ibi research

Name

ibi research

Legal name

ibi research an der Universität Regensburg GmbH

Website

https://ibi.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industry Research and Consulting Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Credit Research (FSACAGAB)

Keywords

• E-commerce research
• Digital payment studies
• Banking transformation research
• Retail digitalization insights
• Consumer behavior surveys

Headquarters

HQ city

Regensburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Studies and Publications: ibi research sells studies, reports, and whitepapers on topics including e-commerce, AI shopping assistants, retail digitalization, EUDI-wallet, and payment. Prices vary (e.g., partner study available for 499 EUR); some publications are offered free with registration. Studies are also co-published with partners such as DIHK.
2. ibi-Consumer-Report Sponsorship: Companies can sponsor the annual ibi-Consumer-Report to position themselves as experts and knowledge carriers in the e-commerce and payment space. Sponsorship provides visibility and thought leadership placement.
3. Events and Webinars: ibi research organizes paid or sponsored events including the E-Commerce-Tag Regensburg, ibi Webinars, and the ibi-Zahlungsverkehrsforum. Events feature sponsors and exhibitors from the partner network.
4. Newsletter Sponsorships: Newsletters (ibi news, ibi banking news, E-Commerce-Newsletter, Zahlungsverkehrs-Newsletter) are supported by sponsors. Sponsorship concepts are available for download.
5. Consulting and Research Projects: ibi research conducts commissioned research projects, such as the EUDI-Wallet-Monitor 2027 planned with 4-5 project partners, providing exclusive insights, question placement opportunities, and visibility in publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ibi research is an applied research institute that conducts empirical studies, consumer behavior surveys (most notably the ibi-consumer-insights monthly panel), and industry reports on e-commerce, digital payments, retail digitalization, and banking transformation. It sells studies, runs paid and sponsored events/webinars, distributes multiple newsletters, manages the ibi-Partnernetzwerk of 30+ partner companies, and operates the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handel SME support program.

Product overview

ibi research is a research institute at the University of Regensburg focused on digital transformation in retail, banking, payments and e-commerce. The organization operates as a research and consulting entity offering studies, surveys, events and educational programs rather than a traditional software product company. Its portfolio includes ibi-consumer-insights (monthly consumer behavior tracking), ibi-Studien (research publications), ibi-Webinare and ibi-Events (educational events including E-Commerce-Tag Regensburg and Zahlungsverkehrsforum), the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handel (SME support program), and multiple newsletters. The ibi-Partnernetzwerk provides an innovation network for financial services and retail.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ibi-consumer-insights: Monthly consumer survey tracking E-commerce and payment behavior in Germany
• ibi banking news
• E-Commerce-Newsletter
• Zahlungsverkehrs-Newsletter
• ibi insights
• ibi-Partnernetzwerk
• ibi academy
• ibi-Events
• ibi-Webinare
• ibi-Zahlungsverkehrsforum
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handel
• EUDI-Wallet-Monitor 2027
• ibi Roundtable

