CARAT
CARAT is a German software vendor, founded in 1995 and owned by MHK Group, that provides modular 3D kitchen planning, manufacturer-integrated ordering, and commercial calculation software used by more than 50,000 kitchen retailers and dealers across Europe and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersDreieich, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CARAT does
CARAT Gesellschaft für Organisation und Softwareentwicklung mbH is a German software vendor founded in 1995, headquartered in Dreieich, Germany, and operating as a subsidiary of MHK Group, a purchasing and marketing association for the kitchen and furniture trade. The company develops a modular kitchen planning software platform used by more than 50,000 kitchen retailers, furniture dealers, and specialized kitchen trade professionals, primarily in German-speaking markets with country-specific operations in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, and China. The platform combines a proprietary 3D planning engine with manufacturer catalog integration, automated technical order control (TAK/ATAK) for OEMs such as Nobilia, Schüller, and Impuls, real-time block-based commercial calculation, electronic ordering (e.COM), VR walkthrough visualization, a cloud-delivered content/update service, and a warranty database module that extends manufacturer warranty from two to five years.
The product portfolio is organized around a core planner (CARAT planner) and CARAT Cloud, complemented by add-on modules covering visualization (CARAT view, CARAT emotion, CARAT virtualreality), commercial processing (CARAT one, e.COM), installation service management (CARAT service mobile app), catalog digitization (CARAT productinfo), adjacent living-space planning (CARAT kitchen+space, CARAT easyroom, CARAT guide, CARAT kitchenstox), and warranty administration (Garantiedatenbank). CARAT monetizes through software licensing with subscription-style recurring elements, modular add-on purchases, and the CARAT Academy, which delivers paid in-person seminars (e.g., €680 per person in Salzburg, €1,000 per person for online basic training) and online courses. The company is led by three Managing Directors (Thorsten Hallermeier, Andreas Günther, Alexander Graf) and employs 51-100 staff across its Dreieich headquarters and its Salzburg training center (operated via CARAT Technodat). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
CARAT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CARAT
- Legal name
- CARAT Gesellschaft für Organisation und Softwareentwicklung mbH
- Website
- https://carat.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CARAT is a German software vendor, founded in 1995 and owned by MHK Group, that provides modular 3D kitchen planning, manufacturer-integrated ordering, and commercial calculation software used by more than 50,000 kitchen retailers and dealers across Europe and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CARAT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Kitchen Planning Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Custom Modular Shelving & Cabinetry System Planning (Non-Construction) (HSAFAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Kitchen Cabinets & Custom Millwork Showrooms (CRAIAFAA), Software Development (Programming, Frameworks, Dev Tools) (EDABAFAA)
Keywords
Where CARAT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dreieich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CARAT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: CARAT generates revenue through licensing its kitchen planning software to kitchen dealers and retailers. The software is sold as a proprietary solution with various modules and manufacturer catalogs available for purchase. The CARAT Cloud provides online catalog purchasing functionality.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Online Basic Training - Küchenplanung Basic (Online) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | In-Person Basic Training - Austria (Salzburg) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
CARAT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CARAT develops and sells professional modular kitchen planning software for kitchen retailers and dealers. The software suite covers 3D kitchen design, manufacturer catalog integration, commercial calculation, electronic order processing, and customer visualization including VR walkthroughs. The company also operates the CARAT Academy, a training platform offering in-person seminars and online courses for software users.
Product overview
CARAT is a professional modular kitchen planning software platform for kitchen retailers, consisting of a core planning suite complemented by add-on modules. The core products include CARAT planner (online 3D kitchen planner) and CARAT cloud (cloud-based data delivery). Visualization modules include CARAT emotion (advanced graphics with textures and animations), CARAT virtualreality (VR immersive experience), and CARAT view (3D image display). Commercial processing is handled by CARAT one and e.COM (electronic ordering to manufacturers). Service management is covered by CARAT service (mobile installation app). Additional modules include CARAT guide, CARAT kitchenstox, CARAT productinfo (digital catalog info), CARAT kitchen+space (room dividers), CARAT easyroom, and Garantiedatenbank (warranty database extension). The portfolio also includes CARAT academy for training. Worldwide more than 50,000 users rely on the software, and it has received multiple awards as test winner.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CARAT: Professional kitchen planning software brand offering multiple product modules including CARAT guide, CARAT kitchenstox, CARAT one, CARAT emotion, CARAT productinfo, CARAT service, CARAT planner, CARAT kitchen+space, CARAT virtualreality, CARAT easyroom, CARAT view, and Garantiedatenbank.
