visual4 GmbH

What visual4 GmbH does

visual4 GmbH is a Stuttgart-based German limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung), operating since 2005 and headquartered at Schreiberstr. 27, 70199 Stuttgart. It functions as the flagship German distribution partner (Deutscher Vertriebspartner) for 1CRM, the open-source CRM platform whose software originated as 'info@hand' in January 2005 under Longreach, was rebranded to 1CRM in 2011 with the introduction of the proprietary 1CRM Engine framework, and has since been extended into Startup, Professional, and Enterprise editions. visual4 provides direct sales, consulting, implementation, and German-hosted cloud services for the DACH market, and is the operating entity behind the 1crm-system.de web presence.

The 1CRM platform is a web-based CRM built on a MySQL database with a proprietary 1CRM Engine framework that allows deep customization without compromising upgrade capability. It is offered as cloud-hosted, on-premises, and perpetual license editions and spans functional areas including customer management, sales force automation, marketing, customer service, project management with time tracking and invoicing, and multi-tenant (Mandantenfähigkeit) deployment. The core product is supplemented by more than 20 add-on modules covering workflow automation, e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung), document generation, event management, certificate generation, membership billing (CRM Beitrag), CTI telephony, e-commerce (WooCommerce), marketing automation sync (HubSpot, Mautic), accounting export (DATEV, SEPA), SSO (Microsoft Entra ID), BI (Kettle), and an on-premises generative AI module (CRM Private KI). Three industry-specific bundles target associations (CRM Verein), universities (CRM Hochschule), and training providers (CRM Seminar). Integrations extend to Microsoft 365, Gmail, Outlook, Teams, Zoom, WordPress, Stripe, Bilendo, Google Maps, Dropbox, and LDAP/SSO via OAuth 2.0.

The business model combines subscription cloud revenue (€17–€670 per month depending on edition and user count), one-time perpetual on-premises licenses (from €680 for Professional, €880 for Enterprise), a freemium Startup Edition, recurring revenue from add-on modules, professional services (digital onboarding €950–€2,850, support packages €300–€750, update service €89–€169, installation €1,280), and industry solution bundles (€4,820–€6,710). Go-to-market is sales-led through visual4 in DACH and a global partner network (CRM-Netzwerk) elsewhere, with self-service purchasing via the online shop. The customer base spans SMEs and mid-market firms, large enterprise references (Bosch, Trumpf Photonic Components, united-domains, Peer Software, xSuite, SEP AG), and verticals including associations, universities, e-commerce, manufacturing, IT services, and event management. The platform reports 1,000+ SME customers and 100,000+ users globally, with visual4 operating as a focused, regional distribution partner rather than the product's primary developer entity.

Name

visual4 GmbH

Legal name

visual4 GmbH

Website

https://1crm-system.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

visual4 GmbH is a Stuttgart-based digital agency and the flagship German distribution partner of the open-source 1CRM platform, providing sales, consulting, implementation, and German-hosted cloud services to SMEs, mid-market firms, and industry verticals across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Sales Force Automation (SFA) CRM (HDAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industry-Specific CRM (Vertical CRM Suites) (HDAEAFAH), Customer Service/Support CRM & Contact Center Platforms (BPAFAFAK), CRM Implementation & Systems Integration (BPAFAFAB), CRM Managed Services & Support (BPAEAGAD)

Keywords

• Customer relationship management
• Open source CRM
• Sales force automation
• Marketing automation software
• Cloud CRM platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

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. Cloud Subscription (Monthly/Annual): Monthly or annual subscription fees for cloud-hosted CRM editions. Prices range from €17 to €670 per month depending on edition and user count. Server operation, maintenance, and backups included.
2. On-Premises Perpetual License: One-time purchase license for self-hosted CRM deployment. Prices start at €680 for Professional Edition and €880 for Enterprise Edition. Ongoing maintenance and support fees apply.
3. Extensions/Plugins: Additional modules and extensions such as CRM Private KI, Automatisierungsplattform, CRM Briefe, CRM Beitrag, CRM Zertifikat, CRM Entra ID, CRM Events, WooCommerce integration, HubSpot Sync, Mautic integration, and others sold as separate products or bundles.
4. Professional Services: Onboarding, support packages, update services, and installation services. Includes Digital Onboarding (€950–€2,850), Support packages (€300–€750), Update Service (€89–€169), and Installation Service (€1,280).
5. Industry Solutions: Pre-configured industry-specific packages: CRM Verein (€6,970), CRM Hochschule (€4,820), and CRM Seminar (€6,710) targeting associations, universities, and education providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

visual4 GmbH distributes and supports 1CRM, an open-source CRM platform offering customer relationship management, sales force automation, marketing automation, customer service, project management, and invoicing as an integrated system. The platform is available in Cloud subscription, On-Premises perpetual license, and freemium editions (Startup, Startup+, Professional, Enterprise) and is localized into multiple European languages. visual4 also delivers consulting, onboarding, and implementation services in the DACH region for 1CRM.

