frox The IT factory
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersDortmund, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
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.
frox The IT factory firmographics
Firmographics- 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
frox The IT factory industry classification
Industry- 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
Where frox The IT factory is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dortmund
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
frox The IT factory business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based complete system packages |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
frox The IT factory product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use frox The IT factory
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
frox The IT factory technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration12 records
AI capability6 records
Feature7 records
frox The IT factory partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Esri (ESRI Partner Network)coreFROX 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 KGminorEngelmann 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 GmbHminorWenger-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 GmbHminorEUROPTEN 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 GeosystemscoreFROX 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 ConnectcoreFROX 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
frox The IT factory competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad 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
frox The IT factory social profiles
Digital presencefrox The IT factory financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
frox The IT factory leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
frox The IT factory funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
frox The IT factory 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 frox The IT factory
What does frox The IT factory do?
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.
Is frox The IT factory a public or private company?
frox The IT factory is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was frox The IT factory founded?
frox The IT factory was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is frox The IT factory based?
frox The IT factory is headquartered in Dortmund, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does frox The IT factory make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. FX Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales, professional Services and maintenance and Support Contracts.
Who are frox The IT factory's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Trimble Inc., Hexagon AB (Leica Geosystems parent), Topcon Positioning Systems and Geomax (GeoMax Group). Regional players are con terra GmbH and AllTerra Deutschland. GIS Cloud is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are MicroSurvey, Spectra Geospatial and Carlson Software.
Does frox The IT factory have an API?
No public API is recorded for frox The IT factory.
What industry is frox The IT factory in?
frox The IT factory's product category is Surveying and Mobile GIS Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAK, GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7373.