COUNT+CARE

What COUNT+CARE does

COUNT+CARE GmbH & Co. KG is a German B2B digital solutions provider for the energy market, headquartered in Mainz with primary operations in Darmstadt. Founded in 2005 as a joint venture between ENTEGA AG and Mainzer Stadtwerke AG, the company operates as a neutral multi-market-role service provider for utilities, grid operators, energy suppliers, meter operators, and municipalities across the German electricity and gas value chain. Its portfolio spans the meter-to-cash process and adjacent IT: metering services, qualified Smart Meter Gateway Administration (GWA under MSBG and BSI TR-3109), a Sub-CA certificate authority within the German metering PKI (SM-PKI-DE), EDIFACT-based market communication (GPKE, GeLi Gas, MaBiS, WiM), balance settlement, billing, receivables management, submetering, and end-customer portals, alongside IT hosting (server, SAP, databases), SaaS, and technology solutions such as Business Intelligence on an IBM Cognos/SPSS/InfoSphere stack, Big Data via Apache Hadoop/Kafka/Spark/Hive on Hortonworks and Dell EMC Isilon, IoT and proprietary LoRaWAN in Südhessen, and BPMN process automation via Camunda. Customer-facing AI features include an AI-supported Voicebot for customer self-meter-reading and IBM SPSS-based prediction/forecasting models; AI is at the feature layer rather than the core platform layer.

The technology stack is enterprise-grade and security-rich: an ISO/IEC 27001-certified data center (certified October 31, 2023) underpins regulated workloads; AS4 gateways via Seeburger host EDIFACT endpoints for market partners; Magnolia CMS, Vue.js, Spring Boot, and Mule ESB / TYK.IO API gateways with Keycloak IAM deliver web and mobile end-customer portals; SAP IS-U and high-availability SAP hosting support billing backends. COUNT+CARE also operates a proprietary large-area LoRaWAN infrastructure in Südhessen with end-to-end encryption and a Gateway-as-a-Service offering. Beyond regulated energy, the company lists Energy Trading (Energiehandel), Public Transport (ÖPNV), and Transport & Logistics as active verticals served by the same IoT/Big Data stack.

The business model is hybrid B2B services: managed IT services (server/SAP/SaaS hosting with contractually defined SLAs), energy market process services billed on transaction fees and fixed service contracts (metering, market communication, balance settlement, billing, receivables, submetering), and technology/digital solutions delivered via project-based engagements and ongoing SaaS subscriptions. Gateway-administration services are billed as managed-service engagements to grid operators and meter operators. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated per contract. GTM is enterprise field sales using direct outreach, the German-language website (countandcare.de), email and contact forms ([email protected]), an annual 'COUNT+CARE Forum' trade show, and parent-company referral channels through ENTEGA AG and Mainzer Stadtwerke AG. Named market partners include ENTEGA Plus GmbH, e-netz Südhessen GmbH & Co. KG, Stadtwerke Mainz Netze GmbH, and Mainzer Stadtwerke Energie und Service GmbH—entities largely within the parent-company ecosystem. The company is registered as a GmbH & Co. KG (HRA 42043, Amtsgericht Mainz) with COUNT+CARE Verwaltungs-GmbH as Komplementärin (HRB 44868); José David da Torre Suárez serves as Vorsitzender der Geschäftsführung and Volker Abert as Managing Director. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or revenue disclosures are publicly available.

Name

COUNT+CARE

Legal name

COUNT+CARE GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://countandcare.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

COUNT+CARE is a German B2B digital solutions provider for the energy market, serving utilities, grid operators, suppliers, and meter operators with managed IT, smart metering, EDIFACT market communication, energy data management, and process automation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy Market IT Services

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Meter-to-Cash / Billing & CIS Integration for AMI (EUADAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grid Data & Analytics Enablement (MDM, Data Integration, Hosting) (EUAEANAI), Metering Data Acquisition & Customer Enrollment/Onboarding Services (EUAGAEAG), Submetering & Multi-Unit Property Billing (MUDs, submeters, RUBS, landlord/tenant billing) (EUANAIAK)

