Paralax

What Paralax does

Paralax B.V. is a Netherlands-based workforce planning software vendor founded in 1981 by Samuel Meijering and headquartered in Utrecht. Its core product, Rostar CAS, is a comprehensive workforce planning platform that handles rostering, time registration, and employee management across organizations, with sector-specific variants such as Rostar CAS Beveiliging (security) and Rostar CAS Basis (entry-level), and an ecosystem of modules including Rostar TR (time registration), MyRostar (employee mobile app), Flexplanning, Shiftpicking, and Rostar PLAN (strategic/tactical planning). A central differentiator is deep codification of Dutch and Belgian labor-law compliance, including ATW/ATB controls and multiple collective labor agreements (PB, VEHB, VVNL), which is embedded directly into the platform and is the principal reason for its strong adoption in security, healthcare, and municipal customers.

The company generates revenue primarily through multi-year software licensing of the Rostar CAS suite, supplemented by cloud-hosting fees (Rostar CLOUD), professional services (business consultancy, Planalyse, Plancheck), and training delivered through Paralax Academie (e.g., Basiscursus Rostar CAS at €1,299 per participant). Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales, supported by an inside-sales contact center, a Freshdesk customer portal, and channel partnerships including VEB (the Dutch security trade association) and integration partners such as BMK Solutions and Widget Brain. The user base spans 1,000+ implementations, with named enterprise anchors including Trigion (~6,000 employees, ~50 planners), Antoni van Leeuwenhoek/NKI (3,500 employees, 250 planners), Gemeente Rotterdam, S2N Fire & Rescue, PROFI-SEC, ATS Group, and Alert.

Since late 2023 Paralax has operated as a subsidiary of Total Specific Solutions (TSS), part of a European vertical-software group of ~160 companies and ~7,000 colleagues. Under TSS, Paralax has integrated the YouPlan technology it acquired as Rostar Engine (an AI-assisted scheduling engine launched in April 2025), appointed Ruud Steeghs as Managing Director in June 2024, broadened its geographic footprint to Belgium and France, and formalized its VEB partnership. The company remains privately held under the Paralax B.V. legal name, with continuing investment in MyRostar and the participatory planning methodology that underpins employee self-service modules.

Name

Paralax

Legal name

Paralax B.V.

Website

https://paralax.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Paralax B.V. is a Dutch workforce planning software vendor whose Rostar CAS platform handles complex rostering, time registration, and compliance for 1,000+ customers in security, healthcare, and municipal sectors across the Benelux.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing (Rostar CAS Suite): Rostar CAS software licensing with various modules including Rostar CAS Basis, Rostar CAS Beveiliging, Rostar TR, MyRostar app, and Flexplanning. Typically sold as multi-year contracts with annual licensing fees.
2. Professional Services: Training workshops, business consultancy services, implementation services, and custom training. Includes Paralax Academie courses like the Basiscursus Rostar CAS at €1,299 per participant.
3. Cloud Services (Rostar CLOUD): Cloud-based deployment option for Rostar CAS providing hosted infrastructure and maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Paralax develops and sells Rostar CAS, a comprehensive workforce planning software platform used by organizations for scheduling, time registration, and employee management across strategic, tactical, and operational levels. The platform is offered in variants (Basis and Beveiliging for the security sector) and extended by modules including MyRostar (mobile employee app), Rostar TR (real-time time registration), Rostar Engine (AI-powered automated rostering), Rostar PLAN (scenario and capacity planning), and Flexplanning (flexible workforce pools and external agency collaboration). The offering is supported by the Paralax Academie training programs and business consultancy services.

Product overview

Paralax offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on Rostar CAS, a comprehensive workforce planning software package. The core platform serves as the central hub for all planning challenges, available in variants including Rostar CAS Basis (entry-level) and Rostar CAS Beveiliging (security sector specialization). Adjacent modules extend functionality: Webplanner and MyRostar provide web and mobile access respectively; Rostar TR handles time registration with realtime capabilities; Rostar Engine enables automated rostering; and Rostar PLAN supports scenario analysis and capacity planning. The Participerend plannen methodology is supported through Shiftpicking, Beschikbaarheid opgeven, and Flexplanning modules. Services include Business Consultancy with Planalyse/Plancheck instruments and the Paralax Academie training program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rostar Engine: Automated planning engine integrated into Rostar CAS, formerly known as YouPlan
• Paralax Academie
• Participerend Plannen

