What HEC does

HEC (Hanseatische Software-Entwicklungs- und Consulting GmbH) is a privately held German IT consulting and custom software development firm with more than 30 years of operating history. The company combines advisory consulting with hands-on implementation, deliberately positioning itself between pure consultancies and pure IT service providers, and on occasion recommending that clients retain existing systems rather than commission new builds. Its headquarters are in Bremen (Konsul-Smidt-Straße 20) with a secondary office in Berlin (Friedrichstraße 230), and the firm operates within the broader team neusta-Unternehmensgruppe, with hosting provided by neusta infrastructure services GmbH.

The company's portfolio spans custom software development, AI and generative-AI consulting (including the proprietary AI Design Sprint® methodology), IT security and penetration testing, quality assurance, application lifecycle management, process optimization, Microsoft 365-based digital collaboration, and IoT/digital-networking solutions. Its underlying technology stack is full-stack across NodeJS, React, TypeScript, Python, and the .NET ecosystem (ASP.NET Core, C#), with cloud-native architectures, Docker/Kubernetes containerization, and Azure Cognitive Services for AI workloads. Notable proprietary or co-developed products include RYTLE OS (fleet management for smart E-Cargo-Bikes), loups® (team-psychological diagnostics portal), FördermittelNAVI (AI-powered funding search), and an AI-driven questionnaire evaluation backend for Hogrefe Verlag.

HEC generates revenue through project-based custom software engagements and recurring Application Management Services (AMS) retainers. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; contracts are typically multi-year. GTM is consultative and advisory-led, targeting mid-market and enterprise clients across logistics, public administration, manufacturing, publishing, energy/utilities, and IT verticals in the DACH region. The firm holds ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications (audited by DEKRA) and Microsoft Gold Partner status, and is led by Managing Director Dr. Thorsten Haase.

Name

HEC

Legal name

Hanseatische Software-Entwicklungs- und Consulting GmbH

Website

https://hec.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

HEC is a German IT consulting and custom software development firm with 30+ years of experience, serving mid-to-large enterprises across logistics, public sector, publishing, energy, and IT with bespoke software, AI integration, IT security, and application lifecycle management services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IT Consulting & Custom Software Development

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

ITIL/ITSM Process Consulting & Implementation (BPAEAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

ITSM Platform Implementation & Administration (ServiceNow/JSM/BMC/etc.) (BPAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Custom software development
• IT consulting services
• Application management services
• Penetration testing services
• Cloud-native development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Software Development & Consulting: HEC earns revenue through project-based custom software development and IT consulting engagements. They provide full-service project support from requirements analysis through development, testing, and deployment. Each project is tailored to the client's needs, with pricing based on scope and team composition. The company also earns recurring revenue through Application Management Services (AMS) for ongoing support, maintenance, and further development of delivered software.
2. Application Management Services (AMS): Ongoing application lifecycle management services providing support, monitoring, bug fixing, and continuous improvement of deployed software solutions. Generates recurring revenue through retainer-style managed services engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HEC delivers custom software development and IT consulting services, combining process analysis with technical implementation. The company builds tailored digital solutions for mid-market and enterprise clients across industries such as logistics, public administration, manufacturing, and IT/software, with recurring revenue through Application Management Services (AMS). Its portfolio includes AI-powered solutions (e.g., FürdermittelNAVI, AI form processing), fleet management software (RYTLE OS), cybersecurity services (penetration testing), and the proprietary AI Design Sprint® methodology.

Product overview

HEC is an IT consulting and custom software development company with 30+ years of experience. The company does not offer a unified SaaS product but provides a portfolio of professional services: core custom software development, AI consulting (including AI Design Sprint® methodology), IT security services (penetration testing, security consulting), application lifecycle management, and process optimization. Solutions include AI-powered form processing for Hogrefe Verlag, the FördermittelNAVI web application for funding search, RYTLE OS fleet management for e-cargo bikes, and loups® online portal for team diagnostics. The company also provides digital collaboration solutions based on Microsoft 365, IoT/digital networking solutions, and training programs for agile methods and AI usage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AI Design Sprint®: Methodology for identifying AI use cases and developing prototypes for process optimization

