frox The IT factory

What frox The IT factory does

FROX GmbH (frox The IT factory) is a privately held German software developer and technology distributor headquartered in Dortmund, founded in 2001 and operating with 11-50 employees. The company develops proprietary FX software for digital surveying and mobile GIS data collection, including FX Survey (digital graphical field book for surveying, stakeout, and field plan creation), FX Collector (mobile GIS combining GNSS rover with data capture), FX Reality (augmented reality app for high-accuracy GIS visualization), FX Smart (iOS/Android mobile GIS app), FX S-Kataster (cadastral surveying module with KAVDI/KIVID integration), and FX S-Utilities (utility corridor planning and documentation). The software suite is built on Esri's ArcGIS platform and integrates natively with Leica Captivate field software and ArcGIS Online/Enterprise for bidirectional field-to-office data exchange.

The company serves publicly appointed surveyors (ÖbVI), utility and energy companies, engineering and construction firms, government and municipal agencies, and forestry and agriculture clients primarily in Western Germany and the broader DACH region. As the official Leica Geosystems Partner for Region West (NRW, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland), a certified Panasonic Connect Partner, and an ESRI Gold Partner since April 2025, FROX bundles its FX software with Leica GNSS antennas, total stations, laser scanners, ground-penetrating radars, and Panasonic Toughbook/Toughpad rugged tablets into pre-configured Komplettsysteme complete systems with installation, licensing, and configuration services included. Revenue streams include software licenses/subscriptions, hardware resale, professional services, and recurring maintenance and support contracts (CCP, HxGN SmartNet).

Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise field sales via regional sales representatives (Robert Hestermann in western NRW, Marcus Schink in Hesse/Rhineland-Palatinate/Saarland) and certified channel partners, with no public e-commerce. Demand generation is event-driven through the annual FROX-Leica Tour roadshow across eight cities (engaging 500+ surveying professionals in 2025) plus presence at INTERGEO, Esri conferences, and the Oldenburger Rohrleitungsforum. The company is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investment, parent company, or publicly traded shares.

Name

frox The IT factory

Legal name

FROX GmbH

Website

https://frox-it.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FROX GmbH is a German software developer and distributor of digital surveying and mobile GIS solutions, bundling its proprietary FX software suite with Leica Geosystems instruments and Panasonic Toughbook tablets as integrated Komplettsysteme for surveyors, utilities, engineering firms, and public agencies in Western Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surveying and Mobile GIS Software

NAICS

Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK)

Keywords

• Mobile GIS software
• Digital surveying solutions
• GNSS rover systems
• Field data collection
• Cadastral mapping software

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. FX Software Licenses and Subscriptions: Proprietary surveying and GIS software sold as perpetual licenses and/or subscriptions. Includes FX Survey, FX Collector, FX Reality, FX Smart, FX S-Kataster, and FX S-Utilities. Installation and configuration services included with purchase.
2. Hardware Sales: Resale of complete surveying systems including Leica Geosystems instruments (GNSS antennas, total stations, laser scanners, ground-penetrating radars), Panasonic Toughbook rugged tablets, and accessories as part of integrated Komplettsystem packages.
3. Professional Services: Consulting, custom development, configuration, and training services tailored to customer requirements. Individual developments and adjustments as well as application-specific training sessions are offered.
4. Maintenance and Support Contracts: Maintenance contracts (CCP - Customer Care Packages) for Leica instruments, as well as subscription-based correction data services such as HxGN SmartNet for high-precision GNSS positioning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

FROX GmbH develops and distributes the proprietary FX software suite for digital surveying and mobile GIS data acquisition, including the digital field book FX Survey, mobile GIS application FX Collector, augmented reality app FX Reality, and iOS/Android mobile app FX Smart, along with specialized modules for cadastral (FX S-Kataster) and utility (FX S-Utilities) workflows. As the official Leica Geosystems Partner for Region West and a Panasonic Connect Partner, FROX bundles its FX software with Leica surveying instruments and Panasonic rugged Toughbook tablets as pre-configured complete Komplettsystem packages with installation, licensing, and configuration services included.

Product overview

FROX GmbH (frox Die IT Fabrik) is a software developer and technology distributor specializing in digital surveying and mobile GIS data collection. The product portfolio centers on the FX software suite — a family of field-to-office digital surveying and GIS solutions built on the ArcGIS platform. The core products are FX Survey (digital field book for high-accuracy surveying and stakeout) and FX Collector (mobile GIS with GNSS rover capabilities), supplemented by specialized modules: FX S-Utilities for utility/route planning, FX S-Kataster for cadastral surveying with KAVDI/KIVID interfaces, FX Smart for iOS/Android mobile GIS, and FX Reality for augmented reality visualization of GIS data and property boundaries. Beyond software, FROX acts as the official Leica Geosystems Partner for Region West (Germany), distributing Leica total stations, GNSS antennas, laser scanners, and ground-penetrating radar systems, as well as Panasonic rugged Toughbook tablets — all offered as pre-configured complete systems with FX software pre-installed. The FX products are built on Esri ArcGIS technology, with FROX holding Gold-level status in the ESRI Partner Network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FX Survey The flagship digital field book (graphisches Feldbuch) for surveying, enabling direct field-to-office data collection, plan creation, staking, and quality-assured GIS data capture. Available as GNSS rover and total station controller for surveying professionals and engineering firms.
• FX Collector Mobile GIS and GNSS rover in a single system, combining survey-grade positioning with GIS data collection capabilities. Designed for asset management, field comparison, and utility mapping with direct data export to GIS databases.
• FX Smart

