Datafox
Datafox GmbH is a German manufacturer of RFID-based time-and-attendance terminals, access controllers, and vehicle-identification hardware, serving DACH-region enterprises and critical-infrastructure customers via direct sales and certified channel partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersGeisa, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Datafox does
Datafox GmbH, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Geisa, Thuringia, is a privately held German manufacturer of industrial hardware for time and attendance recording, physical access control, operational and machine data acquisition, and vehicle identification. The product portfolio centres on the EVO series of multifunction terminals (EVO 4.3, EVO Intera II) and the KYO IP-based access controllers (KYO Fourloc launched 2024, KYO Inloc predecessor), built on multi-frequency RFID (13.56 MHz, 125 kHz, UHF), QR-code, fingerprint, BLE, and NFC identification technologies. Through a March 2025 partnership with Nedap, Datafox is the official DACH distributor for the Nedap long-range vehicle-identification and ANPR portfolio (Transit Ultimate, uPass Target/Go, ANPR Lumo, NVITE), integrated with Datafox terminals via the proprietary ZK-Bus interface. Device management and configuration are handled by Datafox Connect (launched October 2025, succeeding Datafox Talk) and the free DatafoxStudio IV tool, with additional integration and security offerings under the Conf-SeQure / Datafox SeQure brand and a training programme called Datafox Akademie.
The business model is hardware-led with a growing software and services wrap. Primary revenue comes from one-time hardware sales of terminals, controllers, electronic locks and cylinders, industrial PCs, and RFID media; secondary revenue is generated through software licensing (Datafox Connect, Conf-SeQure), paid training, repair services, and remote maintenance. Pricing is opaque — all sales run on a request-for-quote basis through an online configurator and direct sales contact, with no public price lists. Go-to-market combines a direct sales force in Germany with a channel-first partner programme across the DACH region; certified integrators such as GFOS mbH handle system integration and enterprise software rollouts (e.g., SachsenNetze GmbH, with 250+ access-control and 125 time-and-attendance terminals integrated to SAP via HR-PDC). Datafox is ISO 9001:2015 certified, a member of BHE Bundesverband Sicherheitstechnik e.V., and recognised by IHK as an 'Hervorragender Ausbildungsbetrieb'. The company is led by Managing Director Markus Heil, has 51-100 employees, and operates from a single site in Geisa with no disclosed external funding.
Datafox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Datafox
- Legal name
- Datafox GmbH
- Website
- https://datafox.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Datafox GmbH is a German manufacturer of RFID-based time-and-attendance terminals, access controllers, and vehicle-identification hardware, serving DACH-region enterprises and critical-infrastructure customers via direct sales and certified channel partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Datafox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Geisa
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Datafox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of physical devices including time and attendance terminals, access control readers, controllers, electronic locks and cylinders, industrial PCs, RFID media, and accessories. One-time hardware purchase model.
- Software Licensing / Subscriptions: Software products including Datafox Connect (device management software), DatafoxStudio IV (free parameterization tool), and Conf-SeQure are offered. Some software products may be provided free of charge with hardware, while others carry licensing fees.
- Professional Services & Training: Training programs through Datafox Akademie, including classroom and online seminars. Repair services and remote maintenance support are also offered as fee-based services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | No public pricing available - all sales via quote request |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Datafox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Datafox develops and manufactures industrial hardware devices for employee time and attendance recording, physical access control, and operational/machine data acquisition, produced at its headquarters in Geisa, Thuringia. The portfolio spans EVO multifunction terminals, KYO IP-based access controllers, electronic locks/cylinders, industrial PCs, and Nedap-sourced long-range vehicle identification readers, complemented by Datafox Connect device management software, DatafoxStudio IV configuration tools, and accessories such as RFID media.
Product overview
Datafox develops and manufactures intelligent hardware products for time recording, access control, and operational data acquisition, with headquarters and production in Geisa, Thuringia, Germany. The product portfolio consists of a unified hardware ecosystem centered on EVO multifunction terminals (EVO 4.3) and KYO IP-based access controllers (KYO Fourloc, KYO Inloc), supplemented by a Nedap-sourced product line covering multi-technology readers (NVITE) and long-range vehicle identification (Transit Ultimate, uPass, ANPR Lumo) via a technology and distribution partnership. Device management is handled by Datafox Connect (successor to Datafox Talk), while device configuration uses DatafoxStudio IV and Conf-SeQure. The accessory range includes RFID media, USB programmers, mounting hardware, and demonstration/test kits. Training and support services are provided through the Datafox Akademie. All products are developed and produced in Germany (Thuringian Rhön), with certified quality management (ISO 9001:2015).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Datafox Connect: Device management software for central management and monitoring of Datafox devices
- DatafoxStudio IV
- Datafox Conf-SeQure
- erfasst!
