Pratica

What Pratica does

Pratica S.R.L. is an Italian private limited company (S.R.L.) headquartered in Turin, founded in 1979 by researchers from Politecnico di Torino, operating as a hardware and software design firm with a MIUR-registered scientific research laboratory. The company's core commercial offering is a proprietary Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Real-Time Localization System (RTLS) achieving 2cm to 30cm positioning accuracy in indoor and outdoor environments, with configurable update rates up to 100Hz and approximately 500m² coverage per three-sensor cluster. The technology stack combines UWB TDoA/trilateration, RTK-GPS differential positioning, ROS-based autonomous navigation, Time-of-Flight anti-collision radar, and camera-based image recognition for pallet/shelf detection in warehouse automation use cases. Supporting research services cover post-quantum cryptography, VoIP echo cancellation, secure voice communications, and 3D environment scanning using laser and omnidirectional camera fusion.

The company operates as a boutique B2B engineering services and custom R&D provider rather than a scaled product company. Revenue mechanics are project-based, quote-driven, and delivered through the MIUR laboratory as third-party research, custom hardware/firmware design, embedded systems development, VHDL programmable chip design, real-time Linux software, and ongoing maintenance/training. Target segments include industrial automation (primary), logistics and warehousing (primary), healthcare and hospitals (primary), retail/commercial centers (secondary), and research institutions (primary). Distribution is direct via enterprise consulting engagements and academic collaborations, with limited public marketing presence. The firm has no external institutional investors, no subsidiaries, and a headcount of 1-10 employees.

Historical context includes the patented PDS20 Universal Development System (1984-2000), which generated annual revenues exceeding 1 billion lire on the Italian market before being discontinued due to insufficient capital for global commercialization. Since 2000, the company has pivoted from proprietary product sales toward research services, while layering on the RTLS and AGV navigation product lines. The firm is privately held by its founders and key technical personnel, including Prof. Angelo Serra (former Politecnico di Torino professor) serving as scientific laboratory manager and technical lead.

Name

Pratica

Legal name

Pratica S.R.L.

Website

https://praticasrl.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pratica S.R.L. is a Turin-based Italian R&D boutique founded in 1979 by Politecnico di Torino researchers, providing custom embedded systems design and a proprietary UWB-based RTLS product line for industrial automation, logistics, and healthcare clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Torino

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. R&D Consulting Services: Project consulting and research services conducted through the MIUR-registered laboratory. Provides studies and third-party research using specialized research facilities.
2. Hardware and Firmware Development: Custom hardware and firmware design services for embedded systems, microprocessor systems, automation, robotics, telecommunications, and electronic board testing.
3. Software Development: Software design services including base software for Linux operating systems on PC and embedded boards, real-time software development for robot controllers, and embedded firmware development.
4. Real-Time Localization Systems: Customized RTLS technology solutions for positioning and tracking of assets and personnel in indoor and outdoor environments.
5. Training Services: Professional training services for clients on the company's developed technologies and systems.
6. Maintenance and Operational Support: Ongoing maintenance and operational assistance services for delivered systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Pratica S.R.L. provides custom hardware and software design, embedded systems development, and applied ICT research services for industrial clients, centered on a proprietary Ultra Wide Band (UWB) Real-Time Localization System (RTLS) and an Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) navigation platform integrating RTLS and RTK-GPS. The company also delivers complementary services including project consulting, patent design support, training, and ongoing maintenance and operational support.

