CKL Software
CKL Software is a Hamburg-based independent software manufacturer founded in 1997 that builds finance, controlling, and inventory add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, serving mid-sized manufacturers and international trading firms through a 180+ partner network and 4,000 installations worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersHamburg, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CKL Software does
CKL Software is an independent software manufacturer (ISV) founded in 1997 and headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, that builds add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Its six-product portfolio under the '365' brand spans finance, controlling, and inventory workflows: Kostenrechnung 365 (cost accounting), bill-to 365 (subscription and recurring billing), Bewertung 365 (year-end inventory valuation per German legal regulations), Costing Method 365 (inventory posting method changes), Lagerwert 365 (inventory-to-GL reconciliation), and Planner 365 (planning). The products are designed as deep extensions of Business Central rather than standalone applications, targeting mid-sized manufacturing companies and larger international trading firms that require audit-relevant controlling and finance capabilities beyond the base ERP.
The company operates an exclusive partner-channel go-to-market with 180+ registered integration and sales partners, supported by a knowledge blog, webinars, newsletter, LinkedIn, and YouTube for demand generation and education. CKL is an official Microsoft Partner and positions itself as 'independent' (unabhängiger Softwarehersteller) — there is no evidence of external institutional investment, parent company, or M&A activity. The leadership team is led by managing director Thorsten Behrens, and headcount is reported at 1-10 employees, indicating a small, lean operation.
Revenue mechanics are based on software licenses and subscriptions for its Business Central add-ons; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via direct quote. Scale signals cited by the company include 180+ registered partners and 4,000 installations worldwide. CKL's blog references Microsoft Copilot in Business Central as a future controlling tool, but no CKL-built AI feature is disclosed. The firm has no documented funding rounds, acquisitions, or restructuring events in the available material.
CKL Software firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CKL Software
- Legal name
- CKL Software
- Website
- https://ckl-kore.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CKL Software is a Hamburg-based independent software manufacturer founded in 1997 that builds finance, controlling, and inventory add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, serving mid-sized manufacturers and international trading firms through a 180+ partner network and 4,000 installations worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CKL Software industry classification
Industry- Product category
- ERP Add-on Software for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Automation (BPAEAPAD)
Keywords
Where CKL Software is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hamburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CKL Software business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Software Licenses/Subscriptions: Revenue generated from licensing CKL's add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, including Kostenrechnung 365, bill-to 365, Bewertung 365, Costing Method 365, and Lagerwert 365
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CKL Software product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CKL Software develops and licenses add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central focused on financial accounting, controlling, inventory valuation, and subscription billing. The product suite includes Kostenrechnung 365, bill-to 365, Bewertung 365, Costing Method 365, Lagerwert 365, and Planner 365, sold to mid-sized manufacturing firms and larger international trading companies through a global partner channel.
Product overview
CKL Software is an independent software manufacturer founded in 1997, offering a suite of six add-on modules for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central under the '365' product line. The portfolio is organized around three solution areas: Financial Accounting (Finanzbuchhaltung), Controlling, and Warehouse (Lager). The core products are Kostenrechnung 365 (cost accounting), bill-to 365 (subscription billing), Bewertung 365 (inventory valuation), Costing Method 365 (inventory costing methods), Lagerwert 365 (inventory value reconciliation), and Planner 365 (planning). All six apps extend Business Central to provide deeper finance, controlling, and inventory management capabilities, targeting mid-sized manufacturing companies and larger international trading companies. The company operates globally with over 180 registered partners and 4,000 installations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Kostenrechnung 365
Companies that use CKL Software
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CKL Software technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
CKL Software partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- MicrosoftcoreCKL is an official Microsoft Partner. All CKL products are add-on applications specifically designed for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. The partnership forms the core technology platform for CKL's entire product portfolio.
- Integration Partners NetworkcoreCKL has 180+ registered integration partners who implement Finance solutions. Partners are consultants with competence in Finance solutions implementation and project experience. Partners can register at partner.ckl-kore.de for technical support and programs.
- Sales Partners NetworkcoreCKL has a network of sales partners who distribute CKL products. Partners benefit from strong apps, CKL expertise, and engaged support. The partner network spans globally with 4,000 installations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CKL Software competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Sana Commerce: Dutch e-commerce ISV built natively on Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP. Comparable as a Dynamics 365-embedded ISV serving ERP customers with mission-critical extensions, though in a different functional area (e-commerce).
- LS Retail: Iceland-based ISV providing retail and hospitality software built on Microsoft Dynamics 365. Comparable as a global Dynamics 365 ISV with a vertical-specialization GTM, though focused on retail/hospitality rather than finance/controlling.
Direct peers
- Lanham Associates: US-based ISV building supply chain and warehouse management extensions for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Comparable for warehouse/inventory-focused add-ons in the same Business Central ecosystem.
- Nolan Business Solutions: US ISV delivering fixed assets, payroll, and financial add-ons for Microsoft Dynamics NAV and Business Central. Comparable as a focused Dynamics ISV with finance-adjacent product specialization.
- Insight Works: Canadian ISV building warehouse, manufacturing, and shop floor add-ons for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Comparable as a specialized Dynamics 365 BC extension publisher with global distribution.
- Simplanova: Lithuanian Dynamics 365 Business Central ISV offering report and document management extensions. Comparable as a European Dynamics 365 BC extension developer with partner-led distribution.
- Continia Software: Danish ISV specializing in document capture, expense management, and approval workflows for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Most direct comparable as a European Dynamics 365 BC add-on vendor with a partner-channel GTM.
- To-Increase: Dutch ISV providing manufacturing, supply chain, service, and product engineering extensions for Microsoft Dynamics 365. Comparable as a long-established Dynamics ISV with deep ERP functional add-ons.
Others
- ArcherPoint: US-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 partner specializing in Business Central implementation and add-on distribution. Comparable as a Dynamics 365 BC ecosystem participant that complements ISVs like CKL via services and channel reach.
Broad incumbents
- Microsoft: Owner of the Dynamics 365 Business Central platform on which CKL's entire product portfolio depends. Comparable as the ecosystem incumbent whose platform direction, pricing, and native feature roadmap shape CKL's opportunity and risk.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CKL Software social profiles
Digital presenceCKL Software compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
CKL Software financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CKL Software leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CKL Software funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CKL Software 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 CKL Software
What does CKL Software do?
CKL Software develops and licenses add-on applications for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central focused on financial accounting, controlling, inventory valuation, and subscription billing. The product suite includes Kostenrechnung 365, bill-to 365, Bewertung 365, Costing Method 365, Lagerwert 365, and Planner 365, sold to mid-sized manufacturing firms and larger international trading companies through a global partner channel.
Is CKL Software a public or private company?
CKL Software is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CKL Software founded?
CKL Software was founded in 1997. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CKL Software based?
CKL Software is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does CKL Software make money?
One revenue line is on record: software Licenses/Subscriptions.
Who are CKL Software's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Sana Commerce and LS Retail. Direct peers are Lanham Associates, Nolan Business Solutions, Insight Works, Simplanova, Continia Software and To-Increase. ArcherPoint is listed as an others. Microsoft is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CKL Software have an API?
No public API is recorded for CKL Software.
What industry is CKL Software in?
CKL Software's product category is ERP Add-on Software for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAPAD, Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) & Document Automation. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.