Products and services

• Rostar CAS Comprehensive planning software package serving as Paralax's primary platform for all roster and planning challenges at strategic, tactical, and operational levels. Used by organizations across security, healthcare, municipal, and industrial sectors.
• Rostar CAS Beveiliging Vertical-specific variant of Rostar CAS for the security sector, combining Rostar CAS capabilities with ready-to-use configuration for security companies, including support for CAOs (PB, VEHB, VVNL), ATW controls, time slots, and automatic irregular hours allowance calculation. Typical implementation takes 6-8 weeks.
• MyRostar Mobile application for employees providing always-current schedules, time registration, shift swapping, leave requests, shiftpicking, availability submission, and push notifications for schedule changes. Available in Dutch, English, French, German, and Spanish.
• Rostar TR Time registration system integrated with Rostar CAS that creates an automated process from planning to payroll with minimum manual actions and maximum accuracy.
• Rostar TR Realtime Real-time time registration extension via the MyRostar app allowing employees to scan QR codes at work locations or select planned work, click START, and have the clock run automatically.
• Rostar Engine AI-powered automated rostering engine integrated into Rostar CAS that generates smart, directly applicable proposals for new schedules and optimization of existing schedules while planners retain final control. Built on acquired YouPlan technology.
• Rostar PLAN Suite of tools for scenario planning, capacity planning, and strategic workforce planning. Includes Rostar TIS for busy period analysis and scenario calculation, Rostar OPA and SPA for advising on optimal base or recurring rosters, and forecasting capabilities.
• Flexplanning Module for managing flexible workforce pools and streamlining request procedures. Includes Flexpool for internal flexible staff requests and Opdrachtgever for external staffing agency collaboration.
• Shiftpicking Tool allowing employees to self-select shifts from a list with planner approval workflow, reducing administrative burden while maintaining schedule quality and increasing employee engagement in planning.
• Beschikbaarheid opgeven Module enabling employees to submit their availability preferences so planners know in advance who can or cannot work, resulting in more stable rosters and effective scheduling.
• Webplanner Web-based client for Rostar CAS providing team leaders with mobile lite version access for planning tasks.
• Paralax Academie Training and development offering for planners, managers, and HR advisors covering workforce management, organizing, planning and rostering. Includes standard courses such as Basiscursus Rostar CAS (€1,299 per participant), Slimmer werken met Rostar CAS, Tellingen en geavanceerde rapporten, Applicatiebeheer van Rostar CAS, and custom training programs.
• Business Consultancy Strategic consulting services analyzing planning processes at strategic, tactical, and operational levels. Includes Planalyse, Plancheck, and custom advice engagements to optimize organizational planning.
• Planalyse en Plancheck Analysis instruments evaluating resource planning at various levels. Planalyse assesses planning against organizational objectives; Plancheck examines planning processes and Rostar CAS configuration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trigion aims for 2.5% performance improvement through better KPI monitoring and data-driven planning
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• YouPlancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024YouPlan was acquired and became part of Paralax, forming the foundation for a new generation of automated planning within Rostar CAS: Rostar Engine. This AI-powered scheduling engine provides advanced automation capabilities for workforce planning.
• VEB (Vereniging Evenementen- en Horecabeveiliging)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Paralax officially became a partner of VEB, the branch organization for security companies. This partnership was formalized during Security Café in Nijkerk, with Paralax receiving official partner certification. The partnership strengthens Paralax's position as the go-to partner for workforce planning in the security sector.
• Total Specific Solutions (TSS)flagshipOthers · 1 January 2023Paralax joined Total Specific Solutions, an international provider of IT business solutions with approximately 160 independently managed software companies across Europe. This acquisition provides financial stability, strategic guidance, and opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration with other TSS software businesses. Paralax continues to operate independently while benefiting from TSS resources and best practices sharing.
• Widget BraincoreTechnology or IntegrationWidget Brain collaborated with Paralax and Trigion to develop an algorithm that supports planners in creating optimal schedules. Paralax provides process expertise, necessary data, and handles export/import of data from the planning system while Widget Brain develops the algorithmic engine.
• DNVminorOthersDNV is the independent expert in risk management and quality assurance. They provide Paralax's ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certification services, offering factual and reliable insights for important business decisions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• AFAS Software: Dutch HRM/payroll software vendor with broad mid-market penetration. AFAS is both a partner (Paralax integrates with AFAS Profit) and a competitive threat when customers prioritize bundled HR/payroll.
• UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group): Global workforce management and HCM vendor serving enterprises across industries. UKG is a broad incumbent that competes with Paralax in larger enterprise deals where bundled HCM+WFM is preferred over best-of-breed.
• Ceridian / Dayforce: Global HCM platform with strong workforce management and AI-driven scheduling. Dayforce competes with Paralax in mid-market and enterprise deals where a single-platform HCM+WFM stack is preferred.
• ADP: Global HCM and payroll leader with embedded workforce management capabilities. ADP competes with Paralax at the upper end of the mid-market where bundled HR/payroll/scheduling solutions win procurement.

Direct peers

• ATOSS Software: German workforce management software vendor with deep vertical focus on healthcare, logistics, and retail. ATOSS is comparable to Paralax in its vertical-specialization strategy and European mid-market orientation.
• Quinyx: European-headquartered AI-powered workforce management platform serving retail, hospitality, and security customers. Quinyx competes with Paralax in modern, AI-driven scheduling for shift-based workforces.
• SD Worx: Belgian-headquartered HR and payroll services provider with workforce scheduling capabilities. SD Worx is a natural competitor in the Belgian market and overlaps with Paralax's Belgian customer base.
• Reflexis Systems (Zebra Technologies): Workforce management specialist (now part of Zebra Technologies) focused on retail and shift-based scheduling. Reflexis competes with Paralax in scheduling optimization and is a credible exit / acquisition comparable.
• Nedap: Dutch technology company with a workforce management division focused on healthcare and security scheduling. Nedap's AES workforce planning suite competes directly with Rostar CAS in the Dutch healthcare vertical.
• Ortec: Dutch-headquartered provider of workforce planning, scheduling, and optimization software. Ortec is the most direct competitor to Paralax in the Dutch/Belgian WFM market, with overlapping vertical focus on security, healthcare, and logistics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/paralaxplanning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paralax-planning-solutions

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Paralax