Ferber Software

What Ferber Software does

Ferber-Software GmbH is a privately-held German software company founded in 1990 by Matthias Ferber and Jochen Schneiders and headquartered in Lippstadt. The company develops, sells, and supports IKAROS, a web-based debt collection and receivables management software platform now in its fourth generation. IKAROS serves debt collection agencies, law firms, and corporate collections departments across Germany and parts of Europe, with a customer base of more than 200 organizations including named accounts such as Riverty (Arvato Financial Solutions), TeamBank AG, HFG Gruppe (LZI), Inkasso Küng AG, and GREIF.

The product is a cloud-capable, web-architected standard software platform with deep customization: a graphical Workflow Editor enables drag-and-drop configuration of business processes, users can independently add new parameters rather than only selecting from presets, and the system supports multi-company deployments on a single server landscape. Domain features include joint-and-several claims processing, multi-currency operations, multilingual interface, and German/EU-specific compliance (eSchKG Switzerland, Camt/Pain formats, GDPR-aligned debtor management). The platform integrates via proven interfaces with credit bureaus (SCHUFA, CRIF, Regis24, RISER, Experian), document and payment partners (softgate, QENTA, FP IAB, Deutsche Post Adress), and curates third-party add-ons through the IKAROS Solution Store (ISS) marketplace.

Ferber generates revenue through a mix of recurring subscriptions (rental from €95/month, SaaS from €395/month), perpetual licenses for basic and above editions, annual maintenance contracts, and professional services for implementation and customization. Go-to-market is direct sales led by in-house IT consultants, supplemented by an annual user conference and a user-elected advisory council. The product is TÜV-certified (the first standard debt collection software to achieve this), and the company is the recognized market leader in German debt collection software since 2009, operating with 130+ employees of which 55 are dedicated to two product development departments.

Name

Ferber Software

Legal name

Ferber-Software GmbH

Website

https://ferber-software.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ferber-Software GmbH is a German privately-held software company founded in 1990 that develops IKAROS, a web-based debt collection and receivables management software now in its fourth generation, serving more than 200 collection agencies, law firms, and corporate customers across Germany and parts of Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Debt Collection Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210), Collection Agencies (561440)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Compliance, GRC Workflow & Audit Automation Platforms (HDAEAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compliance, Audit & Regulatory Services for Collections (FSAKAJAL), Risk, Controls & Governance (GRC) Platforms (FSAFAOAG)

Keywords

• Debt collection software
• Receivables management software
• Collection automation software
• Legal collection workflows
• SaaS debt recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

De Pere

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Rental: Rental model for IKAROS starting from €95/month. Available from IKAROS starter edition. Includes maintenance and support. Attractive entry option especially for smaller collection companies and startups.
2. SaaS (Software as a Service): Full SaaS offering where Ferber handles infrastructure, administration, and third-party licenses. Customers benefit from infrastructure savings, administration savings, and reduced concerns. Starting from €395/month.
3. Perpetual License: Software purchase option available for IKAROS basic and above editions. Provides ownership model alternative to rental.
4. Professional Services: Implementation services, project management, and technical consulting for IKAROS deployment and customization.
5. Maintenance and Support: Annual maintenance contracts with updates for bank code directories, court jurisdiction directories, and software updates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Ferber-Software GmbH develops, sells, and supports IKAROS, a web-based debt collection and receivables management software platform in its fourth generation. The product is offered in four editions (starter, basic, plus, enterprise) and deployed via on-premise rental, perpetual license, or SaaS to debt collection agencies, law firms, and corporations handling domestic and international collections. Complementary professional services include IT consulting, implementation, and ongoing maintenance and support.

