What Made Smart Group does

Made Smart Group BV (MSG) is a Netherlands-headquartered maritime software vendor that builds data and operational management tools for nautical operations. The company offers a seven-product platform covering real-time vessel tracking (MSG Tracker), passage and route optimization (MSG Navigator), nautical chart and information serving (MSG Chart Server) using WMTS tiling technology, weather and oceanographic forecasting (MSG Forecaster), geometry and metadata management (MSG Cartographer), notifications and geo-fencing analytics (MSG Spotter), and Data and Incident Analyses services. The platform is supported by what the company describes as the world's largest maritime AIS data store, which has continuously aggregated terrestrial and satellite AIS broadcasts, weather, and oceanographic data since 2005.

Name

Made Smart Group

Legal name

Made Smart Group BV

Website

https://madesmart.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Made Smart Group BV is a Netherlands-based maritime software vendor that provides vessel tracking, passage planning, nautical chart serving, weather forecasting, and notifications built on the world's largest AIS data store, serving government authorities and enterprise maritime operators globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Software & Nautical Data Analytics

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (48833)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Navigation Systems (ECDIS, Radar, GNSS, AIS) (IMAJAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)

Keywords

• Maritime software
• Vessel tracking
• AIS data analytics
• Nautical chart services
• Maritime data integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Netherlands

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: The software solution can be licensed, allowing customers to deploy MSG products on their own infrastructure. Sales executive role involves closing contracts using standardized license formats.
2. Hosted/Cloud Services: Software solutions can be provided as hosted services, offering cloud-based access to MSG products without customer infrastructure requirements. MSG Chart Server offered as hosted service.
3. Data Services: AIS based vessel movements data, weather and sea-state forecasts, nautical charts, and other maritime data products offered as subscription services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Made Smart Group develops and sells integrated maritime software and data services that help analyze and optimize nautical operations. Its offering combines the world's largest AIS data store with a suite of web-based products—chart servers, vessel tracking, route planning, weather forecasting, geometry management, and real-time notifications—delivered via direct licensing or hosted cloud services to maritime operators and authorities worldwide.

Product overview

Made Smart Group offers a unified platform architecture consisting of seven integrated maritime software products. The core portfolio centers on the MSG Chart Server for nautical chart and data sharing, MSG Tracker for real-time vessel tracking, MSG Navigator for passage planning, MSG Forecaster for weather and oceanographic forecasting, MSG Cartographer for geometry management, and MSG Spotter for notifications. Supporting these products is the AIS Data Store, claimed as the world's largest maritime AIS database since 2005. The products are designed to integrate seamlessly, allowing geometry from Cartographer to be used across Tracker, Plotter, and Spotter, while Chart Server provides the foundational data layer for the entire suite. Data and Incident Analyses services complement the product portfolio for specialized maritime analytics needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MSG Spotter: Real time analytical tool, analyzing data streams, integrated in a powerful notification service for the maritime industry.
• MSG Navigator
• MSG Cartographer
• MSG Tracker
• MSG Forecaster
• MSG Chart Server

