GBU

What GBU does

GBU mbH is a Stuttgart-based German limited liability company (GmbH) founded in 1987 and operating as the exclusive distributor of ProModel Corporation's simulation software portfolio (Process Simulator, ProModel, MedModel) in German-speaking markets, with additional reach into the Netherlands and Turkey. The company distributes discrete-event simulation tools used to model and optimize material flows, production logistics, factory layouts, and healthcare processes for enterprise customers, while also providing proprietary add-on tools (GBU-Gantt for Gantt chart visualization of simulation results and GBUplanung, a no-code assembly planning environment built on MS Excel and MS Visio). The technology stack is built on top of Microsoft Visio, Excel, and PowerBI, enabling engineers to model production and logistics scenarios without programming.

The company monetizes through a mix of recurring software subscriptions, annual maintenance and hotline contracts, project-based simulation consulting, training, and structured coaching engagements, with only the GBUplanung product carrying transparent list pricing (EUR 7,950 first year, EUR 4,950 renewal). Customer base spans more than 30 named enterprise references across manufacturing (GE Power AG, Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann, Max Bögl Wind AG, Precitec, KOCH Industrieanlagen, Rentschler Biopharma), steel (Badische Stahl-Engineering, HKM), healthcare (Universitätsklinikum Münster, Luzerner Kantonsspital), and academia, with several relationships exceeding a decade. Go-to-market is consultative and primarily direct, supplemented by a 30-day free trial, inside sales via web conference, and a webinar series (GBU Live eSeminar) producing 38+ episodes since 2020.

The business is privately held by managing directors Dr. Norbert Leopold and Andreas Karrais, operates with 1-10 employees, and has no disclosed external funding, acquisitions, or revenue figures. Strategically, GBU is transitioning from a pure value-added distributor toward a productized software company, evidenced by the 2025 launch of GBUplanung as a packaged proprietary offering with its own pricing structure, which represents the first material step toward brand-led monetization beyond ProModel's platform.

Name

GBU

Legal name

Gesellschaft für Betriebsorganisation und Unternehmensplanung mit beschränkter Haftung

Website

https://gbumbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GBU mbH is the exclusive German-speaking-market distributor of ProModel Corporation's discrete-event simulation software (Process Simulator, ProModel, MedModel) for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare customers, complemented by proprietary tools (GBU-Gantt, GBUplanung) and project-based simulation consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Revenue model

1. Software Distribution (Subscription Licenses): GBU distributes Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel as subscription (named-user) licenses. Subscription model provides ongoing access to software updates and support throughout the license term. Revenue is recurring in nature as customers renew annually.
2. Software Maintenance/Hotline Agreements: Annual software maintenance contracts providing automated updates, new features, bug fixes, technical support via phone/email/web conference, and access to the latest product releases. First year included with software purchase; subsequent years offered at attractive prices.
3. Professional Services - Simulation Project Work: Full-cycle simulation study execution including data collection, model building, user interface programming, results interpretation, and implementation recommendations. Covers production, logistics, healthcare, and business process optimization projects.
4. Training Services: Product training for Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel. Delivered as day training or individual schedules; on-site, at GBU training facilities, or online. Maximum 6 participants (4 for online). Class-based training follows standard course materials.
5. Coaching Services: Goal-oriented onboarding through guided simulation projects. Knowledge transfer to customer staff via structured workshop concepts (Process Simulator: 3-day workshop; ProModel/MedModel: 2+2+2-day workshops). Available as day-based or hour-based coaching; on-site, at GBU, or online; individual or group (up to 4-6 participants).
6. GBUplanung (Proprietary Software Product): Proprietary assembly planning and simulation environment sold as a bundled first-year package including Process Simulator MH subscription license, GBU Gantt single-seat license, planning environment, hotline, software maintenance, and 2-day on-site onboarding. Renewal as named-user subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

GBU mbH is the exclusive German-speaking market distributor of ProModel Corporation's simulation software (Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel) for material flow, logistics, and healthcare process simulation. The company also develops and sells its own proprietary add-on products, GBU-Gantt (Gantt chart visualization of simulation results) and GBUplanung (no-code assembly and material flow planning environment built on MS Excel and MS Visio). GBU complements its software portfolio with simulation services including project work, training, coaching, and software maintenance/hotline support for enterprise customers in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.

Product overview

GBU is a distributor and service provider for simulation software, offering a portfolio of three core simulation tools plus proprietary add-ons. Process Simulator (for business process and material flow simulation), ProModel (multi-purpose industrial simulation), and MedModel (healthcare simulation) form the primary product line, all sourced from ProModel Corp. These are complemented by two proprietary add-on modules: GBU-Gantt for Gantt chart visualization of simulation results, and GBUplanung for assembly and logistics planning. The company also provides associated services including training, coaching, hotline support, and project-based simulation studies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GBUplanung: A planning environment for assembly, material flow, and logistics planning using simulation technology.
• GBU-Gantt
• GBU Live eSeminar