Product overview

Ferber-Software GmbH offers IKAROS, a web-based debt collection and receivables management software platform currently in its 4th generation. The product is available in four editions (IKAROS starter, basic, plus, and enterprise) to serve different company sizes from startups to large multinational corporations. The software supports highly automated collection processes through optimally coordinated components, with flexible customization and rapid integration of new ideas, innovations, or individual adaptations. IKAROS is offered as on-premise rental (Miete) or Software as a Service (SaaS), with a pricing range from €95/month (starter rental) to €395/month (SaaS). The company also operates the IKAROS Solution Store (ISS) as a marketplace for complementary solutions developed by partner companies and experienced IKAROS users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IKAROS: Debt collection and receivables management software offered in four editions: Starter, Basic, Plus, and Enterprise. Supports highly automated collection processes with customizable workflows, multi-currency capability, and multilingual interface.

Products and services

• IKAROS Web-based debt collection and receivables management software that highly automatically supports all collection processes through optimally coordinated components. Supports multi-currency, multilingual interface, workflow management with graphical editor, customizable interface, multi-company capability, and international features including eSchKG for Switzerland and Camt & Pain payment formats. Targeted at debt collection agencies, law firms, and corporations in DACH and Europe.
• IKAROS Solution Store (ISS)

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of collection cases reach amicable settlement in out-of-court collection
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers20 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

Integration12 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesverband Deutscher Inkasso-Unternehmen e.V. (BDIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFerber-Software is associated with BDIU, the Federal Association of German Debt Collection Companies. BDIU represents the interests of the collection industry and has 560 member companies. The association is Europe's largest collection industry association and second largest worldwide.
• DSC Unternehmensberatung und Software GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-standing SAP partner since 1993 specializing in IT systems implementation and business process optimization for the energy industry in DACH region.
• BVMW (Bundesverband mittelständische Wirtschaft)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing member of the German SME association representing 270,000 SMEs with 9 million employees. Ferber contributes expertise in technical consulting and collection management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Serrala: Hamburg-based provider of financial automation software including receivables and collections workflow solutions. Comparable to Ferber as a German-headquartered vertical software vendor serving finance/collections operations with workflow and integration depth.
• BearingPoint: European management and technology consultancy with regulatory and finance software offerings including debt collection / regulatory reporting. Comparable as a European-headquartered provider of specialized collection and compliance software.
• Tinubu Square: Paris-based software vendor specialized in credit insurance, receivables management, and collections workflow. Comparable to Ferber as a European-headquartered vertical software company serving receivables/credit management with workflow customization depth.

Broad incumbents

• FICO: Global analytics and decision management software vendor with debt collection, recovery, and customer management solutions. Competes with Ferber in collections technology but operates at much larger scale across broader financial services.
• Wolters Kluwer: Global information services and software provider with finance, risk, and compliance solutions including collections workflow. Overlaps with Ferber in compliance-driven software for regulated financial workflows but operates at a much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Temenos: Global banking software platform whose core banking suite includes collections and recovery modules for retail and commercial banks. Comparable in collections workflow but as part of a broader core banking offering rather than a specialized vendor.
• Sopra Banking Software: European banking software provider with collections, recovery, and receivables management capabilities within its core banking suite. Comparable to Ferber's enterprise edition serving banks and large financial services institutions, but as a broader platform vendor.

Emerging players

• Pair Finance: Berlin-based AI-native digital debt collection platform using machine learning for debtor communication and recovery optimization. Represents the AI-first alternative to Ferber's workflow-automation approach in the same German collection market.
• CollectAI (Riverty): AI-powered debt collection platform now part of Riverty (Bertelsmann subsidiary, also an existing Ferber customer). Competes with Ferber in the German market with a modern AI-driven approach versus Ferber's traditional workflow automation model.

Others

• Atos: Global IT services and digital transformation company with collections-related systems integration and managed services in financial services. Adjacent rather than directly competing — relevant as a systems integrator that custom-builds collection solutions in the same customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCB-O3DJs08ooxgLzRSLtHcw
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Ferber-Software-GmbH/143266072413871
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/ferber-software-lippstadt
• Instagraminstagram.com/ferbersoftware

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Ferber Software