What Optilift does

Optilift AS is a Norwegian privately held technology company headquartered in Kristiansand with a sales office in Stavanger, operating as the commercial arm of parent company VOCA. It develops AI- and computer-vision-powered hardware and software that digitalise, remotely control, and increasingly autonomously operate cranes and other cargo-handling machines used in offshore energy, ports and terminals, offshore wind, and construction. The product portfolio is anchored on the VOCA Software Platform (in operation since 2014), comprising a Perception System, AI Training, Machine Control, Digital Twin, Work Order Management and Physics-Based Simulator modules, and a family of certified sensor kits (Sensor ONE Kit for ATEX Zone 1 offshore cranes, CORE Kit for onshore cranes, Drive Kit for forklifts and reach stackers, Gangway Kit, Laser Sensor). Application products include Motion Reporter (DNV-certified heave measurement extending offshore weather windows by roughly 10x), People Detector (safety vision), Boom Tip Indicator, Soft Lifting Assistant, Deck Planner with Cargo Tracker, Digital Logistics, and an Autonomous Crane Control System being jointly delivered with PALFINGER and Aker BP for the world's first autonomous offshore cranes (TRL4 reached 2022, deployment targeted 2026/2027).

The company sells through a hybrid GTM model combining direct enterprise field sales with channel partnerships: EnerMech for global installation, commissioning and service across 26 locations (announced May 2026) and IKM Løfteteknikk for the Norwegian market (announced May 2026). Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) recurring monthly SaaS licensing that scales with the deployed fleet of machines, (2) hardware sales of certified sensor kits for retrofit to existing cranes, and (3) service/maintenance agreements plus professional services for surveying, installation and commissioning. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Optilift serves roughly 20-22 named enterprise customers — predominantly offshore oil and gas supermajors and drilling contractors (Equinor, Shell, Aker BP, BP, ExxonMobil, ENI, Vår Energi, Wintershall Dea, OKEA, Transocean, Odfjell Drilling, Maersk Drilling, Dolphin Drilling, Saipem, Palfinger, Ithaca Energy, ABB, ASCO, EXMAR, Wood, Altera) — alongside a nascent deployment at Seafront Logistics in the Port of Kristiansand. The company holds granted patents on its core offshore cargo handling technology in six jurisdictions (UK, US, Norway, Australia, Canada, Brazil), a US patent on its Digital Logistics solution, and registered OPTILIFT trademarks in Norway, the UK and the US.

Name

Optilift

Legal name

Optilift AS

Website

https://optilift.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Optilift is a Norwegian AI and computer-vision technology company that digitalises, remotely controls and increasingly autonomously operates cranes and cargo-handling machines for offshore oil and gas operators, drilling contractors, ports and offshore wind clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Crane Automation Software

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Autonomy Software, AI & Mission Management (UAS/UXV) (IMABAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fleet, Asset Tracking & Telematics Location Platforms (BPAMANAF), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Crane automation software
• Computer vision logistics
• Offshore cargo handling
• Autonomous crane control
• Maritime lifting systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Kristiansand

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software as a Service (SaaS): Monthly software license fee that scales with the fleet of machines in operation. Covers software improvements and updates.
2. Hardware Sales: Sale of sensor kits including Sensor ONE Kit, CORE Kit, Drive Kit, Gangway Kit, Laser Sensor, and Metron base design. Minor initial hardware costs with retrofit approach to existing machines.
3. Service and Maintenance Agreements: Service and maintenance agreements for all hardware solutions covering regular testing and upkeep.
4. Professional Services: Survey, installation and commissioning services provided by Optilift team or through partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Optilift develops and sells AI and computer vision software combined with retrofit sensor hardware for cranes and cargo handling machines, primarily serving offshore energy operators and port/terminal operators. Its core VOCA Software Platform powers offerings including DNV-certified heave measurement (Motion Reporter), people detection, boom tip indication, soft lifting assistance, digital logistics planning and autonomous crane control. The commercial offering combines minor upfront hardware sensor kits with a monthly SaaS license that scales with the size of the customer's deployed fleet.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VOCA Software Platform Core AI and computer vision software platform powering all Optilift applications since 2014, consisting of modules for perception, AI training, machine control, digital twin, work order management and physics-based simulation that enable digitalization, remote control and autonomous cargo handling operations. Sold primarily via monthly SaaS license to enterprise customers in offshore energy and ports/terminals.
• Sensor ONE Kit Zone 1 ATEX-certified boom tip and crane cabin sensor kit designed for offshore cranes, with onboard AI processing, enabling Motion Reporter and other computer vision features on harsh-environment offshore machines.
• CORE Kit Weather-proof boom tip and crane cabin sensor kit for onshore cranes (fixed and mobile), typically deployed on quay-side cranes in ports and terminals to retrofit Optilift computer vision and AI capabilities.
• Drive Kit Weather-proof sensor kit for forklifts, reach stackers and other wheel-based cargo handling machines, enabling automated container tracking and handling assistance at ports and terminals.
• Motion Reporter DNV-certified non-contact heave measurement technology that measures the relative movement between the supply vessel and the crane boom tip, computing Effective Significant Wave Height (HSEff) and creating an automatic 3D model of the vessel without instrumenting the vessel itself; enables lifting in higher sea states than allowed by traditional wave radar.
• People Detector Computer vision and AI software that detects people in the crane operator's camera field of view, renders warning triangles on the live video, supports rule creation for deck crew limits, and provides tactile and audible warnings to reduce the risk of personnel being struck during lifts.
• Boom Tip Indicator Lifting assistance software that shows the crane operator exactly where the cargo will land on the vessel deck, where the hook will hit the cargo, and helps avoid lifting with pendulum movement; non-contact solution requiring only crane instrumentation.
• Soft Lifting Assistant Lifting assistance software that indicates the ideal timing for soft landing and lift-off based on real-time velocities at the exact lift-off/landing area, reducing dynamic forces, re-entry risk and equipment damage.
• Digital Logistics Closed-loop solution for planning, execution and tracking of cargo transfers that maintains an overview of cargo movements within ports and terminals and transits between onshore bases and offshore sites, with patented digital twin and AI-based OCR for cargo identification.
• Deck Planner with Cargo Tracker Logistical digital twin that shows cargo location in real-time, plans and communicates lifting sequences to the crane, and uses computer vision and AI-based OCR to identify and track containers as they move through the terminal or vessel deck.
• Autonomous Crane Control System Remote and autonomous control system for offshore cranes, developed jointly with Aker BP, that supports the AutoHook concept for performing lifts without human interaction; reached TRL4 in offshore testing at Valhall IP in 2022 and is contracted for full operational deployment on Aker BP's Yggdrasil and Valhall platforms (5 of 7 cranes fully remotely operated from Stavanger onshore control room).