Products and services

• ibi-consumer-insights Monthly consumer behavior survey panel with at least 500 persons in Germany, tracking changes in consumption and payment behavior over time through consistent methodology to enable trend analysis. Includes monthly posts, evaluations, and an annual Consumer Report.
• ibi-Studien Scientific studies and reports published by ibi research on digital transformation in banking, payments, retail, and e-commerce, available for free download after registration or as paid full versions (e.g., 499 EUR for full partner study).
• ibi-Webinare Online seminars and webinars presenting ibi research findings on banking insights (e.g., ibi Banking Insights 2026), payment trends, and e-commerce topics, with free registration for target audiences.
• ibi-Events (E-Commerce-Tag Regensburg) Annual industry events including the E-Commerce-Tag Regensburg (next edition October 7, 2026) attracting hundreds of retailers, e-commerce professionals, and industry experts, with sessions on AI, data, social commerce, sustainability, and internationalization.
• ibi-Zahlungsverkehrsforum Specialized annual payment industry forum scheduled for October 28–29, 2026 in Frankfurt am Main, bringing together payment professionals from banks, providers, and merchants to discuss payment transaction topics and developments.
• ibi-academy Educational programs and training offerings by ibi research covering digital commerce, payment, and banking transformation topics.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handel Federally funded (BMWi/BMWK) support program for SME retail and wholesale companies in Germany, providing free guidance, learning resources, and best practice sharing on digital transformation. ibi research, led by Dr. Georg Wittmann, is a core partner alongside HDE, EHI Retail Institute, IFH Köln, and DFKI.
• ibi Newsletter Portfolio (ibi news, ibi banking news, E-Commerce-Newsletter, Zahlungsverkehrs-Newsletter) Four recurring newsletters (ibi news, ibi banking news, E-Commerce-Newsletter, Zahlungsverkehrs-Newsletter) covering ibi research updates, banking industry trends, e-commerce, and payment topics, available for subscription with sponsorship support.
• EUDI-Wallet-Monitor 2027 Commissioned research project (with 4–5 project partners) analyzing the development of the EUDI-Wallet ecosystem from consumer and company perspectives and connecting with international experiences, offering partners exclusive insights, question placement opportunities, and visibility in publications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,100 retailers surveyed in the third IHK-ibi retail study, providing statistically significant insights into German retail challenges
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• d-fine GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean consulting company focused on analytical and quantitative topics with over a thousand science-driven employees. Offers end-to-end consulting from concept to implementation. Contact: An der Hauptwache 7, D-60313 Frankfurt.
• Euro Banking Association (EBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPan-European payments industry association fostering dialogue and experience exchange among payment practitioners. Pursues thought leadership on innovation and supports market practice development.
• EUROGROUP CONSULTING AG (EGC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner-led consulting firm specialized in Financial Services. Covers Strategy & Growth, Processes & IT, and Project Steering. Part of international network Nextcontinent active in 30+ countries. Headquarters Frankfurt, additional office in Vienna. Contact: Thurn-und-Taxis-Platz 6, 60313 Frankfurt.
• plenum AG Management ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner35+ years accompanying financial industry transformation. Specializes in Business-IT interface for banks and financial institutions. Supports strategy development through implementation. Focus on efficiency, compliance, and innovation. Contact: k26, Neue Mainzer Str. 28, 60311 Frankfurt am Main.
• AIR Artificial Intelligence RegensburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner. Initiative for artificial intelligence in Regensburg. ibi's managing director Dr. Georg Wittmann serves on the advisory board of AIR.
• Energieagentur Regensburg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner focused on energy efficiency in the Regensburg region.
• Forschungsvereinigung Großhandel e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner. Research association for wholesale trade. Dr. Georg Wittmann serves on the advisory board.
• Forum elektronische Rechnung DeutschlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner focused on electronic invoicing standards and adoption in Germany.
• Initiative Deutsche Zahlungssysteme e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner focused on German payment systems.
• IT-Sicherheitscluster e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner focused on IT security.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum HandelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). ibi research is a core partner alongside HDE, EHI Retail Institute, IFH Köln, and DFKI. Provides free support for SME retail and wholesale companies on digital transformation. Dr. Georg Wittmann leads the center. Extended until end of 2026.
• Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Augsburg (Kompetenzzentrum 4.0)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner. Regional SME 4.0 competence center in the Augsburg area.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GfK (an NielsenIQ company): One of the world's largest market research and consumer insights companies, with deep German and European retail consumer panels. Comparable to ibi research in consumer behavior tracking and retail research methodology, but operates at significantly larger global scale with proprietary panel infrastructure.
• Bain & Company: Global management consulting firm with a strong financial services practice that publishes proprietary research on banking, payments, and retail. Comparable to ibi research in banking and payments thought leadership, though operating at global scale with a consulting-led business model rather than partner-subscription research.
• Forrester Research: Global research and advisory firm covering digital transformation, financial services, and e-commerce. Comparable to ibi research in research-led B2B thought leadership and event-driven client engagement, though operating at global scale with subscription-based syndicated research rather than partner-network sponsorship.

Direct peers

• IFH Köln: Institute for Retail Research in Cologne providing market data, consumer insights, and retail digitalization studies. Highly comparable to ibi research in scope (retail research, consumer panels, event programming) and is also a co-partner in the same federal Mittelstand-Digital program.
• Bitkom Research: Berlin-based research arm of Germany's digital industry association Bitkom, producing studies on digital transformation, fintech, e-commerce, and consumer behavior. Comparable to ibi research for digital and fintech research coverage, though with broader cross-industry mandate rather than banking/payment specialization.
• EHI Retail Institute: Cologne-based research and consulting institute for German retail and consumer goods. Direct peer to ibi research in the retail/e-commerce research domain, with overlapping subject coverage on payment, digitalization, and consumer behavior; also co-partner in the Mittelstand-Digital Zentrum Handel.

Others

• Sopra Steria (institute/benelux research): European IT and consulting firm that publishes banking and digital transformation research, including through Sopra Financial Technology (an ibi research partner). Comparable to ibi research in adjacent banking-transformation research output, though primarily a consulting vendor rather than a dedicated research institute.

Regional players

• Handelsverband Deutschland (HDE): German retail trade association that commissions and publishes industry research on retail trends, consumer behavior, and policy. Comparable to ibi research as a co-publisher and policy-adjacent research provider in the German retail domain, though structured as a member association rather than a paid research institute.
• DSGV (Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband): German savings banks association that publishes research and policy positions on retail banking, payments, and digital transformation. Comparable to ibi research in producing banking-sector research for the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, but operating as a closed industry association rather than a paid research institute.
• Bankenfachverband: German specialist banks and consumer credit industry association producing studies on consumer credit, BNPL, and payments. Comparable to ibi research's payments and retail-finance coverage areas, including topics like AI shopping assistants and consumer behavior, though focused on the consumer credit sub-segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibi_research
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLjSz16lhhukMgQwaN_l1Qw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ibiresearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibi-research-an-der-universitaet-regensburg-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibi_research

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 ibi research