What Ingenious does

Ingenious Software GmbH is a Leipzig, Germany-based software company that develops ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and PPS (Production Planning and Scheduling) software for variant manufacturers, with a particular focus on the roller shutter and sun protection industry. Founded in 1997 and spun off as a dedicated software entity in 2016, the company has accumulated more than 25 years of vertical domain knowledge and serves customers in Germany, broader Europe, the USA, and Canada. The product is built on the Microsoft .NET Framework for Windows and is configured to handle complex variant configuration, bill-of-materials management, and production workflows typical of made-to-order manufacturing.

The company's business model is built on three revenue streams: one-time software license fees for the core ERP/PPS product, recurring annual software maintenance contracts that provide ongoing updates and support, and implementation/consulting services for deployment and customization. Distribution is direct, supplemented by participation at vertical trade fairs such as R+T 2024 in Stuttgart, and the company maintains an ecosystem of integration partnerships including Heroal (via the openTRANS standard for electronic data interchange) and DATEV (for accounting integration). Ingenious releases annual product updates — known as Jahresupdates — that incrementally extend functionality; the 2025/2026 release notably introduces a new E-Invoice module addressing Germany's evolving electronic invoicing requirements. The firm is a privately held GmbH with no disclosed external venture or private equity ownership; founder and managing director Falk Jahr passed away in February 2021, marking a significant leadership transition for the closely-held business.

Name

Ingenious

Legal name

Ingenious Software GmbH

Website

https://ingenious.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Ingenious Software GmbH is a Leipzig-based German software firm that develops .NET-based ERP and production planning software for variant manufacturers, with a primary focus on the roller shutter and sun protection industry across Germany, Europe, USA, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Industry-Specific Low-Code Platforms (Vertical App Platforms) (HDAEAKAL)

Keywords

• ERP software solutions
• Variant manufacturing software
• Production planning system
• Roller shutter industry software
• Small business ERP

Headquarters

HQ city

Leipzig

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: The company sells software licenses for its ERP and PPS system with various module configurations. The software is sold with different license scopes depending on customer needs.
2. Software Maintenance Contracts: Annual maintenance contracts provide customers with regular updates including bug fixes, new functions, and system updates at least once per year. Customers without maintenance contracts can receive updates upon payment of an update fee based on license scope and version age.
3. Implementation and Consulting Services: Services include data migration from previous systems, personalization of document templates, software customization, and individual development. Training services for users and groups are also offered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ingenious develops and sells its own ERP and Production Planning and Control (PPS) software, branded "ingenious," built on the .NET Framework for Windows. The platform serves small and mid-sized variant manufacturers, tradespeople (Handwerk), commerce, and industrial firms, with particular domain specialization in the roller shutter and sun protection industry (Rollladen- und Sonnenschutzbranche). Revenue is generated through one-time software licenses, annual maintenance contracts providing updates and support, and implementation services including data migration, customization, and training.

