What Trace Software International does

Trace Software International SAS, founded in 1987 and headquartered in Saint-Romain-de-Colbosc (Normandy, France), develops computer-aided engineering (CAE) software for electrical installation design, photovoltaic project simulation, and building energy optimization. The company operates as a subsidiary of the Trace Group (which also owns BIM&CO and TraceParts) and runs a German subsidiary, Trace Software GmbH, in Frankfurt am Main. Its product portfolio is organized in three families: the elec calc range (real-time LV/HV electrical calculation with specialized modules for EV charging infrastructure (IRVE), OpenBIM workflow, exterior installations (EP), multi-source meshed grid networks (GRID), collaborative project management, and the newly launched solar integration (SOLAR)), the archelios range (archelios PRO and archelios CALC for professional photovoltaic design, 3D simulation, and bankability studies), and the Green Systems range (green solution, green box, and the Tertiary Decree configurator for building energy performance). The software supports at least seven international electrical standards (VDE, NF, IEC, NIN, RGIE, REBT, NEN) and integrates component catalogs from major manufacturers (ABB, Hager, Eaton, Nexans, nvent, Schrack, Citel) as well as partner ecosystems including EPLAN, BIM&CO, TraceParts, SMA, K2 Systems, and 3E.

The platform serves eight named customer personas, with primary focus on electrical installers and design/engineering offices, and secondary segments including operators, manufacturers, project owners, control/certification bodies, AMO/consulting firms, and educational institutions. Revenue is generated through one-time and subscription software licenses sold via a direct regional sales team, an e-commerce e-shop, and a global distribution partnership with Rexel, supplemented by paid training services and recurring technical support. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and the company targets customer profiles ranging from SMB design offices (e.g., SUNPV CONSULT, Valaurys) to large industrial and facilities-management enterprises (e.g., SPIE Nuclear, Oril Industrie/Servier, CBRE, Actemium/Vinci, Equans Ineo). With 11-50 employees and no disclosed external funding, Trace Software is a mature, privately held specialist vendor operating primarily across France, Germany, Spain, and Switzerland.

Trace Software is a privately held SAS with stated capital of €195,282, GDPR-compliant, and currently investing in adjacent growth areas including electric vehicle charging infrastructure (elec calc IRVE), unified solar-electrical design (elec calc SOLAR, launched 2026), and OpenBIM interoperability.

Name

Trace Software International

Legal name

Trace Software International SAS

Website

https://trace-software.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Trace Software International, founded 1987 and headquartered in France, develops CAE software for electrical installation design (elec calc), photovoltaic project simulation (archelios), and building energy optimization (Green Systems), serving installers, design offices, and operators across Europe through direct sales, an e-shop, and partners like Rexel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Engineering Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (51321), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Embedded Software & Firmware Tools (Compilers, Debug, RTOS tooling) (HDAHAFAE)

Keywords

• Electrical calculation software
• Photovoltaic design software
• Building energy optimization
• OpenBIM electrical design
• EV charging sizing software

Headquarters

HQ city

Pinto

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Sale of software licenses for elec calc, archelios, and Green Systems product lines. Software is available for purchase through e-shop with registration required.
2. Training Services: Instructor-led and virtual training courses for software products including elec calc, archelios PRO, archelios CALC, auto fil, elec view, and scan builder. Training calendar available on website.
3. Technical Support: Customer support services including technical assistance, component catalog integration requests, and software updates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Trace Software International develops and sells specialized engineering software for designing, calculating, and simulating electrical installations (LV/HV, EV charging / IRVE, OpenBIM, exterior and multi-source grid networks), photovoltaic projects (3D simulation, bankability studies), and building energy performance optimization (including French Tertiary Decree compliance). Its product portfolio, organized into the elec calc, archelios, and Green Systems families (plus the pack elec CAD range), is licensed to electrical installers, design/engineering offices, operators, manufacturers, project owners, control bodies, and energy consultants, and is sold through direct sales, an e-shop, and a network of distributors and integration partners.

