ConSense

What ConSense does

ConSense GmbH is a German software company founded in 2003 in Aachen that develops and sells a modular SaaS platform for integrated management systems, with primary use cases in quality management (QMS), governance/risk/compliance (GRC), information security management (ISMS), document control, and process management. The platform is delivered as ConSense SUITE and ConSense PORTAL, extended by functional modules (QMS, GRC, IMS, FORMS, GxP validation, WIKI, Management & Strategie) and a generative AI assistant (KI-Assistent) for text, metadata, and process-flow generation. The company claims 1,000+ customer organizations and 500,000+ end users across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with offices in Aachen, Vienna, and Friedrichshafen and platform localization in more than 20 languages.

ConSense monetizes through three streams: enterprise software subscriptions (quote-based, contracted under Bitkom-standard terms), Academy+ training and education (webinars at €225 per person, blended seminars at €750, multi-day basic seminars at €1,500), and consulting services for implementation. Go-to-market is enterprise-field-sales led, supplemented by inside sales, a 60+ industry partner program, and a content marketing engine (whitepapers, webinars, Academy+, ConSense EXPO with 700+ attendees). The customer base is highly diversified across manufacturing, healthcare, pharma, utilities, transport & logistics, food, public administration, and social services, with named references including AIDA Cruises, Bundesdruckerei, Kuehne+Nagel, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, Ritter Sport, Stadtwerke München, and Diebold Nixdorf.

ConSense is a privately held GmbH with no public funding rounds, no M&A history, and no disclosed institutional ownership. It is managed by three co-founder managing directors (Dr. Iris Bruns, Dr. Stephan Killich, Dr. Alexander Künzer) and has grown organically over more than 20 years. The company achieved ISO 27001 certification for its own operations in November 2025 and uses its own platform to support compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 27001, TISAX, NIS2, CISIS12, and GxP frameworks.

Name

ConSense

Legal name

ConSense GmbH

Website

https://consense-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ConSense GmbH is a German SaaS company, founded in 2003 in Aachen, that provides modular software for quality, GRC, information security, and document management to over 1,000 organizations across the DACH region, including a generative AI assistant for content and process automation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quality Management Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (BPAEAPAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

IT Governance, Risk & Compliance (IT GRC) Platforms (HDAEALAK), Privacy, Consent & Data Protection Management (BPAEAPAF)

Keywords

• Quality management software
• Governance risk compliance
• Integrated management systems
• Information security management
• Document management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Aachen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses and Subscriptions: SaaS-based software delivery (ConSense SUITE and PORTAL) with subscription model. The AGB references SaaS Bitkom, VÜ Bitkom (software purchase), and VPS Bitkom (software maintenance) contract types.
2. Academy+ Training and Education: Revenue from seminars, webinars, hands-on workshops, and online training programs. Pricing varies: webinars at €225/person, blended learning seminars at €750/person, and multi-day basic seminars at €1,500.
3. Consulting Services: ConSense consulting services for implementation, QMS coaching, and in-house seminars. Reimbursement for consulting includes travel costs at €0.80 per kilometer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

ConSense GmbH provides a modular SaaS software platform (ConSense SUITE and ConSense PORTAL) for managing integrated management systems including quality management, governance/risk/compliance (GRC), information security, document management, and process management. The platform is complemented by consulting services and the Academy+ training program (webinars, seminars, workshops), targeting organizations seeking ISO certification, regulatory compliance, and audit-ready documentation across multiple industries.

Product overview

ConSense offers a modular software platform for management systems, consisting of the ConSense SUITE and ConSense PORTAL as two core product variants, extended by a suite of functional modules. Key modules include ConSense QMS (Quality Management), ConSense GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance), ConSense Document & Knowledge Management, ConSense FORMS (Form Management), ConSense GxP Validierungsmanagement, ConSense Integriertes Managementsystem (IMS), ConSense Management & Strategie, and the ConSense WIKI for knowledge management. The portfolio also includes the ConSense Academy+ training platform (webinars, seminars, workshops), the ConSense Customer Portal (support ticketing and idea management), and a ConSense KI-Assistent (AI Assistant) powered by generative AI. The ConSense SUITE and PORTAL serve as the foundational platforms, while modules extend capabilities for specific management disciplines and industry requirements. The AI Assistant is available exclusively for hosting customers. ConSense serves over 1,000 organizations with more than 500,000 users across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, transport, energy, and social services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ConSense GRC: A software solution for Governance, Risk & Compliance and Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), supporting standards such as ISO 27001, TISAX, and NIS2.
• ConSense PORTAL
• ConSense SUITE
• ConSense Academy+
• ConSense Campus
• ConSense EXPO
• Norddeutscher Qualitätstag
• ConSense WIKI
• Lighthouse Learning

