123insight

What 123insight does

123insight (legal entity: 123-Insight Limited) is a UK-based software vendor that develops and distributes ERP and MRP software purpose-built for discrete manufacturers. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Durley, Southampton, the company targets UK SME manufacturers across eleven vertical-specific configurations — electronics, machinery, electrical & device equipment, aerospace, automotive, defence, engineering, food, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and textiles — and emphasizes features such as full batch and serial traceability, revision-controlled BOMs, an MRP engine with demand forecasting, advanced planning and scheduling (APS), quality and compliance management, and native bi-directional integration with the dominant UK SMB accounting platforms (Xero, Sage 50/200, Access Dimensions, Pegasus Opera). A companion native iOS/Android tablet application, 123Mobile, extends stock transactions, goods receiving, works order management, and labour bookings to the shop floor. Underlying the product is a central data model linking engineering BOMs, supply chain, manufacturing, despatch, and invoicing into a single source of truth, with implementation typically completed in weeks rather than months.

The business model is a transparent, quote-based annual SaaS subscription with no large upfront licence fees, supplemented by recurring services such as the Flex-Services support subscription and a low fixed-fee Remote Upgrade service. Go-to-market is sales-led and domestically focused on the UK: direct inside and field sales, 'Book a Demo' and 'Speak to a Specialist' CTAs, free 'No Obligation' evaluation workshops, UK-based implementation, and content-led demand generation via blog, case studies, white papers, demo videos, and the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics exhibition. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is consistently positioned below competitor systems quoted at £90k–£100k in customer case studies.

123insight operates as a sub-brand within Forterro, a European provider of specialized software solutions serving more than 25,000 industrial companies, and retains its own product identity, customer relationships, and UK operating entity (123-Insight Limited). Forterro was named Tech Company of the Year at the National Technology Awards in June 2025. No investor composition, standalone revenue, or funding history is disclosed for 123insight specifically.

Name

123insight

Legal name

123-Insight Limited

Website

https://123insight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

123insight (legal entity: 123-Insight Limited) develops and distributes ERP and MRP software purpose-built for UK SME discrete manufacturers across electronics, machinery, aerospace, automotive, food, pharmaceuticals, and other verticals, sold via annual SaaS subscriptions with UK-based implementation and support as a sub-brand of Forterro.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Southampton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription: 123Insight operates on a transparent, scalable subscription model. No large upfront licence fees. Costs grow with the business rather than against it. The company also offers Flex-Services as a subscription service for ongoing support.
2. Remote Upgrade Service: Low fixed-fee remote upgrade service for existing customers to update their solution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

123insight develops and distributes a scalable, subscription-based ERP and MRP software platform built specifically for UK SME discrete manufacturers. The product starts with a comprehensive Material Requirements Planning (MRP) core and scales into full ERP capability, connecting engineering BOMs, supply chain, manufacturing, despatch, and invoicing into a single source of truth. It is complemented by a native iOS/Android tablet application (123Mobile) for shop floor and stores control, and is sold on transparent subscription pricing with no large upfront licence fees.

Product overview

123Insight is a unified ERP and MRP software platform built specifically for discrete manufacturers, particularly UK SMEs. The core product is the 123Insight platform, which starts as a comprehensive MRP (Material Requirements Planning) engine and scales into full ERP capability as businesses grow. The platform connects engineering BOMs, supply chain, manufacturing, despatch, and invoicing in a single source of truth. Add-on modules include 123Mobile (tablet-based stores and shop floor control for iOS and Android), Batch Tracking (full traceability from raw materials to finished goods), Flexible MRP (engineering department tools including revision control and alternative parts), Supply Chain Management (supplier and inventory control), Sales Module, and Finance Module. Industry-specific solutions are available for Electronics, Machinery, Electrical & Device Equipment, Aerospace, Automotive, Defence, Engineering, Food, Pharmaceuticals, Plastics, and Textiles sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 123Mobile: Native Apple and Android tablet application for managing stores and shop floor labour bookings in real time, including stock transactions, goods-in recording, and works order management.

