Sternico
Sternico GmbH is a German software and engineering firm (founded 1999) that develops cloud-based CMMS and railway operations platforms — RAILBASE, DISPOLINO, and COMAP — for European railway operators, infrastructure managers, vehicle renters, and maintenance providers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersWendeburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Sternico does
Sternico GmbH is a German private limited company (GmbH) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Wendeburg, Lower Saxony, with engineering operations across Wendeburg and Braunschweig. The company develops and markets cloud-based software platforms and engineering services for the European railway industry, targeting railway operators (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen, EVU), infrastructure managers (Eisenbahninfrastrukturunternehmen, EIU), rolling-stock rental companies, and maintenance providers. Its three core software products are RAILBASE, a cloud-native CMMS platform covering fleet management, maintenance development, and workshop management with native support for ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) functions 1-3 on locomotives and freight wagons; DISPOLINO, a route traffic and yard traffic disposition system; and COMAP, a comparison tool for railway configurations. The company also co-developed DISTINPlus, a digital networking platform for ECM 3 / ECM 4 maintenance workflows, with Fachhochschule Erfurt. Underlying technology is built on C++, C#.NET, Java, Kotlin, Angular, Python, microservices/Docker, and SQL/NoSQL databases; engineering services additionally cover safety-critical embedded systems, hardware and electrical design, RAMS safety management, verification, and validation under DIN ISO 9001:2015 and CENELEC guidelines.
Sternico operates a dual business model combining product licensing or subscription for its software platforms with project-based and time-and-materials billing for custom engineering and software development services. Distribution is direct, consultative enterprise sales: prospective customers complete a 'Call an Expert' form and are routed to subject-matter experts for tailored MS Teams, Zoom, or phone consultations. Deployments of flagship products such as RAILBASE involve structured data migration and incremental digitization of ECM functions, indicating multi-month or longer enterprise cycles rather than self-serve adoption. Publicly named customers include RheinCargo (operating 100 locomotives and hundreds of freight wagons), Vossloh Rail Services (track-construction assets, ECM 1-3 digitalization), and additional logos Acelor Mitteltal, Lineas, Hafen Hannover, Holcim, MEG, Raildo, and SKW — a customer panel concentrated in mid-to-large European railway operators, freight logistics firms, and infrastructure service providers. Sternico markets its 'Call an Expert' model as the principal go-to-market mechanism and reports no self-serve or channel distribution.
Sternico describes itself as an owner-managed company (inhabergeführt) with a strong, unnamed investor backing it, supported by an international team of railway-domain experts ('Bahn DNA') numbering in the 11-50 employee range. Beyond software and services revenue, the firm is actively engaged in industry standardization: it was a founding member of RAILDEX e.V. (established June 2024 under the German federal 'Zukunft Schienengüterverkehr Z-SGV' program), an industry association of twelve founding members working to standardize digital order processing between fleet managers (ECM 3) and maintenance providers (ECM 4). The firm participates in industry events such as InnoTrans and Developer Days Magdeburg and has received employer recognitions including the Kununu Top Company Award and the regional 'Zukunftgeber 2022' certification.
Sternico firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sternico
- Legal name
- Sternico GmbH
- Website
- https://sternico.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sternico GmbH is a German software and engineering firm (founded 1999) that develops cloud-based CMMS and railway operations platforms — RAILBASE, DISPOLINO, and COMAP — for European railway operators, infrastructure managers, vehicle renters, and maintenance providers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sternico industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Railway Asset Management Software
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Rail Transportation (4882)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rolling Stock Testing, Inspection & Certification (NDT, commissioning, compliance) (TLAKAIAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Rail Terminal Inspection, Safety & Regulatory Compliance (Hazmat, Brake/Car Checks) (TLAJAFAJ)
Keywords
Where Sternico is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wendeburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sternico business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Products (RAILBASE, DISPOLINO, COMAP): Sternico generates revenue through licensing and/or subscription of its proprietary cloud-based software platforms targeting railway operators, maintenance companies, rental companies, and energy companies. RAILBASE is positioned as a CMMS system sold to enterprise railway customers.
