Crayon Group
Crayon Group is an Oslo-listed IT services firm providing software asset management, cloud and volume licensing, and optimization consulting to enterprise customers globally. It is being combined with SoftwareOne.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersOslo, Norway
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crayon Group does
Crayon Group is a Norwegian-headquartered, Oslo Stock Exchange-listed (CRAYON.OL) IT services firm founded in 1993 that specializes in software asset management, cloud and volume licensing, and related consulting. It serves enterprise customers seeking to optimize their cloud technology investments and broader digital transformation initiatives, with a horizontal segmentation approach across industries. The company's core offering combines bulk software licensing distribution with advisory services around cloud economics, entitlement optimization, and ongoing managed support.
Crayon's business model is built on intermediating between large software vendors (notably hyperscalers and Microsoft) and enterprise buyers, capturing margin on volume licensing while monetizing adjacent consulting and managed services. It has supplemented organic growth with serial acquisitions: Sensa and Navicle in 2020 added cloud optimization depth, Sequint (2019) extended US reach, and Rhipe (2021) was the largest transaction at roughly $306M, materially expanding APAC presence. Reported revenue grew from approximately $415M (2021) toward ~$630M (2023) before easing slightly in 2024, with EBITDA expanding consistently across the period to ~$82M. The firm employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people globally, with leadership including CEO Rune Syversen, founder and president Jens Rugseth, and a CTO.
The most consequential corporate event is the announced combination with SoftwareOne, under which Crayon is being subsumed and rebranded. The nature of the transaction — whether full acquisition, merger, or structural combination — is not fully specified in available sources, but it represents an existential corporate transformation that will fold Crayon's operations and licensing capabilities into the larger SoftwareOne platform.
Crayon Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crayon Group
- Website
- https://crayon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Crayon Group is an Oslo-listed IT services firm providing software asset management, cloud and volume licensing, and optimization consulting to enterprise customers globally. It is being combined with SoftwareOne.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Crayon Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Software Asset Management
- NAICS
- Other Computer Related Services (541519), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CRM Implementation & Customization Services (BPAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- CRM Managed Services & Support (BPAEAGAD)
Keywords
Where Crayon Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oslo
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Crayon Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Crayon Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crayon Group provides software asset management (SAM), cloud and volume licensing services, and associated consulting to enterprises. The company helps organizations optimize their software and cloud technology investments by managing licensing agreements, tracking software usage, and advising on cloud economics. Its offerings are delivered through a global team supporting enterprise customers across multiple regions.
Product overview
Crayon Group provides cloud technology optimization services. The company is currently undergoing a rebranding transition to become SoftwareOne, suggesting a merger or acquisition event.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Software Asset Management Services
Companies that use Crayon Group
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Crayon Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Crayon Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Crayon Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IBM Consulting: Diversified technology and consulting arm of IBM, competing across cloud (Red Hat), enterprise applications, and IT services. Adjacent overlap with Crayon's enterprise transformation advisory.
- Infosys: Global IT services and consulting major with cloud, enterprise applications, and digital transformation capabilities. Comparable in serving large enterprise digital transformation initiatives.
- Capgemini: Global IT services and consulting firm with significant cloud transformation and enterprise application practices. Competes with Crayon's consulting arm and offers adjacent licensing advisory.
- Cognizant: Global IT services provider with strong enterprise application, cloud, and digital transformation practices. Competes for the same enterprise consulting and managed services engagements as Crayon.
- CDW Corporation: Large US-listed IT reseller and solutions provider serving enterprise and public sector with hardware, software, cloud, and services. Overlaps with Crayon on software licensing distribution at much larger scale.
- Accenture: Largest global IT and management consulting firm with deep cloud migration, SAP, and enterprise software advisory practices. Competes for the same enterprise digital transformation wallet as Crayon.
Direct peers
- SHI International: Privately held enterprise IT solutions provider combining software licensing, hardware, and professional services. Closely comparable business model to Crayon's SAM and cloud advisory offering.
- SoftwareOne: Global software and cloud licensing specialist that is acquiring/rebranding Crayon. Operates the same core SAM and volume licensing model with overlapping enterprise customer base and vendor partnerships.
- Insight Enterprises: Public global IT solutions reseller offering hardware, software, and services including cloud and software asset management. Comparable to Crayon in volume licensing and enterprise IT advisory.
- Rhipe (now Crayon ANZ): APAC-focused cloud and software licensing distributor acquired by Crayon in 2021 for ~$305M. Direct peer and now wholly owned subsidiary, illustrating the regional licensing-reseller model Crayon scaled.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Crayon Group social profiles
Digital presenceCrayon Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crayon Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Crayon Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crayon Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A6 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crayon Group
What does Crayon Group do?
Crayon Group provides software asset management (SAM), cloud and volume licensing services, and associated consulting to enterprises. The company helps organizations optimize their software and cloud technology investments by managing licensing agreements, tracking software usage, and advising on cloud economics. Its offerings are delivered through a global team supporting enterprise customers across multiple regions.
Is Crayon Group a public or private company?
Crayon Group is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently acquired.
When was Crayon Group founded?
Crayon Group was founded in 1993. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Crayon Group based?
Crayon Group is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, in the Europe region.
Who are Crayon Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IBM Consulting, Infosys, Capgemini, Cognizant, CDW Corporation and Accenture. Direct peers are SHI International, SoftwareOne, Insight Enterprises and Rhipe (now Crayon ANZ).
Does Crayon Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crayon Group.
What industry is Crayon Group in?
Crayon Group's product category is Software Asset Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAGAC, CRM Implementation & Customization Services, with a secondary code of BPAEAGAD, CRM Managed Services & Support. Its NAICS code is 541519 and its SIC code is 7370.