What SAPHIR Software does

SAPHIR Software GmbH is a German privately held software company founded in 1971 and headquartered in Leverkusen, specializing in ERP software for the building cleaning industry (Gebäudereinigung). Its core product, SAPHIR 3.0, is a modular ERP suite delivered on a proprietary high-performance database (bundled at no additional cost) with five primary modules: Office Organization, Order Processing, Payroll (Lohn & Gehalt) with DEÜV/GKV certification, Financial Accounting, and Post-Calculation (Nachkalkulation). The platform is extended with add-on modules for electronic scheduling, document archiving, asset and group accounting, and a dedicated Saphir Time module for electronic time tracking that integrates with Datafox hardware terminals, a phone-based solution, and an NFC/QR-enabled mobile app for Android and iOS. A cloud-streamed variant, Saphir 3.0 Online (launched 2020), and a next-generation browser-based platform, Saphir 5.0 Web Edition (open beta 2024), extend delivery beyond the on-premises install base. Certifications (ITSG, DEÜV, GKV, TÜV-backed data protection) anchor compliance for German cleaning operators.

The business model combines subscription-based ERP rental (modular pricing, quote-based), Datafox terminal rental, Microsoft 365 and Acronis reselling, hardware sales/rental, training seminars in Düsseldorf, and external data protection officer services delivered via a partnership with RUBIN GmbH at EUR 300/month plus a EUR 2,800 setup fee. Go-to-market is sales-led and inside-sales driven, primarily through the company website (contact forms, online presentation requests, self-service beta registration) and direct phone/email outreach from the Leverkusen headquarters, with social presence on Facebook, XING, and Instagram and a customer portal (SaphirBox) for existing accounts. The customer base is concentrated in the German building cleaning vertical, served by 51-100 employees under co-CEOs Winfried Schwaiger and Andreas Schwaiger, with no external institutional investment, acquisitions, or public listing disclosed.

Name

SAPHIR Software

Legal name

SAPHIR Software GmbH

Website

https://saphir-software.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SAPHIR Software GmbH is a German, family-owned ERP software provider founded in 1971 that delivers modular SAPHIR 3.0 ERP, electronic time tracking, IT services, and data protection offerings to building cleaning companies across Germany and the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vertical ERP Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Services Automation (PSA) & Services ERP (HDAEAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects) (HDAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Building cleaning software
• ERP software
• Electronic time tracking
• Payroll accounting software
• IT services

Headquarters

HQ city

Leverkusen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

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 Licensing/Rental (SAPHIR 3.0): SAPHIR 3.0 is offered as rental software with modular pricing. Customers can choose individual modules or the complete business workflow coverage. The high-performance database is included free of charge.
2. Data Protection Services: External data protection officer services offered in partnership with RUBIN GmbH. Includes monthly subscription for data protection officer role (300 EUR/month) and one-time setup fees for data collection, forms, and training (2800 EUR).
3. IT Services and Hardware: IT services including Microsoft 365 distribution, Acronis cyber protection, hardware rental and sales (servers, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, laptops). Certified Microsoft partner offering various Office packages.
4. Time Tracking Terminal Rental: Datafox time tracking terminals offered with rental model. Service package including software module included in rental price. Available as new or refurbished hardware.
5. Training and Seminars: Beginner seminars for new users of SAPHIR 3.0. Located in Düsseldorf with participant-based pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAPHIR Software provides modular ERP software (SAPHIR 3.0 and the next-generation SAPHIR 5.0 Web Edition) purpose-built for building cleaning companies, covering office organization, order processing, payroll, financial accounting, and post-calculation. The company complements the software with electronic time tracking solutions (terminals, mobile app, phone-based), cloud-based remote access (Saphir 3.0 Online), IT services including Microsoft 365 and Acronis cyber protection, and external data protection officer services delivered through partner RUBIN GmbH.

Product overview

SAPHIR Software is a German ERP software provider specializing in solutions for building cleaning companies and service providers since 1971. The product portfolio consists of the SAPHIR 3.0 platform as the core offering, supplemented by the next-generation Saphir 5.0 Web Edition (currently in beta), and Saphir 3.0 Online for cloud-based access. The platform follows a modular architecture with five main modules (Office Organization, Order Processing, Payroll, Financial Accounting, and Post-Calculation) that can be expanded with additional modules including electronic scheduling, document management, asset accounting, and group accounting. Time tracking is handled through the Saphir Time module with supporting hardware (Datafox terminals) and mobile/phone-based alternatives. The company also offers complementary services including IT services (Microsoft 365, Acronis), data privacy services, and training seminars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saphir 5.0: Next-generation web-based ERP system for building cleaning companies, currently in beta development
• SaphirBox
• Saphir Time / Saphir Time 3.0
• Saphir Terminals
• Saphir Phone

