ArcFlow
ArcFlow AG is a Swiss-founded (1991) enterprise content management vendor selling a proprietary DMS, archiving, and workflow platform to DACH Mittelstand, government, and civil-protection customers via direct sales and a channel partner network across Switzerland, Germany, the Philippines, and Turkey.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersDaniken, Switzerland
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What ArcFlow does
ArcFlow AG is a privately held Swiss enterprise content management and document management software vendor founded on August 1, 1991, and headquartered in Däniken, Switzerland, with wholly-owned subsidiary ARCFLOW GmbH in Rödermark, Germany. The company develops and sells the ArcFlow DMS, a document management, archiving, and workflow system built on a proprietary three-database architecture (application, preview/thumbnail, and encrypted BLOB), with dedicated server components (Job-Server, Office-Server, Index-Server), automatic full-text indexing using the FineReader OCR engine, hot-standby high availability, and extensive integration interfaces (API, Script-API, COM, ARC socket control, ODBC, WIA/TWAIN, printer driver). It serves a long-tail of mid-sized German and Swiss Mittelstand companies plus selected government and civil-protection customers (e.g., Unfallversicherung Stadt Zürich, Gemeinde Lostorf, AMB), with additional distribution into the Philippines via CPL Philippines and Turkey via Monitor Digital. Alongside the DMS, ArcFlow sells ZISOFT-Web, a specialized civil protection / population protection (Bevölkerungsschutz) software deployed across Swiss cantonal civil protection agencies and German civil protection, and an Individualsoftware line for bespoke customer development.
ArcFlow monetizes primarily through a Concurrent User licensing model (only simultaneously active users count, all functions included), multi-year subscription contracts, annual maintenance and support, and implementation/customization services, with pricing quoted privately rather than published. Go-to-market is sales-led and consultative: direct sales forces in Switzerland and Germany, supplemented by a recruiting channel network of regional resellers, system integrators, and international distributors (CPL Philippines for APAC, Monitor Digital for Turkey, PCCI for Philippine institutional access, Vectorsoft as Premium Partner in Germany). The company actively recruits new channel partners and uses its own DMS-Needs Self-Test tool plus XING community and German-language trade press for lead generation. Compliance certifications (TÜV-certified archiving, GoBD, EHUG, GDPdU, AO §146/147) and 30+ years of operational history are positioned as primary credibility markers for regulated mid-market buyers.
ArcFlow firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ArcFlow
- Legal name
- ARCFLOW AG
- Website
- https://arcflow.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ArcFlow AG is a Swiss-founded (1991) enterprise content management vendor selling a proprietary DMS, archiving, and workflow platform to DACH Mittelstand, government, and civil-protection customers via direct sales and a channel partner network across Switzerland, Germany, the Philippines, and Turkey.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ArcFlow industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Document Management Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Suites (HDAEAGAB)
Keywords
Where ArcFlow is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Daniken
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
ArcFlow business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software License (Concurrent User Model): ARCFLOW is licensed under a Concurrent User model where only simultaneously logged-in users are counted. All functions are included in the license. The license is delivered via hardware dongle (parallel port or USB). This is the primary revenue stream.
- Implementation and Customization Services: ARCFLOW provides individual customization and implementation services, adapting the system to customer-specific requirements. The reference cases show rapid deployment (e.g., MSG deployed within one week).
- Annual Maintenance and Support: Ongoing software updates, support, and maintenance are provided, with a support team reachable Monday to Friday 8:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00.
- ZISOFT Civil Protection Software: ZISOFT-Web is a civil protection software covering Swiss cantonal civil protection agencies, regional civil protection organizations, and German civil protection. It is sold alongside ARCFLOW as a separate product line.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Concurrent User License - All functions included |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
ArcFlow product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ArcFlow develops and sells ARCFLOW, a document management, archiving, and workflow system (DMS/ECM) that combines full-text indexing, automatic document classification, revision-safe encrypted storage, and process automation. The portfolio also includes ZISOFT-Web, a specialized civil protection and population protection software for Swiss and German authorities, and Individualsoftware, custom software development services for clients with specialized requirements.
