What While Informatique does

While Informatique is a French independent software vendor founded in 1994 and headquartered in Alès, specializing in integrated ERP solutions for very small and small enterprises (TPE/PME) across France. The company develops and maintains two principal products: While ERP, a generalist integrated management suite covering accounting, payroll, and commercial workflows, and While BATI, a verticalized variant tailored to construction trades and artisanal building contractors. The company has accumulated a customer base of over 150 SMEs across at least six verticals — cosmetics, sports, lingerie, decoration, construction, and manufacturing — reflecting a deliberate horizontal-segmentation strategy within the French SMB long tail.

The platform architecture is built on more than three decades of proprietary in-house development, yielding deep domain logic and embedded workflows. The business model rests on three revenue lines: ERP software licensing, recurring maintenance/support contracts, and Qualiopi-certified training services (since 2022) that are eligible for French public training-fund billing (CPF, OPCO). In 2024 the company was integrated into the Althios Group, gaining access to group-level resources, distribution channels, and complementary software offerings, though it continues to operate as a distinct subsidiary with a small team of 1-10 employees. Reported capital social stands at €67,880, consistent with a micro-ISV structure.

Name

While Informatique

Legal name

SAS While Informatique

Website

http://www.whileinfo.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

While Informatique is a management software company specializes in the ERP software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ERP Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects) (HDAEAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB), Distribution & Wholesale ERP (Inventory, Order, Warehouse) (HDAEAEAC), Retail ERP (Merchandising, POS Back Office) (HDAEAEAD), Professional Services Automation (PSA) & Services ERP (HDAEAEAF)

Keywords

• ERP software
• Business management software
• Construction industry software
• Integrated accounting software
• Warehouse management software

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Vigan

HQ country

France

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. ERP Software Sales & Licenses: Sale and licensing of While ERP and specialized modules (While Bati) to PME/TPE businesses. The company develops its own custom business software, offering solutions adapted to various sectors including building, commerce, and manufacturing.
2. Training Services: Qualiopi-certified training services on their software solutions. Training can be financed through CPF or OPCO funds. Sessions offered in-person at client premises or training center, remotely, individually or in groups.
3. Custom Software Development: Custom-made business software development tailored to specific client needs. Solutions are designed with and for clients to ensure effective, durable, and evolutive tools.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

While Informatique develops and licenses While ERP, an integrated business management software (ERP/PGI) built on a single database architecture with perfectly integrated modules for commercial management, accounting, manufacturing, order preparation, contracts, project tracking, and warehouse management. The company also offers While BATI, a specialized construction and BTP software, and Qualiopi-certified training services delivered in-person, remote, individually or in groups, financed through OPCO/CPF funds.

Product overview

While Informatique offers While ERP, a modular integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform for PME/TPE companies, built on a single database with perfectly integrated modules. The core product portfolio includes: While ERP (main ERP platform with modules for sales/purchases, accounting, manufacturing, order preparation, contracts, project tracking, and individual house construction); While BATI (specialized construction software); and extensions for warehouse management (WMS), mobile stock operations, tablet/smartphone customer applications, sales force automation, real-time data exchange (Service XSS), and task automation (Service WhileERP). The company also provides Qualiopi-certified training services for all software solutions. All products share a unified database architecture with automatic data synchronization between modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• While ERP: Integrated management software (ERP/PGI) with modules for purchases, sales, contracts, individual house construction, accounting, order preparation, manufacturing, business tracking, warehouse management (WMS), tablet and smartphone extensions, mobile stock management, sales force software, and service automation.
• While BATI

Products and services

• While ERP Integrated ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software designed for PME and TPE, featuring a unified database with modular components covering commercial management, accounting, CRM, stocks, manufacturing, order preparation, contracts, project tracking, warehouse management, mobile extensions, sales force automation, and real-time data exchange.
• While BATI Specialized business software for construction and BTP sectors featuring quotes/factures, project tracking, purchasing/stocks, team planning, and integrated accounting with real-time data centralization for house builders, contractors, and construction companies.
• Formations (Training Services) Qualiopi-certified training services on While ERP and While BATI software solutions. Sessions are customizable by module and feature, and can be delivered in-person at client premises or at the training center, remotely, individually or in groups, with financing available through OPCO and CPF funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single tool replacing 5 different software solutions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature15 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Althios GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, While Informatique joined the Althios group, a strategic partnership that strengthened their innovation capacity and international opening. This partnership allows the company to offer customers even more performing solutions adapted to digital transformation challenges. Althios group includes other brands: Cesio, Althae, and NCPI.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Odoo: Open-source and SaaS ERP targeting SMBs globally with modular apps covering sales, accounting, manufacturing, WMS, and CRM. Most direct comparable for While ERP on modularity and SMB positioning, though Odoo is cloud-native and far larger scale.
• EBP (Sage): French SMB-focused ERP/accounting vendor offering modular business management software for SMEs, including construction (BTP), commerce, and manufacturing. Closest French-headquartered peer to While Informatique in target market and vertical coverage.
• Divalto: French ERP vendor targeting SMBs and mid-market with vertical solutions in construction, manufacturing, services, and trade. Direct French competitor with similar SMB modular ERP and construction vertical focus.
• Axelor: French open-source/low-code ERP platform with modules for sales, purchasing, manufacturing, accounting, and CRM. Comparable SMB ERP with French roots and modular architecture similar to While ERP.
• Alobees: French SaaS construction management platform for contractors and builders, covering site tracking, quotes, planning, and team coordination. Direct vertical competitor to While BATI in the French BTP/construction software market.
• OBAT: French ERP/software vendor specialized for construction trades (BTP) with modules for quotes, project tracking, supplier orders, and invoicing. Direct vertical competitor to While BATI among French builders and contractors.

Broad incumbents

• Sage: Global incumbent ERP/accounting vendor with strong French presence (Sage 100, Sage 50) covering SMB accounting, payroll, and operations. Overlaps While's core SMB ERP space but at much broader portfolio and scale.
• Cegid: Major French ERP, HR, and finance software vendor with strong SMB and mid-market presence across retail, manufacturing, and services. Broader incumbent competing with While in French SMB ERP.

Emerging players

• Pennylane: French cloud-native accounting and financial management platform for SMBs and accountants. Emerging direct competitor targeting the same French SMB finance/accounting buyer that While ERP serves.
• Dolibarr: Open-source ERP/CRM suite popular with French and European SMBs covering invoicing, accounting, stock, and project management. Free, modular alternative that competes on price in the same SMB ERP niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/while-informatique

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 While Informatique