CAT
CAT GmbH is a Salzbergen, Germany-based, owner-managed software company that develops CAT Bekleidung, a vertical ERP for the fashion and apparel industry covering wholesale, retail, e-commerce, and production workflows, serving German clothing manufacturers and retailers on a legacy Informix-based stack.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSalzbergen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CAT does
CAT GmbH (Computer- und Anwendungstechnik) is a privately held, owner-managed German software company founded in 1988 by Helmut Oink and headquartered in Salzbergen, Germany. The company develops and maintains CAT Bekleidung, an industry-specific ERP software solution built for the fashion and apparel sector, covering wholesale, retail, e-commerce, and production management workflows for clothing manufacturers and retailers. The company is currently led by Carsten Oink, who assumed ownership from the founder in July 2015; the business has remained within the founding family and outside external capital markets.
The CAT Bekleidung platform is built on the Informix database with Informix 4GL — a legacy enterprise technology stack that indicates a long-stable, on-premise codebase rather than a modern cloud-native architecture. The product integrates with a defined set of complementary systems, including SAP, Microsoft, CSS, Koppermann, Assyst, and Lobster, positioning CAT as a vertical ERP layer alongside, rather than in competition with, the dominant platforms its fashion customers also operate. The company's stated customer base includes Gerry Weber (relationship since 1991, ~28+ years) and Normann (30+ years), both long-tenured German fashion enterprises. With a headcount band of 11–50 employees and a Germany-only footprint, CAT operates as a focused niche specialist rather than a scaled platform vendor.
The business model is enterprise software licensing, implementation, and ongoing support targeting German fashion manufacturers and retailers. Revenue mechanics are not disclosed publicly; given the headcount band, the long customer tenures, and the absence of any disclosed funding, the implied go-to-market is direct, relationship-driven sales with extended contract lifecycles and high switching costs. The model is reinforced by deep functional specialization — sizing, collections, wholesale allocation, retail replenishment, and apparel production — that generalist ERP vendors typically cannot replicate without vertical investment. CAT has not disclosed pricing tiers, SaaS/cloud transition plans, AI functionality, M&A activity, or external fundraising, and the available evidence describes a stable, ownership-stable vertical software niche player rather than a growth-stage investment target.
CAT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CAT
- Legal name
- CAT GmbH
- Website
- https://cat-salzbergen.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CAT GmbH is a Salzbergen, Germany-based, owner-managed software company that develops CAT Bekleidung, a vertical ERP for the fashion and apparel industry covering wholesale, retail, e-commerce, and production workflows, serving German clothing manufacturers and retailers on a legacy Informix-based stack.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CAT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Apparel ERP Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retail ERP (Merchandising, POS Back Office) (HDAEAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA)
Keywords
Where CAT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Salzbergen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
CAT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
CAT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CAT develops and sells "CAT Bekleidung," a proprietary ERP software product designed specifically for the fashion and apparel industry. Built from scratch in 1988 on an Informix database with Informix 4GL, the software covers all areas of a modern ERP system except financial accounting, and is extended with project-based interfaces to financial accounting systems (SAP, Microsoft, CSS) and apparel-specific PDM systems (Koppermann, Assyst) delivered via Webservice, J2EE, or Lobster.
Product overview
CAT offers a single unified ERP software product called 'CAT Bekleidung' (CAT Clothing), developed from the ground up in 1988. The software is built on a powerful Informix database using Informix 4GL as the programming language. Over more than 30 years, it has evolved into a comprehensive program package that covers all areas of a modern ERP system except for financial accounting. When functionalities are not available or insufficient, interfaces to various subsystems are developed on a per-project basis. The company also develops interfaces to apparel-specific PDM systems (Koppermann, Assyst) and financial accounting systems (SAP, Microsoft, CSS) via Webservice, J2EE, or Lobster integration platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CAT Bekleidung CAT Bekleidung is a proprietary ERP software product for the apparel/fashion industry developed from the ground up over 30+ years ago. Built on an Informix database using Informix 4GL, it covers all areas of a modern ERP system except financial accounting, with interfaces to external accounting systems (SAP, Microsoft, CSS) and apparel-specific PDM systems (Koppermann, Assyst) delivered via Webservice, J2EE, or Lobster integration platforms. Target customers are enterprise fashion and apparel companies needing vertically specialized merchandise management, logistics, and process optimization software.