Products and services

• Individual Software Development Custom software development services combining process understanding, technical depth, and 30+ years of project experience. Builds tailored solutions for unique business needs, with the recommendation sometimes being to keep existing systems. Targeted at mid-market and enterprise clients across all industries.
• AI Design Sprint® Proprietary methodology for identifying suitable AI use cases and developing prototypes for process optimization. Ensures AI delivers real value only where it is appropriately deployed. Referenced example case study was an architecture firm.
• AI-Powered Form Processing (KI-gestützte Formularauswertung) Cloud-based backend service for automated questionnaire evaluation. Analyzes scanned forms using AI (Azure Cognitive Services Form Recognizer) and delivers automated results, replacing manual processing. Developed for Hogrefe Verlag, a psychological diagnostics publisher.
• FördermittelNAVI AI-powered web application for searching funding programs. Features semantic quick search function, detail search, saved searches, and funding alert notifications. Developed for DSK Digital and serves businesses, public institutions, and municipalities searching for subsidies.
• RYTLE OS Fleet management application for smart e-cargo bikes. Includes vehicle/accessory linking, geotracking, geofencing, real-time data display (speed, mileage, battery, motor performance), and service module for maintenance orders. Developed for RYTLE GmbH.
• loups® Online portal for team psychological diagnostics. Enables anonymous, fast, and flexible team surveys with automated evaluation and visualized written reports for team development analysis. Developed for mps consulting GmbH.
• Penetration Testing Services Structured security testing including information gathering, static analysis, manual examination/exploitation, and reporting with risk assessments and remediation recommendations. Regular partnership with clients like Cap3 for new release security testing.
• IT Security Consulting Comprehensive IT security services including secure software architecture, penetration testing, CI/CD security, authentication procedures, threat modeling, and security awareness training.
• Application Lifecycle Management (AMS) Managed application services covering complete lifecycle including smooth handover, operational monitoring, fault analysis/resolution, and extensions/customizations using standardized AMS model. Generates recurring revenue through retainer-style managed services engagements.
• Digital Collaboration Solutions Solutions based on Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Viva Engage, Power Platform) for improved project coordination, knowledge management, and team communication.
• Process Optimization Digital solutions for optimizing business processes including process analysis, custom software development, automation using RPA and workflow systems, platform utilization, and data analytics.
• Future-Ready Software Development (Application Management) Software development focused on resilience, adaptability, and longevity. Emphasizes flexible architecture, security, maintainability, and portability based on ISO 25010 quality standards.
• Digital Networking and IoT Solutions Solutions for digital networking of machines, vehicles, and systems including EU Data Act compliance consulting, data integration platforms, predictive maintenance, smart fleet management, energy monitoring, and AR-assisted maintenance.
• IT Consulting Strategic IT consulting covering digitalization, artificial intelligence, agile collaboration, usability, and legal requirements (DSGVO, EU Data Act, AI). Independent, manufacturer-agnostic advice.
• Quality Assurance and Testing Systematic testing of all processes, methods, and development steps for reliability and high quality. Includes automated and manual testing following international ISTQB standards.

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability10 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• team neusta UnternehmensgruppecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC is part of the team neusta group of companies. The group shares data processing responsibilities as joint controllers under Art. 26 GDPR. Being part of a larger group provides HEC with additional resources and collaborative opportunities across the group.
• neusta infrastructure services GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationHEC's servers and data centers are hosted by neusta infrastructure services GmbH in Bremen, where all data processing takes place. This provides the physical infrastructure backbone for HEC's operations.
• CREW InnovationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREW Innovation is HEC's subsidiary that brought the DSK Digital project to HEC. CREW facilitated the initial contact and innovation workshops for the FördermittelNAVI project.
• EventbriteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHEC uses Eventbrite for event registration and ticketing. Event registration data is shared between Eventbrite and HEC as event organizer.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• T-Systems (Deutsche Telekom): Large German IT services and digital transformation provider. Competes with HEC for German enterprise and public-sector custom software and managed services engagements, though at significantly larger scale.
• GFT Technologies SE: German-headquartered IT services and digital solutions provider with strong financial services and manufacturing exposure. Comparable in custom dev and managed services model to HEC, though larger and more international.
• Arvato Systems: German IT services subsidiary of Bertelsmann focused on custom software, IT security, and cloud services. Comparable size and German-mid-market/enterprise focus to HEC, with similar mix of application management and managed services.
• Thoughtworks: Global technology consultancy specializing in custom software, digital strategy, and AI-enabled delivery. Comparable consulting-led custom dev model with similar emphasis on agile methodology and AI integration.
• Allgeier SE: German IT services group covering custom software, consulting, and IT security. Comparable breadth to HEC's service portfolio including IT security and AMS, with broader group structure.
• Materna Group: German IT services provider with strong public-sector and enterprise custom software offering. Directly comparable to HEC's public-sector and logistics verticals and its consulting-plus-implementation approach.
• adesso SE: Large German IT consulting and custom software firm. Highly comparable to HEC in core custom development and industry-specific IT consulting, but at meaningfully larger scale and with broader vertical coverage.
• msg group: German IT consulting and software house focused on regulated industries. Comparable to HEC's combination of consulting, custom software, and application lifecycle services.
• Capgemini Engineering (formerly Altran): Large global engineering and digital services firm with strong German footprint. Comparable in custom software development and IoT/digital networking services, but multiple orders of magnitude larger.

Direct peers

• Senacor Technologies: Germany-based IT consulting and custom software firm focused on digital transformation, financial services, and mobility. Closely comparable to HEC in size, scale, and consulting-plus-implementation delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hecgmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hecgmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 HEC