- Engineering & Development Services: Custom software development and systems engineering services provided to railway industry clients. Includes requirements engineering, hardware development, electrical design, testing, integration, verification, validation, RAMS safety management, and project management. Billed on a project or time-and-materials basis.
- Systems Engineering Services: Short or long-term support for railway system development projects, including safe connected systems development, embedded software, and business applications for the railway domain. Staffed by experienced employees with different specializations.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Sternico product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sternico GmbH develops and sells cloud-based software platforms for the railway industry, including RAILBASE (CMMS for fleet, maintenance, and workshop management), DISPOLINO (train disposition and scheduling for line and works traffic), and COMAP (railway industry software). In addition, Sternico provides Engineering & Development services (Software Development and Systems Engineering) covering requirements engineering, hardware/software development, testing, integration, RAMS safety management, and validation for railway systems under DIN ISO 9001:2015 and CENELEC standards.
Product overview
Sternico GmbH offers a portfolio of cloud-based software platforms specifically designed for the railway industry (EVU, EIU, rental companies, and maintenance providers). The product lineup consists of three core products: RAILBASE (a CMMS platform for fleet management, maintenance development, and workshop management), DISPOLINO (a train disposition/scheduling system for line traffic, works traffic, and general disposition), and COMAP (another railway-focused product). The company also provides Engineering & Development services including Software Development and Systems Engineering. Sternico targets railway companies, freight operators, and maintenance service providers with solutions for asset management, maintenance processes, and operational scheduling.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RAILBASE: CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) platform for railway fleet management, maintenance development, and workshop management.
- DISPOLINO
- COMAP
Products and services
- RAILBASE Cloud-based CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) for railway asset, fleet, maintenance, and workshop management. Digitalizes ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) functions 1-3 for locomotives, freight wagons, and track construction assets. Used by railway operators such as RheinCargo (100 locomotives, hundreds of freight wagons) and Vossloh Rail Services.
- DISPOLINO Software for railway traffic management and train disposition covering line traffic (Streckenverkehr), shunting/works traffic (Werksverkehr), and general disposition operations. Addresses the specific processes for track occupancy planning and shunting operations in factory traffic versus depot operations.
- COMAP Comparison application for railway industry solutions that allows operators to compare and evaluate different configurations or processes.
- Engineering & Development Services Custom systems engineering and software development services for the railway industry, including requirements engineering, hardware development, electrical design, testing, integration, verification, validation, RAMS safety management, and project management. Supports agile, classic, and V-model methodologies under DIN ISO 9001:2015 and CENELEC standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- RheinCargo manages 100 locomotives and hundreds of freight wagons on RAILBASE, realizing efficient direct train connections with over 100 trains per day transporting approximately 19 million tons of freight.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Sternico
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sternico technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Sternico partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- RAILDEX e.V.coreSternico is a founding member of RAILDEX e.V., an association established to standardize digital order processing between ECM 3 (Entity in Charge of Maintenance - fleet manager) and ECM 4 (maintenance service provider). The association, supported by the German federal program 'Zukunft Schienengüterverkehr Z-SGV' of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport, aims to standardize digital exchange of orders, quotes, purchase orders, invoices, work descriptions, and error reports.
- Fachhochschule ErfurtcoreDISTINPlus is a cooperation between Sternico and Fachhochschule Erfurt for digital networking and standardization in the maintenance process for locomotives and freight wagons. It specifically manages the digital processes between fleet managers (ECM 3) and maintenance service providers (ECM 4), digitizing workflows for organizations distributed across multiple locations.
- QS-KornmannminorQS-Kornmann provides an external reporting portal for Sternico's whistleblower system. The ticket system is managed by Sternico's internal reporting office, which is represented through QS-Kornmann's platform. Valid reports are forwarded to Sternico under legally mandated confidentiality requirements.
- LINET Services GmbHminorLINET Services GmbH provides the ticket system used for Sternico's whistleblower reporting channel in compliance with the German Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG). LINET is the data protection responsible party for the reporting channel.
- HansefitminorHansefit is a fitness and wellness benefit partner providing Sternico employees access to gyms, swimming pools, and various fitness activities for approximately 10 euros per month, available to both on-site and remote employees.