Companies that use CAT
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
CAT technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature1 record
CAT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SAPcoreInterface integration partner - CAT Bekleidung ERP interfaces with SAP financial accounting systems as part of comprehensive ERP deployments
- MicrosoftcoreInterface integration partner - CAT Bekleidung ERP interfaces with Microsoft financial systems for customers using Microsoft-based IT infrastructure
- CSScoreInterface integration partner - CAT Bekleidung ERP interfaces with CSS financial systems
- KoppermanncoreClothing-specific PDM (Product Data Management) system integration partner for Koppermann systems used in fashion industry
- AssystcoreClothing-specific PDM (Product Data Management) system integration partner for Assyst systems used in fashion industry
- LobstercoreIntegration technology partner for implementing various interface requirements via Lobster middleware solutions
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
CAT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CGS (BlueCherry): Provider of BlueCherry ERP for apparel, footwear, and consumer goods manufacturers. Comparable as a vertical ERP vendor targeting the same fashion manufacturing customers as CAT, though typically at a larger enterprise scale.
- SAP SE: Global enterprise software incumbent with a broad ERP portfolio (S/4HANA) that interfaces with CAT Bekleidung for financial accounting. Comparable as the dominant ERP platform customers in the German Mittelstand already run alongside CAT.
- Microsoft Dynamics 365: Broad ERP/CRM platform from Microsoft that CAT Bekleidung interfaces with for financial accounting. Represents a potential competitive substitute as well as an integration partner for German mid-market customers.
Direct peers
- Infor: Provider of Infor Fashion ERP (formerly Infor Apparel & Footwear Suite), a vertically specialized ERP for apparel manufacturers and brands. Directly competes with CAT Bekleidung for the same German/European fashion manufacturer segment.
- Aptean: Vertical ERP vendor with apparel-specific solutions (e.g., Aptean Apparel ERP / JustFood style vertical suites). Targets the same fashion/apparel manufacturing customers as CAT and competes for the same mid-market deals.
- Centric Software: Provider of Centric PLM and merchandise planning for fashion, apparel, and retail. Comparable as a vertical software vendor serving the same fashion/apparel customers with adjacent product lifecycle functionality.
- Visual Next: Apparel-focused ERP and supply chain software vendor serving fashion manufacturers and brands. Comparable as a vertical ERP competitor addressing the same operational needs (merchandise management, logistics) that CAT Bekleidung solves.
- Lectra: Specialist in fashion and apparel software (PLM, CAD, supply chain solutions). Comparable as a vertical software vendor serving European apparel brands with operational technology adjacent to CAT's ERP offering.
Emerging players
- Assyst (Amlogica / Assyst GmbH): German vendor of apparel-specific PDM and product configuration solutions integrated with CAT Bekleidung. Comparable as a vertical apparel software specialist serving the same German mid-market customer base.
- Koppermann: Provider of apparel-specific PDM and product data management systems that CAT integrates with. Comparable as a vertical software specialist in the German apparel ecosystem and a partial substitute/productivity tool.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
CAT social profiles
Digital presenceCAT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CAT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CAT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CAT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CAT
What does CAT do?
CAT develops and sells "CAT Bekleidung," a proprietary ERP software product designed specifically for the fashion and apparel industry. Built from scratch in 1988 on an Informix database with Informix 4GL, the software covers all areas of a modern ERP system except financial accounting, and is extended with project-based interfaces to financial accounting systems (SAP, Microsoft, CSS) and apparel-specific PDM systems (Koppermann, Assyst) delivered via Webservice, J2EE, or Lobster.
Is CAT a public or private company?
CAT is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was CAT founded?
CAT was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CAT based?
CAT is headquartered in Salzbergen, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are CAT's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CGS (BlueCherry), SAP SE and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Direct peers are Infor, Aptean, Centric Software, Visual Next and Lectra. Emerging players are Assyst (Amlogica / Assyst GmbH) and Koppermann.
Does CAT have an API?
No public API is recorded for CAT.
What industry is CAT in?
CAT's product category is Apparel ERP Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAEAD, Retail ERP (Merchandising, POS Back Office), with a secondary code of BPAEAGAA, ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.