Products and services

• SAPHIR 3.0 Modular ERP software for building cleaning companies covering the complete business workflow from acquisition to comprehensive company evaluations, including office organization, order processing, payroll, financial accounting, and post-calculation modules. Runs on an included high-performance database.
• SAPHIR 5.0 Web Edition Next-generation fully web-based ERP system for the building cleaning industry, currently in beta, based on SAPHIR 3.0 with 30 years of industry expertise and cross-browser support.
• Saphir 3.0 Online Cloud-based virtual desktop solution streaming SAPHIR 3.0 encrypted to users via web browser, providing 100% web-based access from any internet-capable device without requiring local server infrastructure.
• Saphir Time (Electronic Time Tracking) Electronic time tracking solution with real-time data retrieval for payroll preparation, supporting automatic processing of actual hours, allowances, absences, vacation, presence control, and DATEV interface for LODAS payroll systems.
• Saphir Terminals Time tracking hardware terminals from certified Datafox Software Partner with chip card, key fob, or optional fingerprint support, data transmission via LAN, GPRS, and USB, and email notifications when employees are not on site.
• Saphir Phone Telephone-based time tracking solution where employees call a dedicated number from the object's telephone at work start and end. Cost-free for customers and suitable for sites with up to five employees.
• Saphir Mobile App Smartphone application for time tracking via NFC and QR code scanning at object chips, available for Android and iOS with online and offline functionality and simple one-button operation.
• Datenschutz (External Data Protection Officer Services) External data protection officer services offered in partnership with RUBIN GmbH, including company-specific procedure directory, employee training, written employee notices, data protection impact assessments, processor agreements, and GDPR compliance certification.
• IT-Service / MOMA SERVICE IT services including Microsoft 365 cloud services distribution (Business Basic, Apps for Business, Business Standard, Business Premium), Acronis cyber protection, hardware rental and sales (servers, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, laptops), and network infrastructure installation.
• Seminare (Training) Training seminars including beginner courses for new SAPHIR 3.0 users, covering professional module operation and workflow optimization, offered at the Düsseldorf location.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• RUBIN GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with RUBIN GmbH for providing external data protection officer services. RUBIN GmbH offers comprehensive GDPR-compliant data protection services including employee training with certificates, company-specific procedural directories, data protection impact assessments, and agreements for processors.
• DatafoxcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified Datafox Software Partner offering time tracking terminals. Datafox hardware is manufactured in Germany, energy-efficient, and includes robust construction. The partnership covers time tracking terminals, order times, process data, machine data, vehicle data, and mobile data solutions.
• MicrosoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertified Microsoft Partner offering Microsoft 365 packages including Business Basic, Apps for Business, Business Standard, and Business Premium. Services include cloud storage, business email, Teams communication, and advanced security features.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• abas Software GmbH: German ERP vendor focused on mid-market services and manufacturing firms with modular accounting, order processing and payroll modules — directly comparable to SAPHIR's modular ERP architecture for small-to-mid German companies, including services-industry customers with similar compliance and payroll requirements.
• DATEV eG: Dominant German cooperative providing accounting, payroll, and tax-consultant software to SMBs — deeply integrated with SAPHIR via DATEV invoicing and DATEV LODAS interfaces. Targets the same German SMB buyer and provides regulatory-grade payroll/data-transmission functionality that is a primary substitute and a primary complement to SAPHIR.

Broad incumbents

• Sage Group plc: Global SMB-focused ERP/accounting vendor with Sage 50 / Sage 100 / Business Cloud offerings that overlap SAPHIR's target customers (small and mid-sized German SMBs needing modular ERP, payroll and billing). A broad incumbent rather than a vertical specialist, but the most credible large-suite alternative for German Mittelstand customers evaluating SAPHIR.
• SAP SE: Largest German ERP vendor, offering SAP Business One and S/4HANA Cloud for SMBs. While not industry-specialized for building cleaning, SAP dominates the upper end of SAPHIR's addressable market and is the most likely strategic acquirer or competitor to add vertical services-industry functionality.
• Microsoft (Dynamics 365 Business Central): Cloud-native SMB ERP with strong German market presence, integrated with Microsoft 365 (which SAPHIR itself resells). Most plausible broad incumbent to expand into vertical-services functionality and undercut SAPHIR's domain specialization with its R&D scale and cloud platform.
• IFS AB: ERP and field service management vendor with deep functionality for service-industry firms (workforce scheduling, time tracking, project accounting) — a comparable services-industry ERP at the larger end of the market and a benchmark for where SAPHIR 5.0 could compete if it successfully scales upmarket.

Regional players

• Lexware (Haufe Group): German SMB accounting and ERP suite with payroll, invoicing and order-processing modules, sold primarily to small German businesses — closely comparable on geography, language, target customer size and compliance requirements, although without SAPHIR's cleaning-industry specialization.
• sevDesk GmbH: Cloud-native German SMB accounting platform targeting small businesses and freelancers, illustrating how newer entrants are moving the German SMB ERP market toward web/cloud delivery — directly relevant to SAPHIR's SAPHIR 5.0 cloud transition and a competing approach for the lower end of SAPHIR's customer base.

Emerging players

• Odoo SA: Open-source modular ERP with comparable architecture to SAPHIR (office, order processing, payroll, accounting and project modules) and an active community localizing for German SMBs. A credible emerging alternative for price-sensitive small cleaning companies evaluating a fully web-native, customizable ERP.

Others

• ATOSS Software AG: German workforce management software vendor whose time-tracking, scheduling and mobile-workforce functionality overlaps with SAPHIR's Saphir Time module. Not a direct ERP competitor but an adjacent vendor whose capabilities partially substitute for SAPHIR's time-tracking stack in German services companies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SAPHIR-Software-GmbH-192294464106
• LinkedInxing.com/companies/saphirsoftwaregmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/saphirsoftware

Compliance4 records

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 SAPHIR Software