What FORMATION GmbH does

FORMATION GmbH is a Berlin-based, privately held German company (GmbH, founded 2020) that provides a real-time location intelligence platform for physical operations teams working in and around large facilities. The platform combines low-cost QR/barcode workflows with higher-precision BLE, UWB, GPS, and RTLS (Real-Time Location System) technologies in a hybrid hierarchical tracking architecture, surfacing all assets — parcels, vehicles, tools, parts, and personnel — on a single shared live operational map. Core products include the FORMATION App (a map-first mobile interface accessible via QR code entry with no installs or training required), FORMATION Map (world-to-floor live operational visualization), FORMATION Hybrid Tracking, an Integrations layer connecting location events to SAP, ERP, inventory, and safety workflows, and verticalised solutions for DefenceTech, Manufacturing, Logistics, MedTech, Buildings/ESG, and Events. An AI skunkworks sub-brand, XYZ by FORMATION, develops practical AI tools and agentic workflows for automation.

The company sells through an enterprise field sales motion with a 'Book Meeting' CTA, quote-based pricing, and multi-year contracts. Revenue streams consist of SaaS platform subscriptions (offered on an OpEx model to avoid CapEx), hardware sales (RTLS tags, BLE/UWB scanning equipment), and professional services for implementation and change management. Distribution combines direct enterprise sales with channel partners including Siemens, Berlin Partner, and Bosch Startup Harbour. The technology stack is supported by an extensive partner ecosystem covering wireless connectivity (Wirepas, Telekom IoT), RTLS hardware (Ela Innovation, Tatwah, Trekz), logistics systems (Lyngsoe), cloud infrastructure (Telekom Cloud, Google Cloud), and mapping services (OpenStreetMap, MapTiler, MapLibre, OpenCage), alongside participation in Omlox and Open RTLS standards initiatives. Named customers include Bundeswehr, the Cyber Innovation Hub (CIH) of the German Federal Armed Forces, Bosch (across multiple entities), Siemens, Lear Corporation, Kamax, HELLA Aglaia, TH Wildau, and Spreespeicher Event GmbH; the company reports customer-validated outcomes of 6% search-time reduction and 10–100% throughput increases based on CIH deployments. Certifications include GDPR compliance, SSL, and Made in Germany designation. The company has not disclosed external funding rounds and operates with a 1-10 person team.

Name

FORMATION GmbH

Legal name

FORMATION GmbH

Website

https://tryformation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FORMATION GmbH is a Berlin-based company providing a real-time location intelligence platform that combines QR/barcode scanning with BLE, UWB, and RTLS tracking on a shared live operational map, serving enterprise and government customers in defence, manufacturing, logistics, and adjacent verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real-time location intelligence software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Data Platforms, Historian & MES/MOM Integration (IMAIAMAI)

Keywords

• Real-time location intelligence
• Hybrid asset tracking
• Indoor operational mapping
• RTLS deployment platform
• Industrial location software

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Platform Subscription (SaaS): Subscription-based software platform providing real-time location intelligence, live mapping, and hybrid tracking capabilities. Offered on an OpEx model to avoid large upfront CapEx for RTLS infrastructure, reportedly paying for itself in weeks to months.
2. Hardware (RTLS Tags, Scanners): Sale of physical tracking hardware including RTLS tags, BLE beacons, and UWB-enabled scanning equipment for high-value asset tracking.
3. Professional Services & Implementation: Delivery, rollout, and change management services as part of customer onboarding, including world-to-floor mapping for real spaces and system integration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FORMATION GmbH provides a real-time location intelligence platform that combines QR/barcode, BLE, UWB, GPS, and RTLS technologies into a hybrid hierarchical tracking architecture. It delivers a live operational map for factories, depots, warehouses, and yards, displaying assets, vehicles, tools, parts, and teams in real time and triggering zone-based actions in SAP, ERP, and inventory systems. The platform is sold primarily as a subscription SaaS with hardware (RTLS tags, BLE beacons) and implementation services, targeting defence, manufacturing, and logistics organisations.

Product overview

FORMATION provides a unified spatial intelligence platform combining real-time location tracking, mapping, and workflow automation. The core portfolio consists of the FORMATION App (mobile interface), FORMATION Map (live operational visualization), FORMATION Hybrid Tracking (multi-technology asset tracking via QR, BLE, UWB, GPS), and an Integrations layer connecting to SAP, ERP, and inventory systems. Supporting modules include RTLS-powered use cases, RTLS trade-offs analysis, and Safety & Compliance tools. The platform serves vertical markets including DefenceTech, Manufacturing, Logistics, MedTech, Buildings/ESG, and Events. XYZ by FORMATION is the company's AI skunkworks division developing agentic workflows and automation systems. The Track → Trace → Trigger workflow enables users to know where assets are, reconstruct what happened, and automate what happens next.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• XYZ: FORMATION's skunkworks division for practical AI tools, agentic workflows, and automation systems that remove repetitive work