Quantifiable outcome

• 10x more operational days with extended wave height limits (1m to 2.5m)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

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

• EnerMechflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2026Global multi-year collaboration agreement to deliver safer, more efficient and less weather dependent crane and lifting operations across the energy sector. EnerMech provides installation, commissioning, servicing and maintenance through its global workforce in 26 locations. Partnership enhances EnerMech's Lifting Solutions business line with technology-enabled crane and cargo handling.
• IKM Løfteteknikk AScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 May 2026Norwegian market partnership for sales, installation, commissioning and maintenance of Optilift solutions. Provides customers shorter lead times, single point of contact, and access to IKM's nationwide service network.
• PALFINGERflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2023Strategic partnership with PALFINGER and Aker BP to jointly develop and deliver world's first autonomous offshore cranes. First cranes to be delivered to Aker BP platforms Yggdrasil and Valhall within next few years. Five out of seven cranes will be fully remotely operated from onshore control room in Stavanger.
• Aker BPflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2017Long-standing collaboration since late 2017 on developing technology for remotely monitored autonomous offshore crane operations. Aker BP developed AutoHook concept integrated with Optilift's autonomous crane control system. Full-scale testing completed at Valhall IP platform reaching TRL4 in 2022.
• Føn Energy ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration partner in autonomous lifting operations development with Aker BP and PALFINGER. Contributed to testing and optimization of autonomous crane technology.
• Seafront LogisticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPort operator partnership for deployment of automated cargo handling technology at Port of Kristiansand. Cameras mounted on reach stackers and terminal gates for container tracking. Testing and customization conducted in collaboration with ongoing expansion planned to include terminal cranes.
• VOCAcoreOthersParent company VOCA performs research and development of Optilift technology and solutions. VOCA Software Platform has been powering applications since 2014. Team at VOCA handles R&D while Optilift handles commercial operations.
• Norwegian Coastal AdministrationminorOthersProvided financial support for deployment program at Port of Kristiansand in collaboration with Seafront Logistics.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Konecranes: Konecranes is a global crane manufacturer and port solutions provider with extensive automation and digital portfolio. Overlaps with Optilift in port/terminal automation and digital logistics, but serves a much broader set of lifting use cases at large enterprise scale.
• Manitowoc Company: Manitowoc manufactures crawler, mobile and industrial cranes for construction and infrastructure markets. Comparable as a crane OEM with overlapping end-customers in heavy lifting, though Optilift's autonomy software stack differentiates it from Manitowoc's hardware focus.
• Liebherr: Liebherr manufactures offshore, port and mobile cranes and has invested in crane automation and digitalization. Comparable as a crane OEM building capabilities adjacent to Optilift's autonomy and assistance systems, but at significantly larger scale.
• ABB: ABB is a global industrial automation and robotics supplier with maritime and offshore automation offerings, and is also an Optilift customer/partner. Overlaps with Optilift in industrial automation, sensors and offshore digitalization but across a much broader portfolio.
• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Hyster-Yale manufactures forklifts, reach stackers and container handling equipment with growing automation and telematics offerings. Comparable to Optilift's Drive Kit for wheel-based cargo handling machines and container tracking at port/terminal operations.
• Cargotec: Cargotec is the parent of Kalmar, MacGregor and Hiab, with broad port, offshore and on-road load-handling automation portfolios. Comparable as an incumbent offering container handling and offshore cargo solutions that overlap with Optilift's digital logistics and remote-control offerings.
• Siemens Logistics: Siemens Logistics provides automation, digitalization and electrification for airports, ports and postal/logistics facilities. Comparable in port automation and digital yard management, though at incumbent scale with a much broader customer base.

Emerging players

• Kongsberg Maritime: Kongsberg Maritime is a Norwegian-based provider of autonomous maritime systems, dynamic positioning, and offshore automation. Adjacent in geographic and technology overlap (autonomy, sensors, offshore) and competes for similar offshore digitalization budgets.

Direct peers

• PALFINGER: PALFINGER is a global crane and lifting equipment manufacturer and Optilift's development partner for autonomous offshore cranes with Aker BP. Directly comparable as both a supplier of offshore cranes and a co-developer of autonomy/remote-control functionality that competes with Optilift's retrofit stack.
• Kalmar (Cargotec): Kalmar provides container handling automation, yard planning and digital logistics for ports and terminals. Closely aligned with Optilift's Ports & Terminals segment, including reach stacker automation, container tracking and yard management solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/optilift
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/optilift-as
• Facebookfacebook.com/optilift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Optilift