Product overview
ArcFlow offers a unified enterprise content management portfolio centered on its ARCFLOW document management system, which combines three core components—document management, archiving, and workflow—into a single integrated platform. The product range includes the primary ARCFLOW DMS for general enterprise document handling, ZISOFT-Web as a specialized civil defense and population protection software solution, and Individualsoftware for custom development projects. Key modules such as ARCFLOW Drive (virtual network drive access) and the ARCFLOW.NEXT web client extend the platform's accessibility. The architecture is built on a three-database model comprising the application database, preview database, and BLOB database, with server services including Job-Server, Office-Server, and Index-Server. Licensing follows a Concurrent User model based on simultaneous user count.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ARCFLOW DMS Enterprise content management and document management system providing document management, archiving, and workflow functionality. Features automatic full-text indexing via OCR, revision-safe encrypted storage, workflow automation with escalation and substitution rules, and integration with ERP/CRM systems. Targets mid-sized German-speaking companies and government agencies needing GoBD/EHUG-compliant document handling.
- ZISOFT-Web Civil protection and population protection software managing materials, shelters (PSK), sirens, buildings, events, and cultural property protection for Swiss cantonal civil protection offices, regional civil protection organizations, and German civil protection authorities.
- Individualsoftware (Custom Software Development) Custom software solutions developed individually for customers with specific requirements beyond the standard ARCFLOW product portfolio, including bespoke adaptations and implementation services.
Quantifiable outcome
- Document search time drastically reduced — documents found within seconds or fractions of seconds
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use ArcFlow
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
ArcFlow technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability6 records
Feature10 records
ArcFlow partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)minorARCFLOW entered into a cooperation with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to intensify contacts and market presence in the Philippines, leveraging PCCI's network of businesses.
- CPL Philippines Inc.coreCPL Philippines Inc., a subsidiary of CPL GmbH (Hamburg), one of the leading solution providers for distribution and finance systems in the Asia-Pacific region, serves as the distributor for ARCFLOW in the Philippines. The country is the second-largest outsourcing destination after India, with strong economic growth driving DMS demand. CPL covers Luzon (the largest region including Manila). ARCFLOW views the Philippines as a strategic springboard for further Asian markets.
- compass GmbH (com*pass*)minorARCFLOW expanded its channel network by partnering with Mainz-based software house com*pass*, a publisher-specialized ERP provider. com*pass* began distributing ARCFLOW as part of their solution portfolio for the publishing industry.
- VectorsoftcoreVectorsoft is listed as a Premium Partner of ARCFLOW, indicating a close technology and go-to-market partnership. The partnership provides mutual benefit in serving the German-speaking DMS market.
- Monitor Digital Ltd.minorMonitor Digital Ltd. represents ARCFLOW in Turkey, operating from Bursa. The company handles sales and distribution of ARCFLOW DMS solutions in the Turkish market.
- ARCFLOW Inc. (Philippines)minorARCFLOW Inc. operates as the company's own office in Davao City, Philippines, with a local phone number (+63 918 520 2500), supporting the indirect distribution model in the region.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ArcFlow competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- windream: German DMS/ECM vendor (Bochum-based) with comparable product positioning in document management, archiving, and workflow for DACH mid-market. Smaller scale than DocuWare/ELO but directly competing for similar Mittelstand customers with similar compliance and integration value propositions.
- d.velop: German DMS/ECM provider serving mid-market and enterprise in DACH region. Directly comparable in target segment, ECM functionality, and SAP/ERP integration focus. Significantly larger scale and partner ecosystem make it a primary competitive threat to ArcFlow.
- ELO Digital Office: Stuttgart-based ECM/DMS vendor with strong DACH footprint targeting mid-market and enterprise customers. Overlaps directly with ArcFlow on document management, archiving, workflow, and integration with ERP systems like SAP. Comparable product depth and similar compliance positioning.
