4digital

What 4digital does

4digital is a German digital transformation consulting partnership formed in 2019 by four independent owner-led firms: InSys AG (strategy, Secure Modern Workplace, hybrid cloud), LOUIS INTERNET GmbH (websites, e-commerce, digital marketing, custom software), Strategic IT GmbH (Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, Power BI), and Panienka Rechtsanwälte (IT law, data protection, compliance). The firm employs over 60 digital transformation experts and serves more than 350 active customers across Germany, ranging from companies with a few million euros in revenue to multi-billion-euro enterprises, with particularly strong penetration in manufacturing, retail/fashion, automotive dealership groups, chemical, intralogistics, luxury shipbuilding, and healthcare/regulated industries.

The firm's core technology stack is built entirely on the Microsoft ecosystem: Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams for Secure Modern Workplace rollouts, Microsoft Dynamics 365 for CRM implementations, Microsoft Power BI for cloud-based business intelligence, and Microsoft Azure for hybrid cloud deployments. 4digital holds Microsoft Direct Cloud Solution Provider (Tier 1 CSP) status, enabling direct license transactions for Microsoft 365, Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure. The firm also delivers e-commerce platforms with machine learning and AI integration, custom browser-based application development, and digital marketing campaign execution. Notable quantified outcomes from case studies include +434% website visits, +300% dwell time, +216% interactions, and +847% returning visitors for a luxury yacht manufacturer client, plus a 2019 Digital Commerce Shop Award Silver for an 11-country, 8-language B2B onlineshop.

4digital monetizes through professional services engagements anchored in enterprise consulting (Digitalisierung 1.0 for internal processes/collaboration, Digitalisierung 2.0 for customers/products/business models), recurring Microsoft cloud license resale via its Tier 1 CSP position, and project-based fees from websites, online shops, digital marketing, CRM implementations, and compliance advisory. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales led by the four founding principals (Thomas Honemeyer, K.-Ulrich Louis, Nils Frohloff, Michael Panienka) and supported by cross-referrals within the partner network. No outside institutional investment is indicated; ownership remains with the four founder-operators, with InSys AG serving as the primary legal entity behind the 4digital brand.

Name

4digital

Legal name

InSys AG

Website

https://4digital.group

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

4digital is a German digital transformation consulting partnership of four owner-led firms delivering Microsoft-based Modern Workplace, cloud, CRM, and e-commerce solutions to over 350 enterprise and mid-market customers across manufacturing, retail, automotive, and regulated industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Transformation Consulting

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Process & Digital Transformation Consulting (BPAEAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital & Technology Transformation Consulting (BPAHACAH)

Keywords

• Digital transformation consulting
• Microsoft cloud services
• Modern workplace solutions
• CRM implementation services
• IT legal consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Bielefeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Transformation Consulting: Project-based consulting engagements for digital transformation strategy, implementation, and optimization. Services include Digitalisierung 1.0 (internal processes, communication, collaboration) and Digitalisierung 2.0 (customers, products, business models). Revenue is generated through professional services engagements with enterprise and mid-market clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

4digital is a digital transformation consulting firm that bundles the expertise of four partner companies into end-to-end engagements spanning strategy, Microsoft-based Modern Workplace and cloud implementations, CRM and business intelligence, websites, e-commerce and digital marketing, custom software development, and IT law and data protection compliance. Services are delivered as project-based professional engagements to enterprise and mid-market clients across Germany through Microsoft-certified experts under a Direct Tier 1 Cloud Solution Provider arrangement.