Products and services

• FORMATION App Map-first mobile application that allows workers to scan QR codes, search assets, and navigate indoor spaces via QR code entry points, with no app installs or training required.
• FORMATION Map Live operational map providing a shared real-time view of parcels, vehicles, tools, parts, and teams across factories, depots, warehouses, and yards.
• FORMATION Hybrid Tracking Asset tracking product combining QR codes, barcodes, BLE, UWB, and GPS to provide scalable low-cost tracking with RTLS precision for high-value assets.
• FORMATION Integrations Integration layer connecting the FORMATION platform to SAP, ERP, identity, and inventory systems through zone-based triggers, geofencing, and location-based alerts.
• FORMATION DefenceTech Solution Defence industry offering supporting mission-critical maintenance workflows with hybrid tracking, audit trails, and operational readiness tools for large maintenance sites.
• FORMATION Manufacturing Solution Manufacturing offering focused on throughput optimisation, search-time reduction, bottleneck identification, inventory management, and quality control workflows.
• FORMATION Logistics Solution Logistics visibility offering for yards and warehouses providing real-time movement data, congestion management, and disruption response capabilities.
• FORMATION MedTech Solution Medical and healthcare offering delivering visitor navigation and equipment tracking for hospitals and medical technology environments.
• FORMATION Buildings Operations & ESG Building operations offering covering tenant experience, ESG reporting, and space utilisation through spatial data and live mapping.
• FORMATION Events & Engagement Event operations offering for engagement, sponsorship tracking, exhibitor management, and visitor navigation on a unified map platform.
• XYZ by FORMATION Sub-brand offering practical AI tools, agentic workflows, and automation systems designed to remove repetitive work for small teams.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6% reduction in search time (based on real customer feedback from Cyber Innovation Hub)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiemens is listed as a FORMATION partner. Given Siemens' presence in industrial automation, factory management, and enterprise software, this partnership likely involves technology integration and joint go-to-market access to Siemens' global manufacturing and defence customer base.
• Berlin PartnercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlin's official economic development agency partnered with FORMATION for the Berliner Hoffest 2025 event, providing orientation maps for festival grounds with exhibitor and partner information. This partnership validates FORMATION's capabilities and provides brand credibility within Berlin's business ecosystem.
• Bosch Startup HarbourcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBosch's startup accelerator programme partnered with FORMATION, providing market access to Bosch's manufacturing and industrial customer ecosystem. Multiple Bosch entities (Bosch GmbH Renewable Manufacturing) are referenced as FORMATION customers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Zebra Technologies: Global leader in enterprise asset tracking, RFID, and RTLS solutions with a deep hardware and software portfolio. Comparable to FORMATION in serving industrial and logistics customers seeking real-time location visibility, but with vastly broader scale, hardware line, and channel.
• Honeywell: Industrial conglomerate offering RTLS, voice-directed picking, and connected worker solutions. Targets the same manufacturing and logistics buyers as FORMATION but bundles location intelligence with much wider process automation and software suites.
• Siemens Industrial IoT: Siemens' industrial automation and IoT portfolio (MindSphere/Insights Hub, Opcenter) competes with FORMATION in factory asset visibility. Already listed as a FORMATION partner, the relationship could be either a channel or a competitive risk depending on go-to-market motion.
• SAP Asset Performance & Inventory: ERP giant whose asset and inventory management modules overlap with FORMATION's SAP integration layer. Comparable insofar as enterprise customers evaluate SAP-native capabilities against best-of-breed location platforms like FORMATION.

Direct peers

• Ubisense: Specialist in UWB-based RTLS for manufacturing, logistics, and defence use cases. Closely comparable to FORMATION's high-precision RTLS offering and serves similar operational visibility problems, though with a different technology emphasis (UWB-centric).
• Sewio Networks: UWB-based RTLS platform focused on real-time indoor tracking for manufacturing, warehousing, and sports. Comparable technology stack and target verticals to FORMATION's hybrid tracking offering, with overlapping European customer base.
• Quuppa: Provider of BLE-based real-time locating systems used in manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. Comparable to FORMATION in enabling sub-meter indoor positioning and integrating location events with enterprise systems.
• Kontakt.io: BLE/RTLS infrastructure provider with cloud platform for indoor location, asset tracking, and contact tracing. Comparable technology profile to FORMATION and serves overlapping healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics use cases.

Emerging players

• Wiliot: IoT pioneer developing battery-free Bluetooth tags for supply-chain visibility. Comparable to FORMATION's low-cost tracking thesis and a potential partner or competitor in the hybrid-tracking architecture category.
• Estimote: BLE beacon and indoor location platform used in retail, healthcare, and industrial contexts. Overlaps with FORMATION on indoor tracking use cases but focuses on proximity/marketing as well as asset visibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FormationApp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/formationteams

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 FORMATION GmbH