What GLS Consulting does

GLS Consulting (Pty) Ltd is a South African engineering software developer and infrastructure consultancy founded in 1989 and headquartered in Stellenbosch. The company develops and licenses a proprietary suite of CAD/GIS-based infrastructure modelling software covering water networks (Wadiso), sewer systems (Sewsan), electrical distribution (Edisan), stormwater (HydroSWMM), municipal billing analytics (Swift), pipe replacement prioritisation (PRP), fibre networks (Fonis), and an underlying 2D CAD/GIS platform (Albion). The software embeds established open-source simulation engines (EPA's SWMM, EPANET) within a GIS environment to support hydraulic and energy modelling.

GLS operates a dual business model combining perpetual software licensing (with 30-day freemium trials) and professional services including infrastructure master planning, demand management, revenue enhancement, capacity investigations, and digital twin implementation. Consulting engagements are delivered through four South African offices and an Executive Committee led by Managing Director Flip du Plessis. The company serves South African metropolitan municipalities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni), national departments (Department of Water and Sanitation), regional utilities (NamWater, eSwatini Electricity Company), and engineering consultants, with international reach into Namibia, eSwatini, Botswana, Mozambique, and Lesotho through direct contracts and the Southern African Power Pool. Since 2024 GLS has been wholly owned by its staff, holds B-BBEE Level 2 certification, and maintains accreditations with ECSA, CESA, IMESA, AMEU, WISA, and the SWAN Forum.

Name

GLS Consulting

Legal name

GLS Consulting Pty Ltd

Website

https://gls.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GLS Consulting (Pty) Ltd develops CAD/GIS-based infrastructure modelling software and provides engineering consulting for water, sewer, stormwater, electricity, and fibre networks, serving South African municipalities, utilities, and national government departments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Infrastructure Engineering Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

Keywords

• Infrastructure modelling software
• Hydraulic network modelling
• Water network modelling
• Municipal engineering consulting
• Electrical infrastructure planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Stellenbosch

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing: Sale and licensing of proprietary infrastructure modelling software products including Wadiso, Edisan, Albion, Sewsan, Swift, HydroSWMM, PRP, and Fonis. Software is distributed via direct download with 30-day trial periods and perpetual licensing model.
2. Infrastructure Consulting Services: Professional consulting services for infrastructure network modelling, master planning, demand management, and system-wide analysis for water, sewer, energy and fibre systems.
3. Training and CPD Courses: Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited courses in the use of GLS Software, presented at their Stellenbosch training facility, client venues, or online. Registered through CESA with ECSA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GLS Consulting develops, licenses, and supports a proprietary suite of CAD/GIS-based infrastructure modelling software (Wadiso, Edisan, Albion, Sewsan, Swift, HydroSWMM, PRP, Fonis) for water, sewer, stormwater, electricity, and fibre networks, and provides professional infrastructure engineering consulting services including master planning, demand management, water quality simulation, revenue enhancement, capacity investigations, and digital twin implementation to municipalities, utilities, and engineering consultancies.

Product overview

GLS Consulting operates as a software developer and infrastructure engineering consultancy with a portfolio of nine distinct software products built on a common CAD and GIS platform. The core offering consists of domain-specific modelling tools—Wadiso (water networks), Edisan (electrical infrastructure), Sewsan (sewer systems), HydroSWMM (stormwater), Swift (billing analytics), and PRP (pipe replacement prioritization)—supported by Albion as the underlying 2D CAD/GIS platform. The recently launched Fonis addresses fibre infrastructure planning. GLS also acts as an official implementer of Qatium's digital network twin solution. All products share GIS-based architecture enabling interoperability and integration with third-party systems, and are offered alongside consulting services for infrastructure master planning, demand management, and network analysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GLS Software: A division of GLS Consulting specializing in the development and maintenance of advanced software solutions for engineering infrastructure analysis, design, and management.

Products and services

• Wadiso GIS-based water network modelling software leveraging EPANET for hydraulic simulation, providing rapid and efficient design capabilities for water management professionals in municipalities and utilities.
• Edisan GIS-based electrical infrastructure network modelling software designed for speed, power, and user-friendliness in spatial electrical network analysis for distribution and transmission planning.
• Albion 2D CAD/GIS platform designed to handle large amounts of data with sophisticated database wrapping techniques, enabling work with any data type using spreadsheet-like editing workflows.
• Sewsan Robust GIS-based sewer system modelling software known for exceptional speed, power, and user-friendly interface for sewer network analysis.
• Swift Municipal billing database analysis program that integrates with sewer and water distribution models to accurately model water demand and effluent production.
• HydroSWMM Integrated stormwater modelling software embedding EPA's Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) within a GIS environment for simplified system planning.
• PRP (Pipe Replacement Potential) Pipe replacement assessment application calculating Likelihood of Failure and Consequence of Failure using data-driven variables to identify key focus areas and support multi-year investment planning.
• Fonis Fibre infrastructure network modelling and analysis software for planning and development of fibre networks.
• Qatium Implementation Service Official implementation of the Qatium digital network twin solution in Southern Africa, with GLS serving as official implementer and global development partner in Qatium's ongoing innovation.
• Infrastructure Network Modelling & Master Planning Consulting Professional consulting services for infrastructure network modelling and master planning across water, sewer, energy, and fibre systems, ranging from small developments to entire city distribution networks. Includes demand management, water quality simulation, revenue enhancement, and capacity investigations for municipalities and utilities.
• CPD-Accredited Training Courses Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accredited training in the use of GLS Software, presented at the Stellenbosch training facility, client venues, or online. Registered through CESA with ECSA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Market leader position maintained in South Africa for hydraulic network modelling
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• QatiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS Software is an official implementer of the Qatium digital network twin solution in Southern Africa and a global development partner in its ongoing innovation. This partnership enables GLS to offer Qatium's digital twin capabilities to clients in the region while contributing to the platform's development.
• Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS Energy division works with utilities through the Southern African Power Pool network for power system analysis and regional energy coordination, including participation in load research and interconnector studies.
• Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS Consulting has an agreement with ECSA's Commitment and Undertaking to train aspiring professionals to meet ECSA standards, supporting the development of future professionally registered engineers, technologists and technicians in South Africa.
• Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is a proud member of CESA, promoting excellence in the consulting industry with expertise in infrastructure planning and engineering consulting.
• Institute of Municipal Engineers of Southern Africa (IMESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is a proud member with strong infrastructure engineering experience, contributing to municipal engineering best practices in Southern Africa.
• Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities of Southern Africa (AMEU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is an affiliate member contributing to the electricity distribution industry and making an impact in the electricity utility space.
• Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is an accredited member of WISA, contributing to water sector development and best practices.
• Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is a member of the international Smart Water Networks Forum actively contributing to the development and implementation of Smart Water solutions globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@GLSSoftwareZA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gls-consulting-pty-ltd

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 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 GLS Consulting