Keywords

• Energy market services
• Smart meter gateway administration
• Energy data management
• Managed IT hosting
• IoT LoRaWAN solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Darmstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Managed IT Services: COUNT+CARE provides managed IT services including server hosting, SAP hosting, SaaS, database management, and enterprise desktop services. Revenue is generated through service contracts with enterprise customers in the energy, public transport, and logistics sectors. Services are billed on a per-contract basis with defined SLAs and service levels.
2. Energy Market Process Services: Billing, settlement, and processing services for grid operators, suppliers, and meter operators across electricity and gas markets. Includes metering operations, market communication (EDIFACT), balance settlement (MaBiS/GaBi Gas), network usage billing, receivables/payment management, and submetering. Revenue is earned through per-transaction fees and fixed service contracts with market partners.
3. Technology and Digital Solutions: Custom software development, web portals, mobile apps, IoT solutions (LoRaWAN), Business Intelligence, Big Data analytics, and BPM/proess automation services. Delivered via project-based engagements and ongoing SaaS subscriptions.
4. Gateway Administrator Services: As SMGW-Administrator (GWA), COUNT+CARE charges grid operators and meter operators for the configuration, monitoring, and management of Smart Meter Gateways under the MSBG regulatory framework.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

COUNT+CARE provides neutral, modular B2B services across the entire German energy-market value chain, including metering, smart meter gateway administration, EDIFACT/AS4 market communication, balance settlement (MaBiS/GaBi Gas), billing, receivables management, energy data management, and submetering. It complements these with managed IT services (ISO 27001-certified server hosting, SAP hosting, databases, SaaS) and digital solutions (Big Data, Business Intelligence, IoT/LoRaWAN, Camunda BPM automation, web/mobile portals). Its customers are grid operators, energy suppliers, meter operators, municipalities, and property managers in Germany.

