and computer vision solutions. The Digital Logistics solution (also a wholly-owned subsidiary) delivers closed-loop cargo planning, execution, and tracking. The company also developed autonomous cargo handling technology for collaborative cranes, forklifts, reach stackers, and drones at ports and terminals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Optilift: Solutions for safer and more efficient cargo handling in harsh and uncontrolled environments, including ports & terminals, offshore sites and onshore supplybases.
- Digital Logistics
Products and services
- Optilift AI-powered solution suite for safer and more efficient cargo handling in harsh and uncontrolled environments, serving ports and terminals, offshore sites, and onshore supply bases.
- R&D Services Customized AI and computer vision-based digitalization, remote control, and autonomy solutions for industrial customers, including machine control systems with intelligent sensor technologies, mathematical models, and predictive control algorithms.
- VOCA Software Platform AI and computer vision software platform designed for digitalization and autonomous machine control in harsh industrial environments, with modules for perception, machine control, AI training, digital twin, physics-based simulator, work order management, and remote control room.
- Sensor ONE Kit Zone 1 EX certified boom tip and crane cabin sensor kit for offshore cranes, featuring onboard AI processing, camera-based sensing, and ruggedized design for harsh North Sea conditions.
- CORE Kit Weather-proof boom tip and crane cabin sensor kit for quay side cranes, fixed and mobile equipment.
- Drive Kit Weather-proof sensor kit for forklifts, reach stackers, and other wheel-based cargo handling machines.
- Gangway Kit Weather-proof sensor for automated operation of vessel-mounted gangways.
- Laser Sensor Zone 1 ATEX certified smart IoT laser distance and perimeter sensor for industrial environments.
- Metron Adaptable sensor base with onboard processing powered by the VOCA software platform, designed for new industrial applications.
- Optilift Autonomous Crane Control System System enabling autonomous marine lifting operations and remote-controlled offshore crane control, with patented technology supporting safer and more efficient crane operations in harsh environments.
- Optilift Motion Reporter Patented product utilizing camera and laser range measurement device to measure deck velocity for safer and more efficient lifting operations.
- Optilift People Detector AI and computer vision-based system that detects people and dangerous situations using one or more cameras mounted on vehicles or surroundings.
- Digital Logistics Closed-loop AI and computer vision solution for planning, execution, and automatic tracking of cargo transfers within ports and terminals, and transits between onshore base and offshore sites, using AI-based optical character recognition.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduce labor costs with 40% to 60% through remote control and autonomous handling
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use VOCA AS
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
VOCA AS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature9 records
VOCA AS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Aker BPcoreAker BP collaborated with Optilift (VOCA subsidiary) on developing remote controlled- and autonomous offshore crane control system. Aker BP was also a piloting partner in the Horizon 2020 EU-funded project for upscaling and commercializing Optilift lifting support and digital logistics solutions.
- ASCOcoreASCO was a piloting partner in the Horizon 2020 EU-funded project. VOCA supported ASCO in digitalization projects including mobile quay side cranes. ASCO operational at container port from Q2 2023 using VOCA technology.
- University of ZaragozaminorAcademic research partner in the Norwegian Research Council funded autonomous cargo handling and transportation project (November 2020 - end 2023). Contributed to developing perception- and robotic control technology through computer vision and AI.
- AerseaminorIndustrial partner in the Norwegian Research Council funded autonomous cargo handling and transportation project. Worked on technology to interconnect cranes, forklifts, reach stackers and drones for safer logistical operations.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VOCA AS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ABB: ABB provides industrial automation, robotics, and control systems used in ports, cranes and harsh industrial environments. Comparable to VOCA as a broad automation incumbent whose process automation and machine control offerings overlap with VOCA's autonomous crane and digital logistics technology.
- Siemens: Siemens delivers industrial automation, digital twins and logistics software for ports and large industrial operators. Comparable to VOCA as an incumbent with overlapping digital-twin, automation, and industrial AI capabilities, though operating at much larger scale.
- Honeywell: Honeywell offers industrial automation, sensing, and process-control solutions for harsh environments, including ports and terminals. Comparable to VOCA as an incumbent with industrial sensors and control software that overlap with VOCA's sensor-plus-software stack.
- Cargotec (Kalmar / MacGregor): Cargotec, through Kalmar and MacGregor, supplies cargo and load-handling equipment for ports, terminals and offshore vessels, with growing investment in automation and digital services. Comparable to VOCA as a broad port-and-offshore equipment incumbent now pushing autonomy and digital logistics.
- Konecranes: Konecranes is a global leader in crane manufacturing and port automation, with digital and remote-control features for container handling. It is comparable to VOCA as an established incumbent offering crane automation, though Konecranes' scale and OEM model differ from VOCA's retrofit-focused AI platform.
Direct peers
- Seegrid: Seegrid builds autonomous mobile robots and vision-guided vehicles for material handling in industrial and logistics facilities. Comparable to VOCA as a peer in vision-driven autonomy for industrial cargo handling, though primarily addressing warehouse and manufacturing rather than offshore environments.
- OTTO Motors (Clearpath Robotics): OTTO Motors offers autonomous mobile robots for material movement in factories and warehouses. Comparable to VOCA as a peer in autonomous industrial material handling, though addressing indoor factory environments versus VOCA's harsh outdoor ports and offshore sites.
- BlueBotics: BlueBotics provides autonomous navigation technology for industrial vehicles such as forklifts, AGVs and tuggers used in warehouses, factories and ports. Comparable to VOCA as a direct peer in autonomous industrial vehicle control, though focused on indoor/structured environments rather than harsh offshore sites.
Emerging players
- Locus Robotics: Locus Robotics provides autonomous mobile robots for warehouse fulfillment and logistics operations. Comparable to VOCA as an emerging player in autonomous logistics, though focused on warehouse picking rather than port crane or offshore cargo handling.
- Boston Dynamics: Boston Dynamics develops advanced mobile robots (including Stretch for warehouse logistics) with strong perception and autonomy capabilities. Comparable to VOCA as an emerging player with overlapping AI-driven autonomy for material handling, though at much larger scale and broader scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VOCA AS social profiles
Digital presenceVOCA AS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VOCA AS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
VOCA AS subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
VOCA AS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VOCA AS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VOCA AS
What does VOCA AS do?
VOCA AS is an AI technology development company that builds and sells a computer vision and AI software platform enabling digitalization, assisted remote control, and autonomous machine control for harsh industrial environments. The platform powers the Optilift product suite (autonomous crane control, Motion Reporter, People Detector) and the Digital Logistics solution, complemented by ruggedized sensor hardware kits certified for offshore (Zone 1 EX/ATEX) and port environments that can be retrofitted to existing cranes, forklifts, reachstackers, and gangways.
Is VOCA AS a public or private company?
VOCA AS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was VOCA AS founded?
VOCA AS was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is VOCA AS based?
VOCA AS is headquartered in Kristiansand, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does VOCA AS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sensors are the primary driver. The others are software Platform & Solutions and customized R&D Services.
Who are VOCA AS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ABB, Siemens, Honeywell, Cargotec (Kalmar / MacGregor) and Konecranes. Direct peers are Seegrid, OTTO Motors (Clearpath Robotics) and BlueBotics. Emerging players are Locus Robotics and Boston Dynamics.
Does VOCA AS have an API?
No public API is recorded for VOCA AS.
What industry is VOCA AS in?
VOCA AS's product category is Industrial AI & Computer Vision Software for Offshore Autonomy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAKAF, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Hyperautomation Platforms, with a secondary code of HDAEAKAB, Enterprise PaaS (App Runtime & Managed Application Platforms). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 7373.