What Compact Automation does

Compact Automation, trading as Compakt Automatisering B.V., is a private Dutch software company headquartered in Hengelo (Enschede mailing address) that has operated for over 35 years (founded 1986) building sector-specific business software for niche Dutch industries. Its core product is Cobas Bloembollen en Planten, the largest supplier of software and automation solutions for the Netherlands' flower bulb and plant sector, covering purchase and sales administration, inventory and batch management, chain registration, EG plant passports, EDI-bulb administration, and phytosanitary certificate routing via the Ketenregister/e-CertNL integration for exports to 10 countries. Two additional vertical products, RecycleIT (recycling industry: weighbridge, contract and inventory management, LMa Amice notifications) and Helder Optiek (opticians: customer and eye-measurement administration with optical-equipment integration), extend the portfolio to adjacent SMB verticals. A Maatwerk (custom software) practice builds on the same base platform for process-specific needs, including hardware advisory, document management, and external system couplings (notably a Web API for Unit4 Multivers).

The technology foundation is a proprietary, stable base platform supplemented by custom development and web API integrations; no SaaS or cloud-architecture signals are described, and the stack appears to be on-premise or hybrid suited to Dutch SMB customers. Compakt couples its software to financial ERP packages (Unit4 Multivers via a new Web API replacing the deprecated UBC connector) and to e-CertNL/Ketenregister for regulatory compliance. AI/ML capabilities are not evidenced across any product line; differentiation rests on regulatory domain knowledge and operational workflow depth rather than machine intelligence. Patents, certifications, and external funding are absent.

The business model combines one-time standard software licenses (Cobas, RecycleIT, Helder Optiek), professional services for custom development, and hardware sales/integration (scanning and sensor technology). Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: customers reach Compakt via phone (053 433 85 85), email ([email protected]), or web contact form, with no channel partners, marketplaces, or self-serve motion visible. Marketing is limited to the company website. The company employs 1-10 people and was acquired by Gistraxx B.V. in July 2021, a strategic acquirer in vehicle tracking/tracing and process automation; operations continue under the Compakt brand. Pricing is opaque and disclosed only on direct inquiry.

Name

Compact Automation

Legal name

Compakt Automatisering B.V.

Website

https://compakt.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Compakt Automatisering is a Dutch vertical-software firm (1-10 staff, Hengelo) building sector-specific ERP-style software for the Netherlands' bulb and plant sector (Cobas), recycling industry (RecycleIT), and opticians (Helder Optiek), with custom development, hardware integration, and regulatory-compliance features.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Enschede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Standard Software Licenses: Sale of standard software packages including Cobas for bulb/plant sector, RecycleIT for recycling industry, and Helder Optiek for opticians.
2. Custom Software Development: Custom software development services tailored to specific organizational processes, including integration with internal and external systems, document management, and hardware advisory.
3. Hardware Sales and Integration: Sale of hardware solutions including scanning and sensor technology, with advisory and supply services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Compakt Automatisering develops, sells, and supports vertical-specific software for Dutch businesses in the flower bulb and plant sector (Cobas), recycling industry (RecycleIT), and optician market (Helder Optiek), built on a proprietary base platform. The company also delivers custom software development, hardware advisory and supply (scanning and sensor technology), and integration services via web APIs to connect its products with financial and regulatory systems.

Product overview

Compakt Automatisering is a Dutch software company offering a portfolio of sector-specific software products built on a powerful base platform, supplemented by custom development services. The core product lineup includes Cobas Bloembollen en Planten (market-leading software for the flower bulb and plant sector), RecycleIT (software for the recycling industry), and Helder Optiek (software for opticians). All products can be extended with custom development to meet specific customer requirements. The company also provides hardware, automation solutions, and advisory services for process optimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cobas: Software package for the bulb and plant sector, serving as the market leader in the Netherlands with comprehensive functionality for purchase administration, sales, inventory, party administration, chain registration, EG plant passports, and more.
• RecycleIT
• Helder Optiek

Products and services

• Cobas Bloembollen en Planten Market-leading software package in the Netherlands for the flower bulb and plant sector. Supports purchasing/sales administration, inventory management, lot administration, chain registration, EG plant passports, EDI-bulb administration, quotation registration, and integration with financial software via couplings. Built for Dutch bulb cultivation and plant export companies.
• RecycleIT

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Unit4 MultiverscoreTechnology or IntegrationCompakt developed a new Web API integration to replace the deprecated UBC connector for Unit4 Multivers ERP system. The new integration uses web APIs to connect Cobas software with Unit4 Multivers financial software. The UBC connector support was discontinued by Unit4 on July 1st due to unsupported underlying Microsoft technology.
• e-CertNL / KetenregistercoreTechnology or IntegrationCompakt integrated its software (Cobas) with the Dutch e-CertNL system via Ketenregister for phytosanitary certificate applications required for bulb exports. As of July 2021, export to 10 countries requires mandatory phytosanitary certification through this system.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SnelStart: Dutch accounting software company serving small businesses in the Netherlands. Comparable as a privately-oriented Dutch software vendor focused on SMB and vertical-specific workflows.
• Hoogendoorn Growth Management: Dutch provider of automation and process management software for the horticultural sector, including greenhouse climate control and crop registration. Comparable as a Dutch technology vendor serving the same horticultural customer base as Compakt.
• AFAS Software: Major Dutch privately-held software company offering ERP, HR, and payroll software to Dutch SMBs and verticals. Comparable as a Netherlands-based independent software company with deep vertical specialization and long-term customer focus.
• Exact: Dutch-headquartered business software company providing accounting and ERP solutions for SMBs. Comparable as a Dutch business software vendor with vertical specialization and direct customer engagement.
• Simac: Dutch IT services and software company providing custom solutions and vertical software across multiple industries. Comparable to Compakt in combining custom development (Maatwerk) with sector-specific packaged software.
• Ridder Group: Dutch greenhouse technology and automation company offering process management solutions for horticulture. Comparable to Compakt in serving Dutch horticultural producers with specialized operational technology.
• Mprise Agriware: Dutch software company providing specialized ERP and business software for the horticulture and floriculture industries. Highly comparable to Compakt's Cobas product line serving Dutch bulb/plant growers with domain-specific workflows and integrations.

Broad incumbents

• Visma: Nordic/Dutch-headquartered provider of business software across accounting, HR, and ERP for SMBs and verticals. Comparable as a broader European software group with vertical-specialized offerings in the Netherlands.
• Unit4: Dutch-headquartered enterprise ERP and financial software vendor serving mid-market and public sector. Comparable as a Dutch ERP incumbent and an existing Compakt integration partner (Unit4 Multivers).
• Wolters Kluwer: Dutch-headquartered global provider of professional information, compliance, and vertical software solutions. Comparable as a Netherlands-rooted incumbent focused on regulatory and compliance software for specific verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compakt-automatisering-bv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Compact Automation