- CARAT academy
Products and services
- CARAT planner
Quantifiable outcome
- Live block calculation optimized from approximately 1300 offer blocks in seconds
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CARAT
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CARAT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
CARAT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NobiliacoreMajor German kitchen manufacturer with catalog integration for kitchen planning. CARAT supports Nobilia-specific features including XL height article exchange, gliding door systems, and ATAK (Automatic Technical Order Control).
- Schüller KüchencoreGerman kitchen manufacturer with TAK (Technical Order Control) integration in CARAT. Catalog automatically enables technical order checking functionality.
- Impuls KüchencoreKitchen manufacturer with TAK (Technical Order Control) integration. TAK function automatically enabled with Impuls catalog purchase.
- MHK GroupcoreCARAT is an MHK Group company. MHK Group operates as a purchasing and marketing association for the kitchen and furniture trade.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CARAT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Autodesk (AutoCAD, Forma): Autodesk's AutoCAD, Revit and Forma platforms serve general 3D/BIM/CAD needs across AEC and product design. Not kitchen-specialized, but a broad incumbent whose tools increasingly encroach on dealer/maker design workflows.
- Trimble SketchUp: SketchUp is a mainstream 3D modeling platform widely used in kitchen/interior design, cabinet-making and visualization. A horizontal incumbent whose ease-of-use and 3D Extension Warehouse 3rd-party catalog tools overlap with CARAT's positioning.
Direct peers
- 2020spaces (2020 Design): 2020spaces offers 2020 Design and related cloud tools for kitchen, bath and interior room design with manufacturer catalogs and dealer workflows. Comparable: vertically-specialized design/rendering/ordering platform aimed at the same kitchen-retail customer.
- Microvellum: Microvellum provides CAD/CAM software tailored to cabinetmakers and millwork shops. Direct peer to CARAT on cabinetry design-and-manufacturing workflows and integrated manufacturer orders.
- KCD Software: KCD Software is a U.S.-based developer of kitchen and bathroom design software (KCD Kitchen Draw and Design Planner). Directly comparable: serves the same kitchen-trade vertical with CAD/3D design, manufacturer catalogs and order processing on a subscription basis.
- PaletteCAD: PaletteCAD offers 3D CAD software for interior and kitchen design with manufacturer catalogs, primarily in German-speaking and Benelux markets. Competes head-to-head with CARAT in European dealer design rooms.
- Compusoft Group: Compusoft provides CAD/CAM and ERP software for the kitchen, bedroom and joinery trades across Europe (Winner, Fenext, Microvellum brands). Closest like-for-like competitor to CARAT on technology, vertical and geographic footprint.
- imos AG: imos provides CAD/CAM woodworking software for furniture and kitchen manufacturers, used widely in German-speaking markets. Highly comparable to CARAT's CATALOG/TAK/ordering tools on the engineering-to-order side of the same kitchen value chain.
- Winner Software (Compusoft): Winner Software provides CAD/CAM solutions for the furniture, kitchen and woodworking industry under the Compusoft Group. Directly comparable to CARAT on kitchen-trade vertical and German/European market presence.
Emerging players
- RoomSketcher: RoomSketcher offers browser/consumer-friendly floor plan and 3D visualization tools aimed at consumers and small design firms. Partial overlap with CARAT's online CARAT planner and emerging consumer-side configurator trend.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CARAT social profiles
Digital presenceCARAT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CARAT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
CARAT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CARAT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CARAT
What does CARAT do?
CARAT develops and sells professional modular kitchen planning software for kitchen retailers and dealers. The software suite covers 3D kitchen design, manufacturer catalog integration, commercial calculation, electronic order processing, and customer visualization including VR walkthroughs. The company also operates the CARAT Academy, a training platform offering in-person seminars and online courses for software users.
Is CARAT a public or private company?
CARAT is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was CARAT founded?
CARAT was founded in 1995. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CARAT based?
CARAT is headquartered in Dreieich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CARAT make money?
One revenue line is on record: software Licensing.
Who are CARAT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Autodesk (AutoCAD, Forma) and Trimble SketchUp. Direct peers are 2020spaces (2020 Design), Microvellum, KCD Software, PaletteCAD, Compusoft Group, imos AG and Winner Software (Compusoft). RoomSketcher is listed as an emerging player.
Does CARAT have an API?
No public API is recorded for CARAT.
What industry is CARAT in?
CARAT's product category is Kitchen Planning Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAFAHAK, Custom Modular Shelving & Cabinetry System Planning (Non-Construction), with a secondary code of CRAIAFAA, Kitchen Cabinets & Custom Millwork Showrooms. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.