BuE

What BuE does

BuE Bildung und EDV Dienstleistungskonzepte GmbH is a privately held German software vendor founded in January 2005 by two Handwerkskammern — HWK Oldenburg and HWK für Ostfriesland — to continue and further develop the HWK Universal platform. The company serves German craft chambers (Handwerkskammern), local craft associations (Kreishandwerkerschaften), and vocational training centers (Berufsbildungszentren) in the federal states of Bremen, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and Schleswig-Holstein. BuE is managed by Jörg Frerichs and Heiko Henke, who simultaneously serve as Hauptgeschäftsführer of the two founding chambers, embedding the customer relationship into the company's governance.

HWK Universal is a comprehensive, modular ERP-style platform covering the full operational scope of a craft chamber: the Handwerksrolle (trade register), chamber and guild contribution assessment and collection, apprenticeship and examination administration, inter-company training (ÜLU), business and training advisory, room and resource planning, guesthouse and catering management, inventory, accounting, and a Big Data analytics module. The system is built on Oracle (desktop) and Postgres (web/mobile) databases, with code in Java, Flutter/Dart, Smalltalk, and JavaScript. It comprises roughly 29 integrated desktop modules and 19 cross-platform mobile applications, connected by bidirectional XML interfaces to external systems including DATEV, d.3, Moodle, Microsoft Teams, OpenStreetMap, AKG, ESF/Cascade, and the federal Lucom/Servicekonto infrastructure for OZG-compliant e-government. The recently launched Portal Universal enables citizens to access chamber services via electronic ID authentication.

BuE's revenue model is built on fixed, calculable annual support/maintenance fees paid by member chambers, supplemented by one-time setup and monthly hosting fees for add-on modules such as Moodle and FormWerk. The company has no external investors, no parent company, and no subsidiaries. A team of approximately nine employees, working primarily from offices at HWK Münster, serves all customers through module-specific working groups and on-site visits. Mobile apps are distributed via Google Play, the Apple App Store, and direct APK download for Android, while the core platform is delivered as on-premises software installed on customer-owned Linux servers in the DMZ.

Name

BuE

Legal name

BuE Bildung und EDV Dienstleistungskonzepte GmbH

Website

https://bue-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BuE is a nine-employee German GmbH that develops and supports HWK Universal, a comprehensive modular ERP-style software platform used by German craft chambers and their vocational training centers across four federal states, with fixed annual support fees as its primary revenue model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber Administration Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHDAEAEAA

Core ERP Suites (Financials, Procurement, Projects)

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Platforms

SECONDARYHDAEAGAB

Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Suites

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Enterprise Platforms & Databases/Enterprise Content Management (ECM) & Document Management

SECONDARYBPAEAGAM

Enterprise Application UX, Portals & Low-Code Extensions

Business & Public Services/IT & Digital Services (Managed Services, Systems Integration)/Enterprise Applications Services (ERP/CRM/HRIS)

Keywords

• Chamber management software
• Craft chamber ERP
• Trade register software
• Vocational training management
• E-government portal software

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Support/Maintenance Fees: BuE was founded by Handwerkskammern with the goal of offering a secure and cost-effective software solution with fixed, calculable annual support fees. The core product HWK Universal and all jointly developed enhancements are available to all customers at these predictable annual rates.
2. Additional Module Fees (Moodle, FormWerk): For external applications integrated with HWK Universal (Moodle, FormWerk), a one-time setup fee and monthly hosting costs apply in addition to the core annual support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BuE develops and maintains HWK Universal, a comprehensive modular ERP-style software suite for German craft chambers (Handwerkskammern) and their affiliated training centers. The platform covers all major chamber operations—trade register management, contribution billing, apprenticeship administration, journeyman/master examinations, inter-company training, room/resource planning, guesthouse and catering management, financial accounting with DATEV integration, and OZG-compliant e-government services—delivered alongside a portfolio of 19 cross-platform mobile applications and a digital form generator.

Product overview

BuE (Bildung und EDV Dienstleistungskonzepte GmbH) offers HWK Universal, a comprehensive modular ERP-style software platform specifically designed for German chambers of trades (Handwerkskammern) and Kreishandwerkerschaften. The platform consists of HWK Universal as the core product with approximately 29 integrated modules covering member registration (Handwerksrolle), financial processes (chamber/guild contributions, accounting), education management (apprenticeship, master preparation, inter-company training, examinations), and operational services (space/resource planning, guesthouse, catering, inventory). The system is supplemented by 19 mobile apps built with Flutter/Dart for cross-platform deployment, FormWerk for digital form generation, Moodle integration for learning management, and Portal Universal providing OZG-compliant e-government services. All components share bidirectional XML interfaces, Oracle/Postgres databases, and integrate with external systems including DATEV, d.3 document management, Microsoft Teams, and government service portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HWK Universal Comprehensive modular ERP-style software suite for German Handwerkskammern covering all major operational areas: trade register (Handwerksrolle), chamber and guild contributions, apprentice register, journeyman and master examinations, inter-company training, business and training consulting, address database, financial accounting with DATEV integration, room and resource planning, guesthouse, catering, inventory, quality management, and Big Data analytics.
• HWK Universal Mobile Apps Portfolio of 19 cross-platform mobile applications (Flutter/Dart) providing portable access to HWK Universal modules on iOS, Android, and Windows devices, covering functions such as training counseling, chamber contributions, CRM, trade register, journeyman/master examinations, business consulting, room and resource planning, guesthouse, and workflow management.
• Portal Universal OZG-compliant e-government portal for craft chambers built on the Lucom platform. Enables citizens to submit business data, training contracts, apprenticeship records, and fee payments online using Servicekonto authentication or electronic ID login, providing nationwide validity through the Servicekonto NRW network.
• FormWerk Digital online form generator producing embeddable links for documents and websites. Includes a Moodle plugin for direct course integration, supports digital signatures via mobile/tablet/touchscreen, and exports to XML, CSV, and d.3 document management. Forms connect to HWK Universal for participant surveys.
• Moodle Integration Module Bidirectional XML interface integration between HWK Universal and the Moodle learning portal. Transfers course data, schedules, and examination information to Moodle and receives digital attendance records back for AFBG compliance. Supports Microsoft Teams integration for single sign-on.