- Datafox Akademie
- Datafox SeQure
Products and services
- Datafox EVO 4.3 Multifunktionsterminal
Quantifiable outcome
- Short delivery times from 5 business days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Datafox
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Datafox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature7 records
Datafox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- NedapcoreDatafox GmbH entered into a technology and distribution partnership with Nedap, becoming the official Nedap distributor for the entire DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The partnership expands Datafox's product portfolio with Nedap's long-range RFID vehicle identification systems (Transit Ultimate, uPass Target/Go) and ANPR technology (ANPR Lumo). Nedap products are fully integrated with Datafox terminals and controllers via the ZK-Bus interface, making them suitable for critical infrastructure deployments.
- GFOS mbHcoreGFOS mbH is a certified software provider and ISO 27001-certified system integrator that integrates Datafox hardware (EVO 4.3 terminals, KYO controllers) into comprehensive workforce management and security solutions. The partnership enables deployments in critical infrastructure environments such as SachsenNetze, where GFOS handles software configuration and integration with SAP.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Datafox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- dormakaba: Swiss-German global leader in access control, time & attendance, and door hardware. Directly competes with Datafox's EVO terminals, KYO controllers, and electronic locks/cylinders across enterprise and SME customers, with comparable integration depth into HR and security ecosystems.
- Primion Technology: German-headquartered provider of access control, time management, and workforce management solutions. The closest DACH peer with comparable product breadth in access readers, time terminals, and integrated security software for industrial and commercial sites.
- PCS Systemtechnik: German specialist in access control, time recording, and operational data capture with focus on mid-market and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Datafox on hardware-centric access control plus integrated software delivery in the DACH market.
- ZKTeco: Global Chinese manufacturer of biometric and RFID-based time & attendance terminals, access control readers, and integrated security hardware. Direct competitor in multi-function terminals and biometric-enabled devices that compete on price-performance.
- HID Global: US-based global leader in RFID readers, smart cards, and access control hardware (subsidiary of Assa Abloy). Directly comparable in RFID reader technology and access control identification devices, with overlap in mobile credential (BLE/NFC) and OSDP v2 integration.
- Suprema: Korean provider of biometric access control and time & attendance solutions. Directly comparable in fingerprint-enabled access readers and multi-function terminals, with overlapping enterprise and project-based customer segments.
- SALTO Systems: Spanish specialist in electronic locks, online access control, and mobile credentials (SALTO KS). Directly comparable on electronic cylinders, wireless access control, and RFID-integrated locking hardware competing with Datafox's electronic lock portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Assa Abloy: Swedish global leader in door opening solutions, mechanical and electronic locks, and access control (parent of HID Global). Broad incumbent with overlapping access control portfolio across locks, readers, and credentials, but at far larger scale and broader scope than Datafox's focused offering.
- Bosch Security Systems: German broad-line physical security provider covering video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, and building management. Broad incumbent with comparable access control readers and integrated security offerings, but a much wider portfolio and far larger engineering base than Datafox.
Others
- Nedap: Dutch technology company and Datafox's official DACH distribution partner (March 2025) for long-range RFID vehicle identification and ANPR. Currently a partnership-driven complement to Datafox's terminal ecosystem, but also an adjacent competitor in its own AEOS access-control platform in markets outside DACH.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Datafox social profiles
Digital presenceDatafox compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Datafox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Datafox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Datafox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Datafox 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 Datafox
What does Datafox do?
Datafox develops and manufactures industrial hardware devices for employee time and attendance recording, physical access control, and operational/machine data acquisition, produced at its headquarters in Geisa, Thuringia. The portfolio spans EVO multifunction terminals, KYO IP-based access controllers, electronic locks/cylinders, industrial PCs, and Nedap-sourced long-range vehicle identification readers, complemented by Datafox Connect device management software, DatafoxStudio IV configuration tools, and accessories such as RFID media.
Is Datafox a public or private company?
Datafox is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Datafox founded?
Datafox was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Datafox based?
Datafox is headquartered in Geisa, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Datafox make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licensing / Subscriptions and professional Services & Training.
Who are Datafox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are dormakaba, Primion Technology, PCS Systemtechnik, ZKTeco, HID Global, Suprema and SALTO Systems. Broad incumbents are Assa Abloy and Bosch Security Systems. Nedap is listed as an others.
Does Datafox have an API?
No public API is recorded for Datafox.