- Local Vegetable Farmer (Gemüsebauer)minorSternico has a partnership with a local vegetable farmer who regularly supplies employees with fresh produce. This partnership is part of Sternico's employee health and nutrition initiative and can also be used privately by employees.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sternico competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IVU Traffic Technologies AG: Berlin-based listed German vendor of software for public transport and rail (IVU.rail, IVU.suite), including fleet management, dispatching, and vehicle scheduling — directly comparable to Sternico's DISPOLINO and the asset management scope of RAILBASE.
- PSI Software AG: Berlin-based listed German software vendor with PSIRail and adjacent rail/energy management suites covering depot, fleet, and operations planning — competes head-to-head with Sternico's RAILBASE/DISPOLINO for European rail operator contracts.
- Trapeze Group (Modaxo / Volaris): Specialist rail and public transport software vendor (Trapeze EAM, OPS, VAM) now part of Modaxo/Volaris — directly comparable in rail operations, fleet management, and asset management software sold to transit authorities and freight operators in DACH and globally.
- INIT SE: Karlsruhe-based German vendor of public transport and rail IT (INIT/MOBILE-ITCS, INIT/Rail Optima) for dispatching, operations control, and depot management — overlaps with Sternico's DISPOLINO line traffic and disposition capabilities.
Emerging players
- KONUX GmbH: Munich-based rail-tech startup using IoT and AI for predictive maintenance on switches and rail infrastructure — narrower in scope than Sternico but addresses the same railway asset reliability buyer, often competing for the same predictive-maintenance budgets.
Broad incumbents
- Trimble Inc. Large US-listed enterprise software and hardware vendor with Trimble Railway Solutions (rail asset management, corridor and fleet lifecycle) — broad incumbent overlapping with RAILBASE in CMMS / asset management for rail operators and infrastructure managers.
- Bentley Systems: US-listed infrastructure engineering software leader with OpenRail and AssetWise Rail — broad incumbent in rail infrastructure design, operations, and asset performance, comparable to Sternico's infrastructure-manager (EIU) and asset management offerings.
- IBM Maximo: IBM's enterprise asset management platform widely deployed in rail for rolling stock and infrastructure maintenance — broad incumbent that competes with RAILBASE in CMMS/asset management, typically through system integrators rather than direct rail-domain sales.
- SAP SE: Global enterprise software leader whose SAP PM / S/4HANA Plant Maintenance modules are used by large rail operators for fleet and maintenance management — broad incumbent alternative to RAILBASE, often pre-deployed in rail customer IT estates and bundled with broader ERP spend.
- Hexagon AB: Global measurement and asset management software group (HxGN EAM, HxGN SDx) used across rail for asset performance, geospatial, and maintenance — broad incumbent that overlaps with Sternico's asset management and infrastructure configuration use cases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sternico social profiles
Digital presenceSternico compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sternico financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sternico leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Sternico funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sternico 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 Sternico
What does Sternico do?
Sternico GmbH develops and sells cloud-based software platforms for the railway industry, including RAILBASE (CMMS for fleet, maintenance, and workshop management), DISPOLINO (train disposition and scheduling for line and works traffic), and COMAP (railway industry software). In addition, Sternico provides Engineering & Development services (Software Development and Systems Engineering) covering requirements engineering, hardware/software development, testing, integration, RAMS safety management, and validation for railway systems under DIN ISO 9001:2015 and CENELEC standards.
Is Sternico a public or private company?
Sternico is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sternico founded?
Sternico was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sternico based?
Sternico is headquartered in Wendeburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Sternico make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Products (RAILBASE, DISPOLINO, COMAP) is the primary driver. The others are engineering & Development Services and systems Engineering Services.
Who are Sternico's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IVU Traffic Technologies AG, PSI Software AG, Trapeze Group (Modaxo / Volaris) and INIT SE. KONUX GmbH is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Trimble Inc., Bentley Systems, IBM Maximo, SAP SE and Hexagon AB.
Does Sternico have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sternico.
What industry is Sternico in?
Sternico's product category is Railway Asset Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAIAM, Rolling Stock Testing, Inspection & Certification (NDT, commissioning, compliance), with a secondary code of TLAJAFAJ, Rail Terminal Inspection, Safety & Regulatory Compliance (Hazmat, Brake/Car Checks). Its NAICS code is 4882.