Product overview

1CRM by visual4 GmbH is a comprehensive open-source CRM platform available in Cloud, On-Premises, and Perpetual License editions (Startup, Startup+, Professional, Enterprise). The system provides an all-in-one solution combining customer management, sales, marketing automation, customer service, project management, and invoicing in a single platform. The core product is supplemented by numerous add-on modules including AI (Private KI), automation, document management (PDF Plus, Letters), membership management (Beitrag), certificate generation (Zertifikat), event management (Events, Events Online), telephony integration (CTI), e-commerce (WooCommerce), and accounting integrations (DATEV, SEPA). Industry-specific bundles are available for associations (Verein), universities (Hochschule), and training organizations (Seminar). The platform supports extensive third-party integrations including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, Mautic, WooCommerce, and provides a REST-API for custom development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1CRM Cloud Edition Hosted CRM subscription where visual4 manages server operation, maintenance, and backups in German data centers, providing GDPR-compliant customer relationship, sales, marketing, service, and invoicing functionality.
• 1CRM On-Premises Edition Self-hosted CRM software installed on the customer's own servers, providing full control over data and infrastructure for businesses that require on-premises deployment.
• 1CRM Startup Edition Free entry-level CRM edition (free On-Premises download and free Cloud tier) for small businesses and startups providing basic CRM functionality.
• 1CRM Professional Edition Mid-tier paid CRM edition with comprehensive features for growing businesses, available in cloud subscription and on-premises perpetual license variants (€42–€520/month cloud; €680 perpetual license).
• 1CRM Enterprise Edition Full-featured enterprise CRM with all modules and capabilities, available in cloud subscription and on-premises perpetual license variants (€55–€670/month cloud; €880 perpetual license).
• 1CRM Automatisierungsplattform Workflow automation extension enabling automated business processes and task execution based on triggers and time-based conditions.
• 1CRM Private KI On-premises AI add-on enabling data-sovereign generative AI capabilities within 1CRM, processing text-based automation and knowledge management while keeping data within the customer's own infrastructure.
• 1CRM Beitrag Membership management extension for automated membership fee billing and contract administration.
• 1CRM Events Event management extension for organizing and managing events, conferences, and seminars with participant tracking, registration, and certificate generation.
• WooCommerce CRM Native WooCommerce plugin connecting online stores with 1CRM to synchronize products, orders, customers, and invoices.
• CRM HubSpot Sync Bi-directional synchronization extension between 1CRM and HubSpot for unified marketing and sales data.
• 1CRM Mautic Marketing automation integration with Mautic enabling lead management and campaign synchronization.
• 1CRM Entra ID Single sign-on integration with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) for unified identity management.
• 1CRM Outlook Add-In Microsoft Outlook plugin providing sidebar access to CRM records, email synchronization, and contact linking directly within Outlook.
• 1CRM DATEV-Export Accounting data export extension for exchanging financial data with DATEV accounting software used by German tax consultants.
• 1CRM SEPA SEPA direct debit management extension for creating and exporting SEPA payment files for membership and recurring billing.
• 1CRM Forderungsmanagement Debt collection management extension for accounts receivable and payment tracking.
• 1CRM PDF Plus PDF template extension for creating DIN-compliant documents and electronic invoices in ZUGFeRD and XRechnung formats.
• 1CRM MailDesigner Email newsletter design tool integrated with 1CRM for creating and sending professional email campaigns.
• 1CRM Mandant Multi-tenant extension for managing multiple subsidiaries or client organizations within a single 1CRM instance.
• 1CRM Telefon-Integration (CTI) Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) extension for click-to-call, call logging, and screen-pop functionality with supported VoIP systems.
• 1CRM Mail-Relay Email relay service extension for improved email deliverability and automated bounce processing.
• 1CRM Briefe Document creation extension for generating professional letters with consistent branding within 1CRM.
• 1CRM Zertifikat Certificate management extension for creating and managing participant certificates and credentials following seminars and events.
• 1CRM Business Intelligence Business intelligence extension using Kettle for data transformation, ETL, and advanced analytics on 1CRM data.
• CRM Events Online Online event website integration with self-service portal for participant registration and event management linked to 1CRM.
• CRM Verein (Association Edition) Pre-configured industry bundle for associations and clubs combining CRM with membership management, event handling, and member communication (€6,970).
• CRM Hochschule (University Edition) Pre-configured industry bundle for universities and higher-education institutions for student, alumni, and partner relationship management (€4,820).
• CRM Seminar Pre-configured industry bundle for training and seminar providers managing bookings, participants, certificates, and invoicing for educational offerings (€6,710).