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Lucom GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationBuE selected Lucom's platform as the basis for Portal Universal, the OZG-compliant e-government portal for craft chambers. Lucom's platform is also used by the German federal government for form management. This partnership ensures Portal Universal's technological compatibility with federal and state government structures and workflows.
• DATEVcoreTechnology or IntegrationFinancial accounting integration via DATEVconnect interface. HWK Universal remains the leading system, supplying booking data for receivables and payables to DATEV and receiving payment exchange data back. Critical integration for chambers' financial operations.
• d.velop AG (d.3)coreTechnology or IntegrationD.3 document management system serves as the Document Management System (DMS) for HWK Universal. The integration provides complete document archiving and management capabilities. FormWerk also includes an export interface to d.3 for document storage.
• MoodlecoreTechnology or IntegrationOpen-source learning management system integrated with HWK Universal via bidirectional XML interfaces. Transmits all required information from specialized modules (Überbetriebliche, Meistervorkurse, Meisterprüfungen) to Moodle. Supports digital attendance recording for AFBG compliance. Available as an additional module with setup and hosting fees.
• Google (Flutter/Dart)coreTechnology or IntegrationFlutter/Dart open-source framework (developed and maintained by Google, released December 2018) is used to build all 19 HWK Universal mobile apps. This enables development for iOS, Android, and Windows from a single codebase with consistent performance and smooth animations.
• Microsoft (Teams / Office 365)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationMoodle can be extended via Microsoft Teams integration, enabling single sign-on (SSN) for participants to access both Moodle and Microsoft Office 365/MS Teams with one set of credentials. Moodle manages user and course creation in Microsoft. Teams is used for online meetings and virtual instruction.
• OpenStreetMapsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationOpenStreetMap is used for geocoding business addresses in the Handwerksrolle (trade register). Business locations are displayed on maps with direct navigation support. Big Data analytics also use OpenStreetMap for interactive data visualizations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sage GmbH: Global ERP/accounting vendor with strong presence in German SMB and craft trades. Comparable because Sage serves similar craft/trade customers with ERP, accounting, and chamber-related compliance features at a much larger scale.
• DATEV eG: Germany's dominant cooperative software provider for tax advisors, accountants, and SMBs. Comparable because DATEV is a cooperatively-owned German software organization with deep regulatory integration, and BuE's HWK Universal integrates with DATEVconnect as a core partner.
• lexoffice (Haufe Group): Cloud-based accounting and ERP solution from the Haufe Group for German small businesses including trades. Comparable as a German regulatory-integrated ERP offering targeting craft businesses, though at a much broader market scale.

Others

• Moodle Pty Ltd: Open-source learning management system vendor integrated with HWK Universal via bidirectional XML interfaces. Comparable as a technology partner and adjacent player in the German vocational training software stack.
• d.velop AG: German document management (d.3) vendor serving regulated industries and public administration. Comparable as a core technology integration partner providing document management that HWK Universal relies on for archiving.

Direct peers

• Hottgenroth Software: German software vendor specialized for the skilled trades (Handwerk) sector, providing ERP, estimation, and trade management solutions. Comparable because it serves the same German craft/trade ecosystem with domain-specific vertical software.
• Microtech GmbH: German ERP vendor focused on wholesale, retail, and trade businesses. Comparable as a vertically-specialized German ERP vendor targeting trades with regulatory compliance, similar in scale and niche focus to BuE.

Emerging players

• REALTIME Real Estate Systems: German real estate and facility management software vendor serving regulated industries including craft-adjacent sectors. Comparable as a Germany-based vertical software vendor serving public-law institutions.
• BITE GmbH: German software vendor serving chambers of crafts with membership and contribution management solutions. Comparable as a direct competitor in the Handwerkskammer management software niche.
• SWS Computertec AG: German chamber and association management software vendor serving IHKs, HWKs, and other public-law chambers. Comparable because it provides chamber-specific administrative software in the same German regulatory environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BuE_GmbH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 BuE