Product overview

COUNT+CARE is a digital solutions provider for the energy market offering a modular, integrated portfolio organized into three main service categories: (1) Technologien & Lösungen (Technology & Solutions) — including Big Data, Business Intelligence, Cloud Services, Internet of Things, LoRaWAN, Web Portals & Mobile Apps, BPMN Process Automation, and Realtime Data Processing; (2) Prozess-Services (Process Services) — covering the entire meter-to-cash chain including metering services, meter operation, market communication, receivables management, billing solutions, portal solutions, submetering, energy data management, account settlements, and Gateway-Administrator services; and (3) IT-Services — including server hosting, SAP hosting, databases, and SaaS. The company operates primarily in four industry verticals: Energiewirtschaft (energy management), Energiehandel (energy trading), ÖPNV (public transport), and Verkehr & Logistik (transport & logistics). COUNT+CARE also operates a Sub-CA certificate authority for the metering sector and offers an online meter reading portal. The company is a subsidiary of ENTEGA AG and Mainzer Stadtwerke AG.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GWA (Gateway-Administrator) / Smart Meter Gateway Administration Smart Meter Gateway Administration service for grid operators and meter operators: secure configuration, monitoring, remote maintenance, firmware updates, and reliable data exchange of intelligent metering systems per MSBG and BSI TR-3109. Includes ISO 27001-certified operations.
• Messdienstleistungen (Metering Services) Meter data management service for utilities, including on-site meter reading (Präsenzablesung) and AI-supported customer self meter reading (Kundenselbstablesung) via voicebot, QR-code, and online portal.
• Messstellenbetriebsprozesse (Meter Operation Processes) End-to-end meter operation services covering procurement, installation and de-installation of metering devices, calibration monitoring, and rollout management for smart metering systems.
• Marktkommunikation und Wechselprozesse (Market Communication & Switching Processes) Standardized and automated processing of supplier switching processes (GPKE for electricity, GeLi Gas for gas, WiM for metering) per German energy market regulations, including EDIFACT message exchange (UTILMD, MSCONS, REMADV, INVOIC), AS4 communication, error diagnosis, and bilateral clarification with market partners.
• Forderungsmanagement + Zahlungsverkehr (Receivables Management & Payment Services) Automated receivables management for grid operators and suppliers, including brand-specific dunning, multi-stage debt collection, court proceedings and enforcement, insolvency administration, and integrated payment processing. Operates under registered Inkasso approval.
• Abrechnungslösungen (Billing Solutions) Billing services for grid operators (network usage, excess/deficit quantities, meter operation), suppliers (end-customer invoices, advance payments), and feed-in remuneration (EEG, CHP) covering electricity, gas, water, telecommunications, and heating costs.
• Portallösungen (Portal Solutions) Out-of-the-box portal solutions for consumption data retrieval, configurable with graphical visualization, time-series analysis, portfolio comparison, normalization parameters, and traffic-light/alarm functionality with role-based access control.
• Submetering End-to-end submetering service for consumption-based measurement, distribution, and billing of individual energy units (electricity, water, heat) post-building entry point, including cold/warm water meters, heat cost allocators, smoke detectors, temperature/humidity sensors, and door/window contact sensors, with full information and communication infrastructure delivered as a service.
• Energiedatenmanagement (EDM) Comprehensive Energy Data Management for electricity and gas markets, including MaBiS balance circle settlement (analytical and synthetic procedures), GaBi Gas allocation, real-time load profile processing, more/less quantity determination, monthly EEG and direct marketing reporting, and distribution to authorized market participants.
• Kontokorrentabschlüsse (Current Account Settlements) Current account settlement services for monthly, quarterly, and annual financial accounting activities in the sub-ledger, including sales and revenue statistics, contract-specific forecasts, and energy tax statistics.
• Serverhosting (Server Hosting) Managed server hosting from an ISO 27001-certified data center with high-availability solutions, virtual server technology, intelligent monitoring, and managed services.
• SAP Hosting Managed SAP operation and hosting with high-availability cluster technologies, SAP Basis administration, Job-Scheduling, Automation/RPA, and Document Management System (DMS), supporting on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployment models.
• Datenbanken (Database Services) Professional database services on Microsoft Windows Server and Oracle platforms, including high-availability configurations, administration, continuous monitoring, and intelligent backup structures.
• Software as a Service (SaaS) Cloud-based SaaS solutions hosted on high-performance infrastructure with flexible scalability, eliminating the customer's need to operate their own IT infrastructure.
• Big Data Big Data environment with integrated Apache streaming tools enabling near-real-time integration of datasets from various sources, paired with a high-performance EDGE node analytics environment.
• Business Intelligence Business Intelligence solutions integrating data from heterogeneous sources into a Data Warehouse (DWH) for decision support, powered by the IBM product suite including Cognos Analytics, SPSS Modeler, and InfoSphere DataStage.
• Cloud Services Hybrid cloud services combining on-premise, public, and private cloud models with high security and data protection compliance.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Modular, industry-independent IoT portfolio covering smart city solutions (Smart Waste, Smart Parking, Environmental Monitoring, Smart Building), asset tracking, process optimization, and predictive maintenance via retrofit adapters.
• LoRaWAN Low-energy wireless IoT connectivity (LoRaWAN) with end-to-end encryption, including network planning, simulation, construction, and Gateway-as-a-Service for large-area deployments in Südhessen, Germany.
• Web-Portale und Mobile Apps Development and operation of customer-facing web portals and mobile applications built on Java, Spring Boot, Vue.js, Magnolia CMS, and Camunda BPM, serving both end-customer portals and B2B partner portals.
• Prozessautomation (BPMN) Process automation service using Camunda BPM with process modeling, execution, and analysis, supporting BPMN and DMN standards for workflow-driven environments and integrating Grafana for performance monitoring.
• Realtime Data Processing Real-time data processing using Apache tools (Kafka, Spark, Hive, Jupyter, Zeppelin) on a Hortonworks Data Lake with a high-performance EDGE node for streaming data integration.
• Sub-CA (Zertifizierungsstelle / Certificate Authority) Sub-Certificate Authority within the German Metering PKI (SM-PKI-DE), issuing and managing certificates for GWA (Gateway Administrator) and EMT (Messdienstleister) market roles per Certificate Policy v1.1.4, supporting production and test PKI environments with LDAP/CRL distribution.