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% time savings in member management processes (DSLV case study)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration26 records

AI capability2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and flagship.

• Microsoft 365/Gmail IntegrationcoreTechnology or IntegrationOAuth 2.0 enabled email synchronization with Microsoft 365 and Gmail enterprise accounts. Supports group mailboxes and individual user accounts with secure authentication.
• WooCommercecoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial WooCommerce plugin for 1CRM enabling product synchronization, order management, customer sync, and self-service portal for shop customers.
• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationDATEV export extension for exchanging accounting data with German tax consultants and DATEV accounting software. Supports CSV and XML export formats.
• OutlookcoreTechnology or IntegrationCRM Outlook Add-In for email and contact synchronization. Sidebar integration in Outlook for quick access to CRM data and linking emails to records.
• WordPressmajorTechnology or IntegrationWordPress integration via Formidable forms plugin and event synchronization. OAuth 2.0 server capability for WordPress integration.
• HubSpotmajorTechnology or IntegrationCRM HubSpot Sync extension for bidirectional synchronization between 1CRM and HubSpot marketing/CRM platform.
• MauticmajorTechnology or IntegrationCRM Mautic extension for connecting 1CRM with Mautic marketing automation platform. Supports contact synchronization and tagging.
• Starface/Sipgate/Snom (CTI)majorTechnology or IntegrationComputer Telephony Integration (CTI) with Starface, Sipgate, and Snom phone systems for click-to-call and call logging.
• visual4 GmbHflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStuttgart-based digital agency as official German distribution partner (Deutscher Vertriebspartner) for 1CRM. Provides sales, consulting, and implementation services for DACH market.
• 1CRM Global Partner Network (CRM-Netzwerk)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of partners providing localized sales, implementation, and support services in various countries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Pipedrive: SME-focused sales CRM with cloud-first delivery and self-serve purchasing. Competes directly with 1CRM Professional and Enterprise cloud editions for DACH mid-market sales teams.
• SugarCRM: 1CRM originated as a fork of SugarCRM in 2005, so the two share deep architectural lineage. Both target sales, marketing and service automation for mid-market and enterprise customers with customizable, multi-deployment options.
• SuiteCRM: Open-source CRM fork of the same SugarCRM codebase that 1CRM builds on, offering a fully free alternative with similar customization and self-hosting capabilities. Directly competes with 1CRM's free Startup Edition and perpetual-license On-Premises offering.
• Bitrix24: All-in-one cloud and on-premises collaboration/CRM platform with a free tier targeting SMEs. Direct overlap with 1CRM's combined CRM + project management + invoicing value proposition.
• Zoho CRM: Broad SME CRM suite combining sales, marketing, service and invoicing, delivered as cloud subscription. Closely parallels 1CRM's all-in-one positioning and target customer (small and mid-sized businesses).

Broad incumbents

• HubSpot: Global CRM and marketing automation incumbent with freemium and tiered cloud offerings. Competes for the same SME inbound buyer and has a bi-directional sync extension already integrated with 1CRM.
• Salesforce: Dominant global CRM platform frequently cited in 1CRM's comparison collateral. Provides the reference point against which 1CRM positions its customization, data sovereignty and pricing advantages.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365: Enterprise CRM/ERP suite tightly integrated with Microsoft 365 — the same productivity stack 1CRM connects to via OAuth 2.0. Represents the incumbent alternative for DACH enterprises considering 1CRM.

Regional players

• CentralStation CRM: German cloud CRM for SMEs and startups, frequently cited in DACH CRM buying guides. Competes for the same Mittelstand buyer that 1CRM targets with its Startup and Professional editions.
• TecArt: German-developed CRM/ERP suite explicitly compared against 1CRM in the company's own collateral. Closest direct head-to-head competitor in the DACH mid-market for customizable German-hosted CRM.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 visual4 GmbH