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 30% cost savings in tree inventory field work compared to traditional methods (ThyssenKrupp case study)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Integration12 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Esri (ESRI Partner Network)coreTechnology or Integration · 17 April 2025FROX GmbH achieved Gold Level status in the ESRI Partner Network as of April 17, 2025. As a Strategic Partner in Vermessung, Architecture, Engineering and Construction, and Utility, FROX develops its FX solutions (FX Survey, FX Collector, FX Reality, FX Smart) based on ArcGIS technology. The partnership enables deep integration between FROX field software and Esri's GIS platform, including ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise.
• Vermessungstechnik Engelmann KGminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Engelmann KG co-exhibits with FROX on the Leica Partner stand at INTERGEO events. As a partner in the Leica ecosystem, Engelmann participates in joint marketing activities and shared customer engagement.
• Wenger-Wiethüchter Vermessungstechnik GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Wenger-Wiethüchter co-exhibits with FROX on the Leica Partner stand at INTERGEO, participating in joint marketing and customer engagement activities within the Leica Partner network.
• EUROPTEN Transmission Germany GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024EUROPTEN Transmission Germany GmbH co-presented with FROX at the ESRI Conference 2024 on the AEC Special Interest Group, demonstrating measurement of construction site areas in overhead line construction using FX Smart, Leica FLX100+ GNSS antenna, and the ArcGIS platform.
• Leica GeosystemscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2001FROX is the official Leica Geosystems Partner for Region West, covering North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland. The partnership includes distribution and support of Leica GNSS antennas (GS18T, GS18I, GS05, FLX100+), total stations (including the new Leica TS20), laser scanners (RTC360, BLK series), ground-penetrating radars (DSX, DS2000, DS4000), and Captivate field software. As of May 1, 2025, FROX also became a Leica Hochbau Partner, extending coverage to include iCON GNSS, tachymeters, and controller products for the construction industry.
• Panasonic ConnectcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2001FROX is a Panasonic Connect Certified Partner and ISV (Independent Software Vendor) Partner, reselling Panasonic Toughbook and Toughpad rugged field computers (FZ-G1, FZ-G2 mk2, FZ-G2 mk3) bundled with FROX FX software as complete field data collection systems. Panasonic hardware serves as the rugged field computing platform for FROX surveying applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trimble Inc. Global leader in geospatial and surveying software (Trimble Access, Trimble Business Center) plus GNSS hardware — the broadest incumbent competitor to FROX's FX Survey/Collector proposition across surveying and construction workflows.
• Hexagon AB (Leica Geosystems parent): Owns Leica Geosystems, which is both FROX's core hardware supplier and — via Leica Captivate and internal field software — a potential competitive incumbent across the same surveying/GIS workflows.
• Topcon Positioning Systems: Major manufacturer of GNSS receivers, total stations, and mobile surveying software (MAGNET Field) competing head-to-head with FROX in the integrated hardware/software surveying bundle segment.
• Geomax (GeoMax Group): Surveying instrument and software vendor providing GNSS and total-station ecosystems targeting similar surveyor and construction segments as FROX.

Regional players

• con terra GmbH: German Esri partner specialising in ArcGIS-based geospatial solutions and custom development — overlaps with FROX's ArcGIS-centric FX stack but adds geographic reach across additional German states.
• AllTerra Deutschland: German Trimble-distribution and surveying software partner serving different German regions than FROX; comparable business model of bundling partner hardware with proprietary surveying services in regional German markets.

Emerging players

• GIS Cloud: Cloud-native mobile GIS and field data collection platform overlapping with FX Collector's mobile GIS capabilities, particularly for utility and government data-capture use cases.

Direct peers

• MicroSurvey: Specialist developer of field data collection and CAD-based surveying software (FieldGenius) — directly comparable niche surveying software vendor serving similar surveyor and engineering customer profiles.
• Spectra Geospatial: Trimble-owned surveying instrument and software brand offering GNSS receivers and field software analogous to FROX's Leica + Panasonic + FX combined system proposition.
• Carlson Software: Develops Carlson Survey, Carlson FieldGenius and SurvCE/SurvPC — purpose-built surveying data-collection software with similar field-book and GNSS rover positioning to FROX FX Survey/Collector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@froxdieitfabrik8965
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frox-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/digitalevermessung_frox
• Facebookfacebook.com/foxitgmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 frox The IT factory