Product overview

Ingenious offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture centered on its core ERP/Branchensoftware for variant manufacturers, craftspeople, and industrial businesses. The core product provides essential business functions including contact management (Kontakteverwaltung), article management (Artikelverwaltung), order processing and invoicing (Auftragsbearbeitung und Rechnungslegung), purchasing/orders (Bestellungen), appointments and time tracking (Termine Zeiten), and incoming invoice capture (Eingangsrechnungen Belegerfassung). This is extendable through Plus Modules including Product Configurators (Produktkonfiguratoren), Capacity Planning (Kapazitätsplanung), Paperless Manufacturing/PPS (Papierlose Fertigung), Web Integration, DATEV Accounting Interface (Fibu-Schnittstelle), Digital Inventory (Digitale Inventur), Time-based Automated Processes (Zeitgesteuerte automatisierte Prozesse), Route Planning (Tourenplanung), and openTRANS Document Exchange. The software is specifically designed for the roller shutter and sun protection industry (Rollladen- und Sonnenschutzbranche) and built on the .NET Framework with Windows system integration. Annual updates (Jahresupdates) are provided through software maintenance contracts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ingenious ERP and PPS Software Core ERP and Production Planning and Control (PPS) software built on .NET Framework for Windows, designed for variant manufacturers, tradespeople, and industrial businesses. Covers contact management, article management, order processing and invoicing, purchasing, time tracking, and document capture. Specializes in the roller shutter and sun protection industry through native support for product variants, custom pricing, and bill of materials.
• Product Configurators (Produktkonfiguratoren) Plus Module enabling configuration of complex product variants, particularly suited for building elements manufacturing where products follow regular patterns but require individual customization. Allows configured products to be published online via the Web Integration module.
• Capacity Planning (Kapazitätsplanung) Plus Module for monitoring and optimizing production capacities, including machine running times and workforce utilization, integrated with ERP.
• Paperless Manufacturing / PPS System (Papierlose Fertigung) Production Planning and Control (PPS) module for paperless manufacturing operations, integrated with the ERP.
• Web Integration Plus Module enabling products configured as bills of materials with configurators to be published online on websites and e-commerce platforms.
• Accounting Interface (Fibu-Schnittstelle) Plus Module for exporting sales data for integration with German accounting software such as DATEV.
• Digital Inventory (Digitale Inventur) Plus Module for conducting digital stock counts and inventory management.
• Time-based Automated Processes (Zeitgesteuerte automatisierte Prozesse) Plus Module for scheduling and automating time-based business processes.
• Route Planning (Tourenplanung) Plus Module for optimizing delivery routes for customers with loyal customer bases and recurring delivery addresses.
• openTRANS Document Exchange Plus Module implementing the openTRANS standard for standardized B2B electronic document exchange, particularly implemented for suppliers such as Heroal.
• Implementation and Consulting Services Services include data migration from previous systems, personalization of document templates, software customization, individual development, and training services for users and groups.
• ingenious Software Maintenance Contract (Software-Pflegevertrag) Annual recurring software maintenance contract providing customers with regular updates including bug fixes, new functions, and system updates at least once per year, ensuring continuity of support and access to new features.

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

Integration3 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HeroalcoreTechnology or IntegrationHeroal is an integration partner for the openTRANS document exchange standard. The company has implemented the Heroal openTRANS interface for supplier order exports, allowing seamless electronic document exchange with Heroal systems.
• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationDATEV is a German accounting software provider. The ingenious software includes a DATEV interface module (Fibu-Schnittstelle) that exports sales data for transfer to DATEV accounting programs, enabling integration with the widely-used German accounting ecosystem.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Amicron Software: German ERP vendor for SMBs in manufacturing, commerce, and services. Comparable as a Windows-based, on-prem-style ERP targeting the same SMB Mittelstand segments as Ingenious with article, order, and production modules.
• SELBACH Informationstechnik: Specialist ERP vendor for the sun protection and roller shutter industry in DACH. The most direct niche vertical competitor to Ingenious with deep industry-specific functionality for the same core customer base.
• Columbus GmbH: German ERP and CRM reseller/implementer focused on SMB manufacturing and trading companies. Comparable as a DACH SMB ERP channel serving variant manufacturers with similar customer profiles to Ingenious.
• Haufe-Lexware GmbH & Co. KG: Major German provider of business software for SMBs, tradespeople (Lexware Handwerk), and accountants. Comparable as a German incumbent serving the same trades and crafts segments with ERP, invoicing, and DATEV-compatible accounting workflows.
• Vario Software AG: German SMB ERP vendor focused on manufacturing, crafts, and trade businesses. Comparable to Ingenious as both target German SME variant manufacturers with integrated ERP/PPS offerings and module-based pricing.
• INTREST Unternehmensberatung GmbH: German ERP provider for crafts and trade businesses (Handwerk). Comparable to Ingenious's Handwerk segment with industry-specific workflows, project management, and invoicing tailored to trades.
• weclapp SE: Cloud-based ERP for SMBs in DACH covering order processing, inventory, production, and CRM. Directly comparable as an SMB ERP targeting German SMEs and trades with production planning features that overlap Ingenious's value proposition.

Broad incumbents

• SAP Business One: SAP's SMB ERP covering financials, purchasing, manufacturing, and sales. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving the same small-to-mid manufacturing market with stronger global brand and partner ecosystem.
• Sage 100 (Sage GmbH): Established SMB business software suite covering accounting, production, and warehouse management for DACH SMBs. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering alternative ERP functionality to Ingenious's target customers.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Cloud ERP from Microsoft aimed at SMBs across manufacturing and distribution with production planning, inventory, and finance modules. A broad incumbent whose variant-manufacturing capabilities compete with Ingenious's mid-market expansion path.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHh9eBQ-QVeavI1L36YySUw/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ingenious-softwareentwicklung-systemhaus

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 Ingenious