softTRADE

What softTRADE does

Softengine GmbH (doing business in part as softTRADE) is a German ERP software developer headquartered in Hauenstein, founded circa 1990, that sells modular industry-specific ERP solutions to mid-sized companies in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The company operates 15 branch locations and markets itself as an ERP partner for the Mittelstand with over 30 years of industry presence.

The company's flagship product is rentERP, an industry-specific ERP for construction equipment and device rental companies built on the modular erpSUITE (Version 7) platform. rentERP combines rental management, graphical disposition, time-dependent pricing, deposit management, service/workshop integration, UVV/TÜV maintenance tracking, and one-button equipment evaluation (showing amortization status) in a single integrated system; the vendor claims 98% coverage of construction-rental processes and 400+ industry-specific functions, supported by 20+ years of vertical experience. The platform extends to adjacent verticals via dedicated industry solutions — energyportERP (fuel and lubricants trade), medicalERP (medical technology trade, §302 processing), mentionERP (IT distribution), stepsERP (IT system houses), vendingERP (vending operators), and kossERP — alongside functional modules (CRM, FiBu, WaWi, BPM, POS, Production, EDI ClearingCenter, B2B Shop, Analytics & Reporting). Supporting offerings include the Miet-App via echtstart GmbH for mobile handover/return, the Softengine.me/WIKI/CAMPUS knowledge and training platforms, and the EnGPT SupportAgent AI assistant.

Revenue is generated through quote-based annual subscriptions sold via a direct sales-led motion with consultation and live demonstrations, targeting Mittelstand companies with 3–20 users (the company explicitly excludes large corporations/"Conzerne"). The company disclosed 70+ active rentERP customers, with revenue figures not publicly available. No external funding, M&A, or leadership changes are noted; the entity remains a privately held GmbH under German law.

Name

softTRADE

Legal name

Softengine GmbH

Website

https://softtrade.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Softengine GmbH (softTRADE) develops modular industry-specific ERP software — notably rentERP for construction equipment rental — on its erpSUITE platform, selling subscription-based ERP solutions to Mittelstand companies (3–20 users) across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland via 15 direct-sales locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental ERP Software

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Services Automation (PSA) & Services ERP (HDAEAEAF), Industry-Specific ERP for Utilities & Energy (HDAEAEAN)

Keywords

• Construction equipment rental software
• ERP software solutions
• Equipment rental management
• Modular ERP platform
• Industry-specific ERP

Headquarters

HQ city

Hünfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ERP Software Licensing & Support: rentERP is sold as a specialized ERP software solution for construction equipment rental companies. The software is deployed on the ERP-SUITE platform with ongoing support, updates, and maintenance services. Pricing is quote-based, targeting mid-market companies with 3-20 users.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

softTRADE (Softengine GmbH) develops and sells industry-specific ERP software for the DACH Mittelstand. Its flagship product, rentERP, is a purpose-built ERP for construction equipment and device rental companies that unifies rental operations, sales, and service (including workshop/maintenance) in a single system on the modular erpSUITE platform. The solution adds time-dependent rental pricing, graphical disposition, secure deposit management, transparent equipment evaluation, and automated e-invoicing, along with complementary industry products (energyportERP, medicalERP, mentionERP, stepsERP, vendingERP, erpFLOW, kossERP).

Product overview

Softengine offers a modular ERP platform (erpSUITE) with industry-specific solutions and functional add-on modules. The primary product discussed is rentERP, an industry-specific ERP for construction equipment and device rental built on erpSUITE. Additional industry solutions include energyportERP (heating oil/fuel), medicalERP (medical technology), mentionERP (IT distribution), stepsERP (IT system houses), and vendingERP (vending operators). Supporting modules cover Analytics & Reporting, CRM, Financial Accounting, Warehouse Management, BPM, POS, Production, EDI ClearingCenter, B2B Shop, and ERP core functions. The portfolio also includes AI-powered support (EnGPT SupportAgent) and training platforms (Softengine.me, WIKI, CAMPUS).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• rentERP: Industry-specific ERP solution for construction equipment and tool rental companies, covering rental, sales, and service processes in one integrated system.
• erpSUITE
• energyportERP
• medicalERP
• erpFLOW
• vendingERP