Quantifiable outcome

• ISO 27001 certified data center operations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOUNT+CARE uses IBM products as its primary Business Intelligence and data platform stack. This includes IBM Planning Analytics (TM1), IBM Cognos Analytics, IBM SPSS Modeler, IBM InfoSphere DataStage, IBM InfoSphere Change Data Capture, IBM CloudPack4Data, Watson Knowledge Catalog, Data Virtualization, Watson Studio, Watson Machine Learning, and Watson Open Scale, running on IBM Performance Server.
• CamundacoreTechnology or IntegrationCOUNT+CARE uses Camunda BPM as its core workflow/process automation runtime environment, encompassing process modeling, operations, and analysis. Camunda BPM is also used for complex process and workflow implementation in web portals and mobile applications.
• Seeburger AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationSeeburger AG provides the AS4 gateway infrastructure used by COUNT+CARE and its market partners for EDIFACT electronic data interchange. AS4 endpoints are hosted on Seeburger's makgw.seeburger.cloud platform. COUNT+CARE also uses Seeburger's API endpoint for the Malo-Ident process.
• TYK.IOcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOUNT+CARE uses TYK.IO API Gateway technology for SOAP and RESTful web services, enabling service-oriented architecture (SOA) and integration between customer backend systems and frontend portals/apps.
• MuleSoft (Mule ESB)coreTechnology or IntegrationMule ESB is used as the service-oriented architecture (SOA) middleware for mediating between diverse backend and peripheral systems in COUNT+CARE's portal and application ecosystem.
• KeycloakcoreTechnology or IntegrationKeycloak Identity and Access Management is used for authentication and authorization in COUNT+CARE's portal and mobile application solutions, providing secure access control and single sign-on capabilities.
• Magnolia CMScoreTechnology or IntegrationMagnolia CMS is used for content management in COUNT+CARE's customer-facing web portals (end-customer portals for both private and business customers), enabling rapid and flexible editorial content management.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationCOUNT+CARE provides SAP hosting and administration services, including SAP Basis administration, Job-Scheduling, Automation/RPA, and DMS. SAP IS-U is referenced as the backend system for configuration of customer products and services in portals and mobile apps. High-Availability Cluster technology is used for SAP infrastructure.
• Apache Ecosystem (Kafka, Spark, Hive, Hadoop, Zeppelin, Jupyter)coreTechnology or IntegrationCOUNT+CARE uses Apache open-source technologies including Kafka (streaming), Spark (processing), Hive (data warehousing), Hadoop (storage), Zeppelin and Jupyter (notebooks) for its Big Data and Real-time Data Processing environments, integrated with IBM CloudPack4Data.
• Dell EMC (Isilon/OneFS)coreTechnology or IntegrationDell EMC Isilon with OneFS file system is used as part of COUNT+CARE's Big Data storage infrastructure, enabling high-performance, scalable data storage for the enterprise data lake.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SIV AG: German vendor of kVASy utility software covering meter operation, market communication, balance settlement, and billing for electricity, gas, water, and heat. Closely comparable in scope and target customers to COUNT+CARE's process services portfolio.
• Robotron Datenbank-Software GmbH: German IT vendor offering energy data management, metering, billing, and Big Data solutions to utilities and grid operators. Directly comparable on EDM, MaBiS/GaBi Gas, and BI offerings.
• Schleupen SE: German IT provider specializing in meter-to-cash, energy market communication (GPKE/GeLi Gas), billing, and SAP-based utility solutions. Directly comparable as a competing energy market IT/process service provider serving municipal utilities in Germany.
• BTC AG: German IT consultancy and software house serving utilities with SAP IS-U-based billing, energy data management, and process services. Comparable in hosting, SAP operations, and EDM offerings.
• KISTERS AG: Provider of energy data management, forecasting, trading, and meter-data solutions used by European utilities, traders, and grid operators. Comparable on the EDM, Big Data analytics, and forecasting layers of COUNT+CARE's offering.
• Wilken GmbH: German software provider with a significant energy vertical offering billing, market communication, and CRM/portal solutions for municipal utilities. Comparable in meter-to-cash and customer-portal functionality.
• rku.it GmbH: Herne-based IT service provider for municipal utilities and waste management, specializing in meter operation, market communication, and hosted IT services. Comparable as a mid-sized German energy IT/process service competitor.
• Theben AG / Smart Meter Gateway Administrators (e.g., Meterpan, items GmbH): Other qualified SMGW-Administrators and metering PKI operators in Germany. Directly comparable on the regulated GWA and Sub-CA services that constitute one of COUNT+CARE's strongest moats.

Broad incumbents

• SAP SE (IS-U / S/4HANA Utilities): Global enterprise software vendor whose SAP IS-U platform underpins much of the German utility billing ecosystem. COUNT+CARE hosts SAP and integrates with IS-U, making SAP a broad incumbent and indirect competitor/partner.

Emerging players

• regiocom GmbH: German energy market service provider offering meter operation, billing, and customer service processes to utilities. Overlaps with COUNT+CARE's process services but with a heavier focus on customer-service operations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 COUNT+CARE