Products and services

• MSG Chart Server Versatile nautical chart and maritime information sharing platform using WMTS tiling technology to combine unlimited data and information layers (ENCs, nautical charts, bathymetry, meteorology, asset tracking) with smart caching for fast access. Targeted at maritime authorities, hydrographic offices, and GIS users.
• MSG Tracker Real-time AIS-based vessel tracking and monitoring tool accessed through standard web browsers, integrating nautical charts, weather, oceanography, tide, bathymetry, and customer GIS files for operational control centers. Used by vessel operations managers, VTS authorities, port authorities, fleet superintendents, and captains.
• MSG Navigator Route planning and passage optimization tool that finds optimal routes and distances from millions of predefined routes, integrating nautical charts, tidal information, weather and sea-state forecasts, and historical voyages for safe and efficient passage planning. Integrates with vessel ECDIS.
• MSG Forecaster Cloud service providing weather and sea-state forecasts and hindcasts with high-quality animations and an API, supporting single- and multipoint requests and live, 16-day forecast, or historic data via MSG Prospector. Uses Standard (0.25°) and Premium (0.1°) models built on data from NOAA, ICON, GEM, MyOcean, ARPEGE, and GEFS.
• MSG Cartographer Web-based geometry and metadata management tool that centralizes geometry (circle, point, line, polygon, multi-point, multi-line, multi-polygon) and associated metadata in a fast cloud database, integrating with other MSG products for visualization and calculations.
• MSG Spotter Real-time analytical tool processing AIS-based vessel movement data streams and integrating them into a notification service, with geo-fencing, watch lists, and store-and-forward function for offline delivery via email, SMS, and mobile app.
• AIS Data Store World's largest maritime terrestrial and satellite AIS data store holding raw AIS data broadcast by ship-borne AIS transponders since 2005, continuously updated with AIS, weather, and oceanographic data. Offered as a subscription data service; Made Smart Group is a licensee of S&P Global's AISLIVE network.
• Data and Incident Analyses Analytic service covering vessel incident reconstruction, traffic movement and density analyses, vessel maneuverability analysis, and historical weather and sea-state replay for maritime incident investigation and offshore infrastructure planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Results can often be presented within several hours after an incident took place
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• S&P Global (AISLIVE)coreTechnology or IntegrationMade Smart Group is a licensee of S&P Global, the owner of the AISLIVE network. This relationship provides access to AISLIVE network data for inclusion in MSG's maritime data services and the world's largest AIS data store.
• TidaliscoreOthersMade Smart Group is an independently operating subsidiary of Tidalis. Tidalis is the parent company with head office in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. Tidalis has worldwide presence through offices in Canada and Hong Kong where MSG is represented.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spire Maritime (Spire Global): Spire Maritime operates a satellite-based AIS data network and offers vessel tracking and maritime analytics. Directly comparable to MSG in providing AIS-based vessel movement data and maritime intelligence, with a focus on satellite-collected AIS feeds versus MSG's terrestrial-plus-satellite model.
• MarineTraffic (Kpler): MarineTraffic is one of the largest AIS vessel tracking platforms globally, now part of Kpler. Closely competes with MSG on real-time vessel tracking, historical AIS data, and maritime analytics for port authorities, ship operators, and commercial users.
• FleetMon: FleetMon provides real-time and historical AIS vessel tracking and maritime data services. Comparable to MSG as an AIS-driven vessel tracking and fleet monitoring platform serving enterprise and government maritime customers.
• Pole Star Global: Pole Star Global provides vessel tracking, fleet monitoring, and maritime compliance solutions leveraging AIS data. Directly competes with MSG's Tracker and Spotter offerings for enterprise and government maritime customers requiring real-time monitoring and notifications.
• VesselsValue: VesselsValue delivers vessel valuations and analytics using AIS data and maritime intelligence. Comparable to MSG's data and incident analytics services, leveraging AIS-based vessel data to support commercial maritime decisions such as asset valuation, chartering, and sale/purchase.
• Lloyd's List Intelligence: Lloyd's List Intelligence is a long-established provider of maritime data and AIS-based vessel tracking intelligence. Directly comparable to MSG on historical AIS datasets, vessel movements, and maritime analytics for enterprise and government customers.
• Kpler: Kpler is a data and analytics platform covering commodity and maritime flows, including vessel tracking. Overlaps with MSG on AIS-based vessel intelligence and maritime data services for trade, shipping, and energy customers.
• Veson Nautical: Veson Nautical provides maritime data, vessel tracking, and operational analytics for shipping commercial operations. Comparable to MSG on data-driven maritime operations, voyage accounting, and AIS-enabled fleet intelligence for enterprise shipping customers.

Broad incumbents

• S&P Global Commodity Insights (Maritime): S&P Global owns the AISLIVE network that supplies MSG's raw AIS data and operates broadly in maritime and commodity intelligence. Acts both as MSG's data licensor and as a broader incumbent offering maritime analytics and shipping intelligence to enterprise customers.
• Wärtsilä Voyage: Wärtsilä Voyage (incorporating Transas) is a major provider of ECDIS, navigation systems, and digital maritime solutions. A broad incumbent competing with MSG's Chart Server and Navigator offerings as part of a wider integrated navigation and ship operations portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/made-smart-group-bv

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Made Smart Group