Products and services

• rentERP Industry-specific ERP solution for construction equipment and device rental companies covering rental, sales, and service processes in a unified system, including time-dependent pricing, graphical dispatch, deposit management, service and workshop integration, and transparent equipment evaluation. Targets mid-market Mittelstand rental companies with 3-20 users.
• erpSUITE Modular ERP platform serving as the foundation for Softengine's industry-specific solutions, customizable to individual company requirements, covering purchasing through annual financial statements for the DACH Mittelstand.
• energyportERP Industry software solution for heating oil and fuel trade, the lubricants industry, and the gas station sector.
• medicalERP ERP solution for the medical technology trade, covering treatment/practice supplies, quarterly billing, and §302 processing.
• mentionERP Business management and ERP solution for IT distribution, integrating warehouse management, online shop, ITscope, and myCOP.
• stepsERP ERP and CRM solution for IT system houses and software manufacturers, covering customer files, service tickets, contracts, and projects, distributed by Step Ahead.
• vendingERP ERP solution for vending machine operators managing machines, maintenance, fill levels, telemetry, and automated billing.
• erpFLOW Solution for online orders, pricing, and inventory fully integrated with ERP and synchronized in real time.
• kossERP ERP software for digital business processes distributed via GCI, positioned as a compass solution across business process digitalization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% coverage of industry processes for construction equipment rental
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• echtstart GmbHcoreTechnology or Integrationechtstart GmbH provides the Miet-App (rental app) as a complementary product integrated with rentERP. The mobile app for iOS and Android enables digital handover and return of vehicles including checklists, operating hours capture, photos, and digital signatures. The photo comparison between equipment output and return facilitates documentation and helps reduce damage disputes. This is a separate additional product (Zusatzprodukt) available from echtstart GmbH.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rentman: Netherlands-based cloud rental management software for AV, event and equipment rental companies. Closest cloud-native competitor to rentERP in the European equipment-rental vertical, contrasting softTRADE's on-prem deployment model.
• Jonas Construction Software: Construction-industry ERP serving contractors and equipment-heavy service firms. Comparable to softTRADE in serving construction Mittelstand with integrated accounting, service and equipment management workflows.
• Point of Rental Software: US-based rental management software specialist serving equipment and event rental companies with modular rental, dispatch and inventory functionality. Closest direct competitor to rentERP in the construction equipment rental ERP niche, with broader geographic reach.

Broad incumbents

• SAP: Global ERP leader (Business One, S/4HANA) with industry solutions targeting equipment manufacturers and service providers. The dominant incumbent above softTRADE in DACH Mittelstand ERP accounts, particularly for customers that exceed rentERP's stated corporate-client ceiling.
• Infor: Large US enterprise software vendor with industry-specific ERPs including equipment service & rental. Competes with softTRADE in the same Mittelstand rental customer base but from a global cloud-scale position.
• Oracle NetSuite: Leading cloud ERP suite serving mid-market and enterprise customers globally. Represents the cloud-native benchmark for the type of customers erpSUITE targets in DACH and a likely migration path as customers modernize.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365: Microsoft's cloud ERP/CRM platform with ISV-built vertical extensions including equipment rental. Represents the most likely cloud-platform incumbent Softengine erpSUITE must compete against as DACH Mittelstand moves to Microsoft-centric stacks.

Emerging players

• ToolWatch: Construction equipment and tool management platform with tracking, maintenance and utilization analytics. Adjacent to rentERP's equipment valuation and maintenance modules, targeting overlapping rental and contractor customers.
• Coswin: Maintenance and asset management software (part of Siveco Group) with strong industrial and equipment-heavy customer base in Europe. Comparable to rentERP in maintenance, service orders and equipment history functionality.

Regional players

• BuildSoft: Belgian-headquartered ERP/construction management software for the European construction sector. Comparable to softTRADE in serving European Mittelstand construction businesses, though more oriented to contractors than rental operators.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/softtrade_erp
• Facebookfacebook.com/softtrade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/softtrade-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 softTRADE