Products and services

• ConSense SUITE The central, scalable, modular software platform for managing integrated management systems. Serves as the foundation for quality management, process management, document control, GRC, and other ConSense modules. Supports over 500,000 users across 1,000+ organizations.
• ConSense PORTAL A web-based portal interface for process and quality management, providing access to process representation, document management, roles and permissions, and QM task organization. Offered as an alternative entry point to the ConSense platform.
• ConSense GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) A module within the ConSense platform for managing governance, risk, and compliance processes, supporting Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), NIS2, ISO 27001, and TISAX compliance through asset management, risk assessment, and automated monitoring.
• ConSense QMS (Qualitätsmanagement) A quality management software module providing centralized, automated QM control, audit readiness, and acceptance across teams. Supports complex organizational structures and multi-timezone environments.
• ConSense Document & Knowledge Management Module for centralized document management and version control, ensuring audit-ready documentation and making valuable knowledge directly accessible, current, structured, and immediately usable.
• ConSense FORMS (Formularmanagement) A form management module for centrally managing and controlling forms in a revision-safe manner without IT dependency, eliminating outdated forms and ensuring consistent data collection.
• ConSense GxP Validierungsmanagement A GxP-compliant validation management module for validating processes and systems with GxP-conform structures and personal support, aimed at regulated industries such as medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
• ConSense Integriertes Managementsystem (IMS) An integrated management system module bundling all management topics (quality, environment, occupational safety, information security) onto one platform, reducing complexity, lowering costs, and creating synergies.
• ConSense Management & Strategie A module providing a central overview of strategic initiatives, measures, and risks, making management systems effective leadership instruments for organizational steering.
• ConSense Customer Portal An internally developed customer portal for submitting support tickets, communicating with the support team, and managing ideas and improvement suggestions. Based on proprietary ConSense development, with data stored exclusively within the EU.
• ConSense Academy+ ConSense's training and education platform offering webinars, online seminars, hands-on workshops, and video-based self-learning modules covering process management, quality management, AI in QM, risk management, and more.
• ConSense WIKI A knowledge management and Social QM module enabling employees to share, expand, and collaboratively develop knowledge, combining social media features with professional knowledge management for a dynamic management system.
• ConSense KI-Assistent (AI Assistant) An AI-powered assistant within ConSense that supports quality management through automated document analysis, process optimization, text creation, metadata generation, eLearning content, and flowchart generation. Available exclusively for ConSense Hosting customers.
• ConSense Consulting Services ConSense consulting services for implementation, QMS coaching, and in-house seminars. Reimbursement for consulting includes travel costs at €0.80 per kilometer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,000+ companies from all industries successfully using the platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability5 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• ConSense Partner Program (60+ Industry Partners)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConSense maintains a partner program with over 60 industry partners across various sectors. Partners provide implementation support, consulting services, and help expand regional market coverage. The program offers opportunities and benefits for collaboration in the management systems space.
• DGQ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Qualität)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGQ (German Association for Quality) is a partner of ConSense, shown in the partner logo section. DGQ is a leading quality management professional organization in Germany.
• VUV (Verband Aachen)minorOthersVUV Aachen is listed as a partner organization, likely in the context of local business support and regional networking.
• Regina Aachen e.V.minorOthersRegina Aachen e.V. is a regional partner organization listed on the ConSense website.
• TreedomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTreedom is a sustainability partner of ConSense, appearing in the partner logo section. Treedom specializes in corporate sustainability through tree-planting initiatives.
• familienfreundliche Unternehmen Region AachenminorOthersConSense is certified as a family-friendly employer by the 'familienfreundliche Unternehmen Region Aachen' initiative, demonstrating commitment to work-life balance.
• HubSpotcoreTechnology or IntegrationConSense uses HubSpot as its marketing automation and CRM platform. HubSpot powers the live chat, email marketing, lead management, forms, and analytics on the ConSense website. Data is processed on ConSense's behalf within EU data centers with SCCs and EU-US DPF certification in place for international transfers.
• ZapiermoderateTechnology or IntegrationConSense uses Zapier for workflow automation, particularly for event management processes such as registration handling, session tracking, and system integrations. A DPA is in place with EU SCCs and EU-US DPF certification covering the US-based service.
• WistiamoderateTechnology or IntegrationConSense uses Wistia for video hosting and delivery. Wistia provides the video infrastructure for the Academy+ training platform and product videos. EU SCCs and EU-US DPF certification are in place.
• Google (Analytics, Ads, Marketing Platform)moderateTechnology or IntegrationConSense uses Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, Google Display & Video 360, and Google Campaign Manager for web analytics, conversion tracking, and programmatic advertising. IP anonymization is enabled, EU SCCs and EU-US DPF are in place.
• LinkedIn (Lead Gen Forms, Ads)moderateTechnology or IntegrationConSense uses LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms for B2B lead generation and LinkedIn Ads for targeted advertising to professional audiences. EU SCCs are in place for data transfers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CAQ AG: German provider of CAQ/QMS software serving manufacturing and regulated industries with similar quality management, audit, and document control capabilities — a direct like-for-like competitor in the DACH market.
• Qualio: Cloud QMS platform purpose-built for life sciences and regulated industries, directly comparable to ConSense's GxP validation and quality management use cases for pharma/medical device customers.
• MasterControl: QMS and quality-centric platform for regulated manufacturers with document, training, and compliance modules that closely overlap ConSense's QMS, GxP, and document control functionality.
• Intellect: QMS/GRC and integrated management system suite with strong EMEA presence, competing head-to-head with ConSense in quality, environment, occupational health, and information security modules.
• Ideagen: Provider of QMS, EHS, and GRC software used by regulated enterprises — a comparable end-to-end management systems vendor with adjacent industry verticals and similar customer profiles.

Regional players

• Qualsys: German-based QMS/IMS software provider focused on mid-market German enterprises; a regional competitor with comparable product scope in quality and integrated management systems.

Broad incumbents

• Diligent: Established GRC platform (including the acquired Galvanize/ACL product line) offering broad risk, compliance, and audit capabilities — overlaps with ConSense's GRC and ISMS modules at enterprise scale.
• OneTrust: Large trust intelligence / GRC platform with strong privacy, consent, and compliance management offerings, competing for the same GRC and data-protection budget as ConSense's GRC module.
• ServiceNow: Enterprise platform with an integrated IT GRC and risk management suite; competes for the IT GRC and integrated risk workflow portion of ConSense's roadmap, especially with large enterprises.
• SAP: Global enterprise software incumbent with SAP GRC and quality management capabilities; a much larger competitor that ConSense displaces or co-exists with in large German enterprise accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ConSenseGmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consense-gmbh---managementsysteme

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 ConSense