Product overview

Trace Software International offers a comprehensive suite of software solutions for sustainable buildings, organized into three main product families: elec calc (electrical calculation and CAD), archelios (photovoltaic design), and green systems (energy optimization). The elec calc range includes core electrical calculation software with specialized modules for EV charging (IRVE), OpenBIM integration, solar PV design, collaborative project management, exterior installations, and multi-source grid networks. The archelios family provides professional photovoltaic design (PRO) and calculation (CALC) tools. The green systems suite offers energy optimization through green solution, green box, and a Tertiary Decree configurator. Additionally, the pack elec CAD suite provides electrical drawing tools including auto fil, elec view, and scan builder. The products serve the full project lifecycle from conception through execution to operation and maintenance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• elec calc: Electrical calculation software suite including IRVE (EV charging), BIM (OpenBIM), SOLAR (photovoltaic), GRID (multi-source network sizing), and EP (exterior installations) modules.
• archelios
• Green Systems

Products and services

• elec calc Real-time electrical calculation software for designing and sizing high- and low-voltage electrical installations in accordance with international standards (VDE, NF, IEC, NIN, RGIE, REBT, NEN); sold as a license to electrical installers, design offices, and engineering firms.
• elec calc IRVE Electrical calculation module focused on EV charging infrastructure (IRVE — Infrastructure de Recharge pour Véhicules Électriques) for sizing EV charging stations. Sold to electrical installers and engineering firms designing EV charging deployments.
• elec calc BIM OpenBIM-based electrical calculation software for designing and sizing electrical installations inside an open BIM workflow, connected to the BIM&CO platform for BIM object collaboration; targeted at design offices and BIM engineers.
• elec calc SOLAR Complete photovoltaic design software integrated within electrical installation calculations, spanning from PV modules to EV charging points; targets installers and design offices executing solar PV projects combined with on-site EV charging.
• elec calc Project Online collaborative platform for managing elec calc projects with multiple stakeholders and participants; targeted at teams running shared electrical calculation projects.
• elec calc EP Software for sizing exterior electrical installations in accordance with the NF C 17-200 standard for outdoor electrical works; targets installers and design offices for outdoor network and exterior electrical projects.
• elec calc GRID Software for sizing and simulation of multi-source meshed power networks; enables dimensioning and verification of complex meshed grid systems and is targeted at engineering firms and operators running multi-source network studies.
• archelios PRO Professional photovoltaic design software for designing, simulating, and analyzing complete photovoltaic projects with 3D modeling, SketchUp integration, SMA Sunny Design and K2 Base interoperability, 3E TMY data import, and bankability-grade study outputs; sold to solar installers, engineering consultancies, and project owners.
• archelios CALC Photovoltaic calculation and sizing software for professionals, providing detailed technical calculations for PV installations; complements archelios PRO for teams that primarily need PV sizing rather than full 3D design.
• green solution Energy optimization platform for managing and monitoring building energy performance, with data analysis and reporting for energy efficiency; targeted at AMO consultancies, energy service companies, and building owners.
• green box Energy optimization device/solution for monitoring and analyzing building energy consumption and performance, working alongside the green solution platform; targets building operators and energy service companies.
• configurateur Décret Tertiaire Configuration tool for the French Tertiary Decree compliance, helping building managers meet French energy reporting requirements; targets AMO/consulting firms and building owners managing French tertiary-sector real estate.
• auto fil Electrical CAD solution within the pack elec suite for automatic cable routing and wiring in electrical designs; targets electrical drafters and design offices that need to accelerate schematic and wiring documentation.
• elec view Electrical CAD viewer within the pack elec suite for viewing and reviewing electrical project documentation; targets reviewers, project owners, and partners needing read-only access to electrical designs.
• scan builder Electrical CAD tool within the pack elec suite for building electrical diagrams from scanned documents; targets teams digitizing legacy electrical documentation into structured CAD form.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automatic module configuration and wiring saves significant time compared to manual design processes
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RexelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal electrical material distributor Rexel resells the complete Trace Software software portfolio including elec calc, elec calc BIM, elec calc EP, and the archelios photovoltaic suite. This partnership enables wide distribution of Trace Software products to Rexel's extensive customer base in the electrical distribution industry.
• ApavecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerApave, a specialist in safety, training, and business performance improvement, acquired elec calc software in early 2018 for their branches in France and Belgium. The software is used for inspection and verification tasks as well as technical support in installation planning and electrical network sizing.
• Bureau VeritasminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational testing, inspection, and certification company using Trace Software solutions for verification and compliance services.
• SOCOTECminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInspection and control company partner using Trace Software for technical verification and compliance assessment services.
• EPLANcoreTechnology or IntegrationEPLAN provides software solutions and services in electrical engineering, automation, and mechatronics. Standardized ERP and PLM/PDM interfaces ensure continuous data flow along the entire value chain. Integration with Trace Software enables connection across all areas of the enterprise.
• BIM&COcoreTechnology or IntegrationBIM&CO is a company of the Trace Group and worldwide leader in digitizing product data for the construction industry. The platform enables BIM object collaboration and is connected to elec calc BIM and archelios suite, providing technical databases for electrical and photovoltaic components.
• TracePartscoreTechnology or IntegrationTraceParts is an international leader in digital 3D content for engineering. Part of the Trace Group, it offers powerful web-based solutions including CAD component libraries, electronic catalogs, and product configurators. Trace Software users can download components and access electrical specifications through TraceParts technology.
• SMA Solar Technology AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationSMA is a leading specialist in system technology for photovoltaics. The bridge between their online planning tool Sunny Design and archelios PRO enables easy and fast planning of systems with or without 3D, and effortless yield calculation.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ALPI (Caneco): ALPI is a French software company offering Caneco, a leading electrical calculation software for LV/HV installation design. ALPI is the most direct competitor to Trace Software's elec calc in the French and European market, addressing the same electrical contractors, design offices, and verification bodies with overlapping product functionality.
• EPLAN: EPLAN is a German-based CAE platform provider for electrical engineering, automation, and mechatronics with strong presence in the DACH region. EPLAN is both a Trace Software partner and direct competitor, offering overlapping electrical design capabilities to similar engineering and industrial customers across Europe.
• PVsyst: PVsyst is a Swiss-based software for photovoltaic system design, simulation, and yield calculation. It is a direct competitor to Trace Software's archelios suite in the PV engineering software market, serving similar solar consultants, installers, and research institutions with comparable bankability study and yield simulation capabilities.
• Valentin Software (PV*SOL): Valentin Software is a German developer of PV*SOL, a leading photovoltaic design and simulation software for residential, commercial, and utility-scale solar projects. PV*SOL competes directly with archelios PRO and archelios CALC in the European PV design market, particularly in Germany and German-speaking markets.