Products and services

• 123Mobile Standalone native iOS and Android tablet application that gives shop floor and stores staff real-time access to stock transactions, goods receiving, works order management, and labour bookings without desktop terminal restrictions; intended for UK discrete manufacturers using the 123insight platform.
• Flex-Services Subscription-based ongoing support service for existing 123insight customers, providing convenient access to the UK-based support and development team for continued assistance beyond initial implementation.
• Remote Upgrade Low fixed-fee remote upgrade service that enables existing 123insight customers to update their deployed solution to the latest version without the disruption of an on-site project.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced stock holding costs - buy exactly what you need, when you need it
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Solweb (Accounts Gateway)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2021Solweb's Accounts Gateway provides a live bi-directional link between 123Insight and Xero, as used by Inoplas Technology for their implementation.
• XerocoreTechnology or Integration123Insight integrates with Xero accounting software, enabling financial data to flow automatically between manufacturing operations and accounts. This bi-directional link eliminates manual re-entry and reconciliation headaches.
• Sage (50/200)coreTechnology or Integration123Insight offers optional connectivity to Sage 50 and Sage 200 accounting platforms, allowing customers to maintain their preferred accounting system while benefiting from integrated manufacturing operations.
• Access DimensionscoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Access Dimensions accounting software provides seamless data flow between manufacturing and finance for customers using this ERP system.
• Pegasus OperacoreTechnology or Integration123Insight integrates with Pegasus Opera accounting software, offering another option for customers who prefer this accounting platform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Epicor: Epicor provides manufacturing-focused ERP (including Epicor Kinetic and Epicor Prophet 21) for discrete and mixed-mode manufacturers in the SME and mid-market. Directly comparable to 123Insight as a vertical-specialist manufacturing ERP for small and mid-sized discrete manufacturers, with deeper feature breadth but heavier implementation footprint.
• SYSPRO: SYSPRO is an ERP vendor purpose-built for manufacturers and distributors, particularly SMEs in discrete and process manufacturing. Directly comparable to 123Insight in target customer (SME discrete manufacturers), vertical specialization, and MRP-centric product DNA, with broader global footprint.
• Global Shop Solutions: Global Shop Solutions offers ERP software for make-to-order and mixed-mode manufacturers, particularly job shops and contract manufacturers in the SME segment. Direct competitor to 123Insight serving a similar SME discrete manufacturing base with MRP-centric functionality.
• E2 Shop System: E2 Shop System (now part of Shoptech) is a job shop ERP/MRP for small and mid-sized manufacturers, with strong shop floor control, work order management, and quoting. Direct competitor to 123Insight's MRP/shop floor proposition for small discrete manufacturers and job shops.
• abas ERP: abas ERP targets small and mid-sized discrete and custom manufacturers with configurable ERP including MRP, production planning, and shop floor functionality. Direct competitor to 123Insight with comparable mid-market manufacturer focus and similar configurability story.
• Access Group (Access Dimensions): Access Group sells Access Dimensions and other ERP/business software to UK mid-market, with strong penetration in UK discrete and process manufacturers. Both a direct competitor and an integration partner of 123Insight; comparable customer base, geographic focus, and product scope.

Broad incumbents

• Aptean: Aptean is a broad enterprise software vendor with a sizable manufacturing ERP portfolio (including Industrial and Process ERP suites) acquired through roll-ups; it historically owned Forterro itself. Comparable to 123Insight's space as a manufacturing ERP incumbent, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader vertical scope.
• Sage: Sage (Sage 200, Sage X3, Sage Intacct) provides accounting-anchored ERP platforms widely used by UK SMEs, with manufacturing-specific modules and a partner channel. Both a broad incumbent and an integration partner of 123Insight — competes in the same UK SME manufacturer accounts, often on the finance-side wedge.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is the dominant cloud ERP for SMEs globally, including UK discrete manufacturers, often extended via ISV manufacturing add-ons. A broad incumbent competing for the same SME manufacturer wallets as 123Insight, with greater platform breadth but less vertical depth out-of-the-box.

Emerging players

• MIE Solutions: MIE Solutions offers MRP/ERP software (MIE Trak Pro) aimed at small and mid-sized custom and make-to-order manufacturers. Direct competitor to 123Insight in the SME discrete manufacturing MRP niche, slightly larger product scope but smaller geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/123insightsoftware
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/123-insight-limited
• Xx.com/123insight

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 123insight