SMA und Partner
SMA und Partner AG is an independent Swiss consulting and software firm specializing in railway systems, offering the Viriato timetable planning platform and bespoke advisory services to railway operators, infrastructure managers, and transport authorities across Switzerland, Germany, and France.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What SMA und Partner does
SMA und Partner AG is an independent consulting and software company specializing in railway systems, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 1987, the firm employs approximately 85 staff across offices in Zurich, Lausanne, Frankfurt, and Paris, and serves as a neutral advisor to railway operating companies, infrastructure managers, transport authorities, and rolling stock manufacturers across the DACH region and France. Its independence from any operator, manufacturer, or public authority is a deliberate positioning choice that underpins its credibility on contentious timetable and capacity allocation engagements.
The company's technology stack centers on the proprietary Viriato platform — specifically the Viriato Algorithm Platform (the computational engine) and the Viriato timetabling application — which supports the construction, optimization, and management of railway schedules, capacity analysis, and operational planning. The ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox is offered as a specialized add-on for running-time calculations, and #OPENVIRIATO is an open-source initiative that extends the platform's reach into academic and developer communities. Together, these products cover end-to-end railway planning workflows from offer design and demand forecasting to tender support and operational robustness analysis.
Commercially, SMA operates a hybrid model combining project-based professional services (consulting covering offer planning, production, operations, capacity, demand, and tender support) with software licensing of Viriato and ZLR products on a recurring basis. The company is privately held with no external funding rounds disclosed, operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany (SMA Deutschland GmbH) and France (SMA France SAS), and is ISO 9001:2015 certified since 2019. Its go-to-market is sales-led and direct, anchored by enterprise-grade client engagements such as path ordering for Deutsche Bahn's timetable 2027 and French Ministry of Transport intercity (TET) planning work.
SMA und Partner firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SMA und Partner
- Legal name
- SMA und Partner AG
- Website
- http://www.sma-partner.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- SMA und Partner AG is an independent Swiss consulting and software firm specializing in railway systems, offering the Viriato timetable planning platform and bespoke advisory services to railway operators, infrastructure managers, and transport authorities across Switzerland, Germany, and France.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SMA und Partner industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Railway Planning Software
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Process Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAF)
Keywords
Where SMA und Partner is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
SMA und Partner business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Consulting Services: Professional consulting services covering railway offer planning, production, operations, capacity, demand analysis, and tender support for railway companies and transport authorities
- Software Products: Software licensing and deployment of Viriato and ZLR products for railway timetable planning and optimization
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
SMA und Partner product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SMA und Partner AG is an independent consulting and software company specializing in railway systems. The firm delivers professional consulting services covering railway offer planning, production, operations, capacity analysis, demand forecasting, and tender support. Its flagship software product, Viriato, is a comprehensive railway timetabling and planning platform used to model, simulate, and optimize rail networks. The company also offers the ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox as a specialized calculation tool.
Product overview
SMA und Partner AG offers a suite of railway systems software products centered around Viriato, a comprehensive platform for railway timetable planning and optimization. The product portfolio includes the Viriato Algorithm Platform (the core computational engine), the Viriato timetabling application for constructing and managing railway schedules, and the ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox for running time calculations. Additionally, #OPENVIRIATO represents their open-source initiative. The software division develops solutions that cover all aspects of railway planning, working alongside their consulting services for railway enterprises, infrastructure managers, authorities, and rolling stock manufacturers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Viriato: Algorithm platform and timetable planning software for railway systems
- ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox
- #OPENVIRIATO
Products and services
- Viriato
- ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox
- #OPENVIRIATO
- Railway Consulting Services
Companies that use SMA und Partner
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SMA und Partner technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SMA und Partner partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SMA und Partner competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PTV Group (Umovity): Now operating under the Umovity brand, PTV Group offers transport planning and timetable optimization software used by European rail and transit agencies — directly comparable to SMA's Viriato offering in route and schedule modeling.
- IVU Traffic Technologies AG: German-based provider of software for public transport planning, scheduling, and operations — directly comparable to Viriato in addressing timetable construction and dispatch for rail and transit operators across Europe.
- DB Engineering & Consulting: Subsidiary of Deutsche Bahn providing engineering and consulting services across rail planning, operations, and infrastructure — competing with SMA for timetable, capacity, and operational advisory engagements with European operators.
- init innovation in traffic systems SE: Provides integrated software, hardware, and consulting for public transportation planning, scheduling, and operations — overlapping with SMA on timetable planning software and consulting engagements with transit authorities.
Broad incumbents
- AtkinsRéalis: Global engineering consulting firm with a substantial rail advisory and systems practice — competes with SMA for large timetable, capacity, and rail operations consulting mandates, particularly in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
- Arup: Global engineering and advisory firm with deep rail planning and operations expertise — directly competes with SMA on timetable strategy, capacity analysis, and rail systems consulting for major European operators and public clients.
- Ramboll Group: Nordic-headquartered engineering consultancy with a substantial transport and rail practice across Northern Europe — comparable to SMA in providing independent advisory and planning services for rail operators and authorities.
- Siemens Mobility (HaCon): Through the acquisition of HaCon, Siemens Mobility offers timetable planning and dispatching software alongside its broader rail signaling and rolling stock portfolio — a large incumbent that bundles timetable planning with adjacent rail systems.
- WSP Global: Major global engineering consultancy with a dedicated rail and transit practice offering planning, operations, and systems consulting — overlaps with SMA on timetable and capacity advisory work for European operators and authorities.
Others
- HaCon (historical / now Siemens Mobility): Historic direct competitor in European timetable planning software (HAFAS, TPS) now operating as part of Siemens Mobility — relevant as the most direct historical peer to Viriato for journey planning and timetable optimization.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SMA und Partner social profiles
Digital presenceSMA und Partner compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SMA und Partner financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SMA und Partner leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
SMA und Partner subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
SMA und Partner funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SMA und Partner 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 SMA und Partner
What does SMA und Partner do?
SMA und Partner AG is an independent consulting and software company specializing in railway systems. The firm delivers professional consulting services covering railway offer planning, production, operations, capacity analysis, demand forecasting, and tender support. Its flagship software product, Viriato, is a comprehensive railway timetabling and planning platform used to model, simulate, and optimize rail networks. The company also offers the ZLR Running Time Calculator and Toolbox as a specialized calculation tool.
Is SMA und Partner a public or private company?
SMA und Partner is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was SMA und Partner founded?
SMA und Partner was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is SMA und Partner based?
SMA und Partner is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does SMA und Partner make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are software Products.
Who are SMA und Partner's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PTV Group (Umovity), IVU Traffic Technologies AG, DB Engineering & Consulting and init innovation in traffic systems SE. Broad incumbents are AtkinsRéalis, Arup, Ramboll Group, Siemens Mobility (HaCon) and WSP Global. HaCon (historical / now Siemens Mobility) is listed as an others.
Does SMA und Partner have an API?
No public API is recorded for SMA und Partner.
What industry is SMA und Partner in?
SMA und Partner's product category is Railway Planning Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAIAF, Industrial & Process Engineering Consulting. Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 8711.