Product overview

4digital is a digital transformation consulting firm comprising four partner companies (InSys AG, LOUIS INTERNET GmbH, Strategic IT GmbH, and Panienka Rechtsanwälte) with over 60 experts and seven decades of combined experience. The portfolio spans strategic digitalization consulting, Secure Modern Workplace solutions built on Microsoft 365 and Teams, Hybrid Cloud infrastructure using Microsoft Azure, and Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider services. LOUIS INTERNET handles digital marketing, website development, online shops, and custom software development. Strategic IT specializes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM implementation and Power BI analytics. Panienka Rechtsanwälte provides IT law, data protection (GDPR), and compliance management services. The company currently serves over 350 customers nationwide across various industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digitalisierungsberatung (Digitalization Consulting) Strategic consulting for digital transformation, guiding companies through challenges of digital culture change as idea generator, discussion partner, and executor for enterprise and mid-market clients.
• Secure Modern Workplace Workplace transformation solution based on Microsoft 365 and Teams, addressing New Work, mobile workforce, and culture change to combat skills shortages and improve employer attractiveness.
• Hybrid Cloud Cloud infrastructure service using Microsoft Azure hybrid cloud for optimal deployment flexibility between cloud and on-premises based on latency and performance needs.
• Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) Licenses Direct Tier 1 CSP service transacting Microsoft cloud licenses (Microsoft 365, Office 365, Dynamics 365, Azure) with flexible usage-based billing and short contract terms.
• Internetseiten & Co (Website Development) Website development and implementation focused on customer engagement and customer experience for seamless customer journeys.
• Online-Shops (E-commerce Platforms) E-commerce platform development with personalization, machine learning, and AI integration for conversion optimization and customer satisfaction.
• Digital Marketing Digital campaign creation, booking, and performance evaluation for increased leads, visibility, and orders with measurable results.
• Individualentwicklung (Custom Software Development) Custom browser-based software development that digitizes business processes for customers, brands, suppliers, employees, and applicants.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Implementation Business application implementation for marketing, sales, service, project management, and HR optimization with flexible modular structure customized to client requirements.
• Microsoft Power BI Implementation Business intelligence implementation for data analysis, visualization, and sharing across devices including mobile, tablet, and desktop with ad-hoc and complex data integration capabilities.
• Cloud Services Comprehensive cloud services from business applications to infrastructure, enabling Modern Workplace with transparent, budgetable IT costs and automatic feature deployment.
• IT-Recht (IT Law Consulting) Legal consulting for IT law including contract drafting, enforcement, software procurement, IT systems, and outsourcing.
• Datenschutz (Data Protection Consulting) Data protection consulting for GDPR compliance, legal evaluation of specific needs, and creation of required documentation for handling personal data in IT environments.
• Compliance Management Compliance analysis and implementation support for information technology requirements, including cloud solutions, ensuring legally compliant deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Website visits increased by 434% for luxury yacht manufacturer client
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• InSys AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding companies of 4digital. Led by Thomas Honemeyer (Vorstand), InSys AG specializes in digital transformation strategy, Secure Modern Workplace, hybrid cloud solutions, and Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider services. Founded in 1991, the company has guided multiple 10,000+ employees of renowned companies through digital transformation.
• LOUIS INTERNET GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding companies of 4digital. Led by K.-Ulrich Louis, the 40-person digital agency has been operating since 1997, offering website development, e-commerce platforms, digital marketing, and custom software development. Known for measurable performance and customer-centric approach.
• Strategic IT GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding companies of 4digital. Led by Nils Frohloff, the company specializes in Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM solutions, Power BI analytics, and cloud services. Certified experts develop customer-individual solutions for sales and service process optimization.
• Panienka Rechtsanwälte (Kanzlei Panienka)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of four founding companies of 4digital. Led by Michael Panienka, the law firm specializes in IT law, data protection compliance, and legal aspects of digital transformation. With 20 years of experience helping companies achieve legally secure digitalization.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary technology partner. InSys AG holds Microsoft Direct Cloud Solution Provider (Tier 1 CSP) status for Microsoft 365, Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Azure. Thomas Honemeyer received Microsoft Partner of the Year 2018 award. Microsoft technologies form the foundation of Modern Workplace and digital transformation implementations.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bechtle AG: One of Europe's largest IT providers, combining IT hardware/software distribution, managed services, and a growing digital transformation/M365 practice headquartered in Germany. Overlaps with 4digital on Microsoft-centric Modern Workplace and cloud transformation work for German mid-market and enterprise clients.
• T-Systems: Deutsche Telekom's enterprise IT services subsidiary, offering cloud, SAP, Microsoft, and digital transformation services to German and European enterprises. Comparable to 4digital on German-centric Microsoft and cloud transformation work, but with substantially larger scale and deeper public-sector reach.
• Sopra Steria: European-headquartered IT services and digital transformation group with a substantial German business serving banking, public sector, and industry clients. Comparable in offering end-to-end consulting and systems integration on Microsoft platforms, though with significantly broader geographic and vertical reach than 4digital.
• CGI Group: Global IT and business consulting services firm with a sizable German footprint (formerly Logica), providing systems integration, application management, and digital transformation. Comparable to 4digital on the consulting-plus-implementation model for European enterprise clients.
• Avanade: Accenture/Microsoft joint venture focused exclusively on the Microsoft ecosystem at global scale. Directly comparable technology stack and Microsoft services portfolio to 4digital, but operates as a much larger incumbent with global delivery and enterprise-tier resources.
• Capgemini Invent: Global digital transformation and consulting arm of Capgemini, with a significant German practice targeting enterprise digital, cloud, and data transformation. Comparable offering to 4digital's end-to-end digitalization services but at vastly greater scale and broader geographic footprint.

Direct peers

• GFT Technologies SE: German-headquartered digital transformation consultancy specializing in financial services and insurance, with strong Microsoft and cloud engineering capabilities. Comparable to 4digital on German Mittelstand/enterprise focus, Microsoft ecosystem depth, and pairing of consulting with platform implementation.
• Allgeier SE: German IT consulting and software group with a portfolio spanning digital transformation, Microsoft and SAP services, and enterprise solutions for mid-market and enterprise clients. Directly comparable to 4digital on German Mittelstand focus, multi-vertical coverage, and bundling of consulting with technology implementation.
• adesso SE: German-headquartered IT services firm (revenue > EUR 1bn) with deep Microsoft and digital transformation practices across multiple verticals. Comparable to 4digital in customer segment focus (German Mittelstand and enterprises), Microsoft-centric delivery, and multi-vertical service portfolio, though materially larger in scale.
• msg group: German IT consulting group providing digital transformation, CRM, BI, and industry-specific solutions to enterprises in insurance, banking, automotive, and public sector. Comparable to 4digital in combining strategy consulting with Microsoft-based implementation and serving large German enterprises and mid-market accounts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 4digital