Product overview

Pratica S.R.L. offers a portfolio centered on Real-Time Localization Systems (RTLS) using Ultra Wide Band technology for precise indoor/outdoor positioning of assets and personnel. The core RTLS product provides 2cm-30cm accuracy with configurable update rates. Supporting research activities include AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) navigation systems integrating RTLS and RTK-GPS, image recognition systems for automated pallet handling, and specialized research services in post-quantum cryptography, echo cancellation, and 3D environment scanning. The company also historically developed the PDS20 microprocessor development system (1984-2000) and provides embedded systems design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RTLS - Real-Time Localization System Ultra Wide Band (UWB) based real-time positioning system for indoor and outdoor environments, offering accuracy from 2cm to 30cm depending on configuration. Consists of sensors, battery-powered tags, and a gateway with web server interface for real-time map visualization, configuration, statistics, and alarm management. Intended for enterprise customers needing precise asset and personnel tracking.
• AGV Navigation System Autonomous guided vehicle (AGV) navigation system using RTLS indoor positioning and RTK-GPS outdoor positioning, integrated with ROS framework. Achieves approximately 10cm indoor accuracy and 7cm outdoor accuracy, with SLAM-based obstacle avoidance and hybrid indoor/outdoor operation capability for warehouse and logistics applications.
• Pallet/Shelf Recognition System Camera-based image recognition system for detecting pallets and shelves during AGV loading/unloading operations. Provides X, distance, and angle data for precise robot alignment and automated cargo handling in warehouse environments.
• Post-Quantum Cryptography Research Service Applied research service for studying and implementing post-quantum encryption algorithms to secure internet applications against future quantum computing threats. Provided as consulting and research services to enterprise clients requiring advanced data security.
• Echo Canceller System Hardware-software echo cancellation system designed for use during online conferences, delivered as a research service to enterprise clients seeking improved audio quality in VoIP and conferencing applications.
• WebScan 3D Environment Scanning Prototype system for visualization and processing of multimodal data related to surface structure of outdoor urban and rural environments, acquired using 3D laser scanner and omnidirectional camera, with automatic detection of structures of interest. Delivered as a research service.
• Secure Voice (VoIP over Wireless Networks) Research service for VoIP systems enabling audio transmission over wireless IP networks, focusing on communication quality over mobile networks and secure encrypted communication for enterprise and institutional clients.
• Custom Hardware and Firmware Development Services Custom hardware and firmware design services for embedded systems, microprocessor systems, automation, robotics, telecommunications, and electronic board testing. Delivered as consulting projects to enterprise clients.
• Custom Software Development Services Software design services including base software for Linux operating systems on PC and embedded boards, real-time software development for robot controllers, and embedded firmware development for enterprise clients.
• R&D Consulting and MIUR Laboratory Research Services Project consulting and research services conducted through the MIUR-registered laboratory. Provides studies and third-party research using specialized research facilities including VHDL chip design, real-time Linux development, and embedded systems research for enterprise and institutional clients.
• Training and Maintenance Services Professional training services for clients on the company's developed technologies and systems, along with ongoing maintenance and operational assistance for delivered systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Localization accuracy up to 2cm in indoor environments
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Politecnico di TorinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research collaboration and talent recruitment. Founded by researchers from Politecnico di Torino in 1979, with ongoing collaboration for project teams and professional selection.
• FondazioneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization (gtfondazione.org) involved in technology research and development initiatives.
• QonsultminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner for technology implementation and business solutions.
• Polo Innovazione ICTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICT Innovation Cluster partner (poloinnovazioneict.org) for collaborative innovation in information and communication technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sewio Networks: Czech-based vendor of UWB-based real-time location systems for industrial and sports applications. Directly competes with Pratica's RTLS offering in the same target market of indoor positioning and asset tracking.
• Nanotron Technologies (Sensata): German RTLS provider (now part of Sensata) specializing in UWB-based asset tracking for industrial and healthcare use cases. Overlaps with Pratica's RTLS product offering and customer segments.
• Ubisense: UK-based RTLS provider using UWB and other technologies for industrial manufacturing and logistics. Competes with Pratica in the precision indoor localization market.
• Pozyx: Belgian UWB RTLS provider offering positioning systems and developer kits. Overlaps with Pratica's RTLS business and addresses similar industrial automation use cases.
• Quuppa: Finnish UWB RTLS company providing centimeter-level positioning solutions for healthcare, sports, and industrial customers. A direct competitor to Pratica's RTLS product line with overlapping accuracy claims.

Broad incumbents

• Geek+: Global mobile robotics and smart logistics company providing AMRs and warehouse automation. Overlaps with Pratica's AGV navigation business at the warehouse automation use case layer.
• Zebra Technologies: Large US-based enterprise asset intelligence vendor with broad RTLS, RFID, and barcode solutions. While not specializing exclusively in UWB RTLS, Zebra's MotionWorks portfolio competes for the same enterprise asset-tracking RFPs.
• Omron: Global industrial automation incumbent offering mobile robots (LD series AGVs) and a broad automation portfolio. Competes with Pratica's AGV navigation and embedded automation work as part of a much wider offering.

Emerging players

• Eliko: Estonian RTLS vendor providing UWB-based indoor positioning solutions for healthcare, logistics, and industrial clients. A direct competitor to Pratica in the precision indoor localization space.
• Humatics: US-based precision positioning company using UWB and radar for industrial automation and micrometer-level positioning. Comparable to Pratica in targeting precision-critical industrial use cases.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pratica-srl

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 Pratica