- enaio (OPTIMAL SYSTEMS): Berlin-based ECM/DMS vendor with a comparable horizontal mid-market proposition in DACH. Offers document management, archiving, workflow, and integration capabilities similar to ArcFlow, with stronger market share in German-speaking public sector.
- DocuWare: German-headquartered document management and workflow platform serving the same DACH mid-market. Direct competitor with cloud and on-premise offerings, similar ECM/workflow functionality, and comparable target customer (Mittelstand). Both compete on ease of use, compliance, and ERP integration.
- Fabasoft: Austrian ECM/DMS vendor with strong presence in DACH public sector and mid-market. Comparable product in document management, archiving, and workflow with similar compliance/government appeal. Provides cloud and on-premise deployment options that ArcFlow is only beginning to match.
- M-Files: Finnish intelligent information management platform competing directly in the mid-market DMS space with metadata-driven approach and cloud-native delivery. Increasingly active in DACH market via partners; represents the modern, cloud-first challenger to legacy DMS vendors like ArcFlow.
Emerging players
- ABBYY: Intelligent document processing (IDP) and OCR technology vendor whose FineReader Engine is used by ArcFlow for text recognition. ABBYY's growing IDP/cloud offerings increasingly compete with ArcFlow's OCR-based capture and full-text indexing capabilities, particularly in automation-led DMS use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Hyland (OnBase / Alfresco): US-based content services platform with strong European presence through OnBase and Alfresco. Competes with ArcFlow in regulated industries (insurance, healthcare, government) on document management, archiving, and workflow — typically at larger enterprise scale but increasingly moving downstream into mid-market.
- OpenText (Documentum / Content Suite): Canadian-headquartered enterprise information management giant offering ECM, DMS, and content services at enterprise scale. While targeting larger customers than ArcFlow's Mittelstand focus, OpenText competes for the same compliance-driven, archive-heavy use cases in regulated industries and large government entities in DACH.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ArcFlow social profiles
Digital presenceArcFlow compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
ArcFlow financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ArcFlow leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
ArcFlow subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
ArcFlow funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ArcFlow 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 ArcFlow
What does ArcFlow do?
ArcFlow develops and sells ARCFLOW, a document management, archiving, and workflow system (DMS/ECM) that combines full-text indexing, automatic document classification, revision-safe encrypted storage, and process automation. The portfolio also includes ZISOFT-Web, a specialized civil protection and population protection software for Swiss and German authorities, and Individualsoftware, custom software development services for clients with specialized requirements.
Is ArcFlow a public or private company?
ArcFlow is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ArcFlow founded?
ArcFlow was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ArcFlow based?
ArcFlow is headquartered in Daniken, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does ArcFlow make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Software License (Concurrent User Model) is the primary driver. The others are implementation and Customization Services, annual Maintenance and Support and ZISOFT Civil Protection Software.
Who are ArcFlow's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are windream, d.velop, ELO Digital Office, enaio (OPTIMAL SYSTEMS), DocuWare, Fabasoft and M-Files. ABBYY is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Hyland (OnBase / Alfresco) and OpenText (Documentum / Content Suite).
Does ArcFlow have an API?
Yes. ARCFLOW provides a comprehensive API (Application Programming Interface) that enables the connection of other programs to the system. Through the Script-API, users with administration rights can write procedures that can be stored at different points within ARCFLOW. The API provides access to most API functions and many procedure commands of ARCFLOW's underlying programming language. The COM-Schnittstelle (Component Object Model) enables information exchange and use of functions between different programs - for example, opening and printing documents with Microsoft Word. The ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) interface allows data exchange between programs and databases, enabling additional information to be read from other databases for processing. The Application Remote Control (ARC) interface allows ARCFLOW to be fully controlled from external systems via socket connections.
What industry is ArcFlow in?
ArcFlow's product category is Document Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAEAGAB, Enterprise Content Management (ECM) Suites. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.