Broad incumbents

• Siemens Digital Industries (formerly IGE+XAO): Siemens acquired IGE+XAO in 2018, a former direct competitor in electrical CAD/CAE. Siemens Digital Industries offers Solid Edge Electrical and other electrical design solutions as part of a broad industrial software portfolio, serving the same engineering customer base as Trace Software but with significantly greater scale and integration with PLM/MES systems.
• Autodesk: Autodesk offers AutoCAD Electrical and Revit MEP for electrical installation design as part of its broader AEC (Architecture, Engineering & Construction) platform. While not as specialized as Trace Software's elec calc for electrical calculation specifically, Autodesk competes for the same design office and engineering customers with bundled multi-discipline offerings.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes provides the 3DEXPERIENCE platform with electrical and systems engineering capabilities through its CATIA and SOLIDWORKS brands. As a broad PLM incumbent, Dassault Systèmes competes with Trace Software for enterprise engineering customers by offering multi-discipline design capabilities beyond electrical calculation alone.
• Schneider Electric (EcoStruxure): Schneider Electric offers EcoStruxure, an IoT-enabled architecture and platform for electrical distribution, building management, and energy optimization. Schneider competes with Trace Software's Green Systems in building energy management while also providing component data integrated into Trace Software's catalog, making it both a competitor and partner.
• Trimble: Trimble offers MEP and electrical design capabilities within its broader architecture, engineering, and construction software portfolio (Tekla, Stabicad, etc.). Trimble competes with Trace Software for design office and BIM-driven electrical design customers through integrated multi-discipline workflows.

Emerging players

• SMA Solar Technology (Sunny Design): SMA Sunny Design is an online planning tool for PV system design with yield calculation, offered by SMA Solar Technology AG. While SMA is primarily a PV inverter manufacturer, Sunny Design competes with archelios PRO in the early-stage PV planning space and is also integrated with Trace Software's archelios PRO, making it a partial competitor and partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInfr.linkedin.com/company/trace-software-international
• Xx.com/TraceSoftware
• Facebookfacebook.com/TraceSoftware

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Trace Software International