Products and services

• Process Simulator Cost-effective, intuitive discrete event simulation software that integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Visio for creating business process, value stream, and material flow simulations. Supports scenario management, hierarchical modeling, Output Viewer for result analysis, and data import/export via Excel. For enterprise decision-makers in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
• ProModel Multi-purpose discrete event simulation tool for extensive manufacturing and logistics processes across industries. Features factory planning, process visualization, optimization, and 3D visualization via AutoCAD integration (ProModel AutoCAD Edition). For enterprise decision-makers in factory and logistics planning.
• MedModel Specialized healthcare simulation software for hospital process analysis, OR (operating room) simulation, capacity planning, and logistics simulation in medical facilities. Includes scenarios such as COVID-19 patient hospitalization prediction. For hospital decision-makers, university clinics, and healthcare investment responsible parties.
• GBU-Gantt Proprietary visualization tool that displays simulation results from Process Simulator, ProModel, MedModel, and Plant Simulation as Gantt charts. Identifies bottlenecks, visualizes resource usage, supports process validation with custom attribute coloring, and includes an Excel interface for data import and an EasyToUse template for Process Simulator integration.
• GBUplanung Proprietary assembly planning and simulation environment built on Process Simulator Material Handling Edition. Configured via MS Excel and MS Visio without programming. Supports assembly process planning, material flow planning, Kanban control loop configuration, and production logistics simulation. Delivers throughput, resource utilization, inventory behavior, and capacity analysis results.
• Simulation Project Work (Project Services) Full-cycle simulation project services including data collection, model building, user interface programming, results interpretation, and implementation recommendations. Covers production, logistics, healthcare, and business process optimization studies for enterprise customers.
• Simulation Training Product training services for Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel. Delivered as day training or individual schedules; on-site, at GBU training facilities, or online. Class-based training (max 6 participants, max 4 online) follows standard course materials.
• Simulation Coaching Goal-oriented onboarding through guided simulation projects with structured workshop concepts. Transfers simulation knowledge to customer staff. Available on day or hour basis; on-site, at GBU offices, or online; individual or group (up to 4-6 participants).
• Software Maintenance & Hotline Support Annual software maintenance contracts providing automated updates, new features, bug fixes, and technical support via phone, email, or web conference. First year typically included with software purchase; subsequent years offered as ongoing subscription maintenance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Identified bottlenecks and efficiency improvement potentials for Badische Stahl-Engineering across 50+ simulation projects since 2001.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers30 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Badische Stahl-Engineering GmbH (BSE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Since 2001, GBU has been the exclusive partner of BSE for material flow and logistics simulations based on ProModel-based simulation tools from Bigbear.ai. More than 50 simulations have been conducted together in scrap yard, steel mill, finishing, and storage/transport logistics areas.
• ProModel CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGBU mbH is the exclusive distributor of ProModel Corporation for the simulation software Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel for material flow simulation, logistics simulation, and healthcare simulation in German-speaking markets. This is the core of GBU's product portfolio.
• Bigbear.ai (formerly ProModel Corp. parent)coreTechnology or IntegrationGBU uses Bigbear.ai's ProModel-based simulation tools as the platform for its material flow and logistics simulation services, particularly in partnership with Badische Stahl-Engineering GmbH.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Rockwell Automation (Arena Simulation): Rockwell Automation's Arena Simulation is a widely used discrete-event simulation tool with overlapping applications in manufacturing and logistics. As a large industrial automation incumbent, it competes for the same enterprise customers in production planning and process optimization.
• Dassault Systèmes: Dassault Systèmes offers DELMIA, a manufacturing and production simulation suite that overlaps with GBU's Process Simulator and ProModel offerings. As a broad PLM incumbent, Dassault competes with GBU in factory planning and logistics simulation for large enterprises.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens offers Tecnomatix Plant Simulation, a direct competitor to ProModel in discrete-event and material flow simulation. As a much larger vendor with deep German engineering roots and broad PLM/MES portfolio, Siemens is the most relevant incumbent competing for the same DACH manufacturing customers that GBU serves.

Emerging players

• Simumatik: Simumatik offers a cloud-based, open-architecture simulation platform for industrial automation and material flow. As an emerging alternative to traditional on-premise simulation tools, it represents the kind of next-generation competitor that could pressure GBU's distribution-dependent model.
• Tulip Interfaces: Tulip is a frontline operations platform combining app-based manufacturing execution with light-weight analytics and digital workflow tools. While not a direct simulation competitor, it represents an adjacent manufacturing software category that increasingly competes for the same industrial engineering budgets.

Direct peers

• ProModel Corporation: ProModel Corp. is the supplier of GBU's three core products (Process Simulator, ProModel, MedModel) and now operates under Bigbear.ai. It offers the same discrete-event simulation tools in other markets and competes with GBU's exclusive DACH territory. Direct comparison as both supplier and peer in the same simulation category.
• Visual Components: Visual Components provides 3D manufacturing simulation software with offline robot programming and material flow analysis capabilities. It competes directly with ProModel AutoCAD Edition and Process Simulator Material Handling Edition for factory planning use cases.
• AnyLogic: AnyLogic provides multi-method simulation software (discrete event, agent-based, system dynamics) for manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. It directly competes with Process Simulator, ProModel, and MedModel in the same customer segments and offers its own no-programming modeling environment, comparable to GBUplanung.
• FlexSim Software: FlexSim provides 3D simulation software for manufacturing, material handling, and logistics. It competes with ProModel's AutoCAD Edition and Process Simulator Material Handling Edition for the same DACH manufacturing customers.
• Simio Software: Simio offers object-oriented, 3D discrete-event simulation software competing with Process Simulator and ProModel in manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. Targets similar enterprise customers with similar consulting/training business models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gbumbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/GBUmbH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gbu-mbh
• Xx.com/GBU_mbH

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 GBU