What ECLASS e.V. does

ECLASS e.V. is a German nonprofit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Cologne and founded in 2000 that develops and maintains the ECLASS data standard for goods and services. The standard is a 4-level hierarchical classification system (Segment, Main Group, Group, Commodity Class) with standardized properties, value lists, and IRDI identifiers that enable unambiguous, cross-language product data exchange. It is anchored on international standards including DIN 4002, IEC 61360, and ISO 13584 and is positioned as the only globally distributed data standard for goods and services that is ISO/IEC norm-compliant, in use across 80+ countries. The organization operates a lean central team of 8 at headquarters while leveraging a global network of partner-managed regional offices for localized sales and support.

The core product, the ECLASS Standard, is monetized primarily through licensing: a Single License for a specific release (from €700) or a Concordance License covering all releases, update files, and Webservice access (from €440/year, minimum 3-year term). Supplemental revenue comes from Webservice API certificates (€250–400/year), Update Files for release transitions (from €570), resold PROLIST standardized property lists (€3,500 one-time), and partner-distributed tools including ClassCOCKPIT SAP/Search (D&TS GmbH) and e-proVIEW (e-pro CAT GmbH). Distribution combines a direct online shop with regional offices in Germany, Austria, China, South Korea, the USA, Switzerland, Portugal/Spain, and the Nordics, plus implementation partners such as BASF IT Services.

ECLASS serves industrial manufacturers, enterprise software users (especially SAP/ERP environments), B2B e-commerce and catalog providers, and companies preparing for EU Digital Product Passport compliance. Releases are published annually, with Release 16.0 in November 2025 as the latest general-availability version and Release 17.0 Alpha in community testing as of June 2026. Recent strategic emphasis has expanded into semantic-web interoperability (RDF/SHACL/SPARQL technical specifications), AI-assisted cross-standard mapping (ETIM–ECLASS), and DPP-focused content and tooling, positioning the standard as a foundational layer for industrial data exchange and digital product transparency.

Name

ECLASS e.V.

Legal name

ECLASS e.V.

Website

https://eclass.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ECLASS e.V. is a German nonprofit that develops and maintains the ECLASS data standard, an ISO/IEC-norm-compliant 4-level classification system for goods and services used across 80+ countries. It serves industrial manufacturers, SAP/ERP users, and DPP-regulated firms via licensing, an online shop, and a global partner-managed office network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Product Data Classification Standard

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Standards & Interoperability (CEDS, Ed-Fi, IMS) (EDADAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Supply Chain, Logistics & Procurement Certifications (EDAAANAK), Information Governance, Records Management & eDiscovery Compliance (EDABADAF)

Keywords

• Product data standard
• Classification system
• Master data management
• Data exchange standards
• Industrial classification standard

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ECLASS Single License: One-time license purchase for a specific ECLASS release version in all available languages and export formats. Provides access to that particular release.
2. ECLASS Concordance License: License for all ECLASS releases and update files, including ECLASS Webservice access. Minimum runtime of 3 years with annual billing.
3. ECLASS Webservice Certificate: Authentication certificate for accessing ECLASS Webservice API. Available as 1-year subscription (€400/year) or 3-year minimum subscription (€250/year).
4. ECLASS Update Files: Transaction update files for upgrading from one ECLASS release to another. Pricing varies by version, starting from €570 for 15.0 to 16.0 update.
5. PROLIST Lists of Properties: Standardized property lists from PROLIST INTERNATIONAL e.V. Sold as one-time purchase for €3,500. PROLIST members receive free access.
6. Software Tools - e-proVIEW: Offline search software for ECLASS classification at €100 per license. Provided by partner e-pro CAT GmbH.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ECLASS e.V. develops and maintains the ECLASS data standard — an ISO/IEC-norm-compliant, 4-level hierarchical classification system (Segment, Main Group, Group, Commodity Class) with associated properties, values, and value lists used to describe goods and services in a standardized, machine-readable format. The association licenses access to the standard through single-release and concordance licenses, sells update files for migrating between annual releases, and provides authenticated RESTful API access via the ECLASS Webservice.

Product overview

ECLASS e.V. offers a portfolio of products centered on the ECLASS Standard — a globally distributed, ISO/IEC-norm-compliant data standard for classifying and describing goods and services using a 4-level hierarchical classification system with associated properties, values, and value lists. The core product is accessed via two license types: ECLASS Single License (one specific release, from €700) and ECLASS Concordance License (all releases, update files, and Webservice access, from €440/year). The ECLASS Webservice Certificate (€250–400/year) provides API authentication for programmatic access. Supporting products include: ECLASS Update Files for migrating between releases (priced from €570); e-proVIEW offline search software (€100, by e-pro CAT GmbH); ClassCOCKPIT SAP and ClassCOCKPIT Search tools for ECLASS classification within SAP environments (by D&TS GmbH); PROLIST Lists of Properties (€3,500 one-time, by PROLIST INTERNATIONAL e.V.); and cross-standard mappings such as ECLASS–UNSPSC–GPC–CPV and ProDOK NG–ECLASS ADVANCED (included with license). The standard is published annually, with Release 16.0 (Nov 2025) being the current version.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECLASS Standard Globally distributed, ISO/IEC-norm-compliant data standard for goods and services: a 4-level classification system (Segment, Main Group, Group, Commodity Class) with associated properties, values, and value lists used to classify and describe products in a standardized, machine-readable format. Used by industrial manufacturers, ERP users, and B2B e-commerce operators in 80+ countries.
• ECLASS Single License

Quantifiable outcome

• Standardized product data exchange across supply chain
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• D&TS GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerD&TS GmbH manages ECLASS Office Portugal and Spain and provides ClassCOCKPIT SAP implementation and support services. They assist with deployment, installation, customizing options, and system landscape settings.
• BASF IT Services GmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOfficial ECLASS cooperation partner providing an SAP Competence Center for ECLASS association members and interested parties. Offers consultation and support services for implementing ECLASS in SAP systems.
• e-pro CAT GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides e-proVIEW offline search software for ECLASS classification. Software available at €100 per license. ECLASS members receive discounted rates.
• Rösberg Engineering GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides implementation services for ProDOK NG to ECLASS ADVANCED mapping. Contact for integrating mapping into user master data records.
• morphe*minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office Nordics from Grefrath, Germany. Provides local sales and support for Nordic region. Contact: Mr. Stefan Willms.
• Paradine GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office Austria covering Southern and Eastern European countries from Vienna. Contact: Mr. Reinhard Pohn.
• RKWCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office China in Beijing. Contact: Mr. Dirk Machentanz.
• TÜV SÜD Korea Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office South Korea in Seoul. Contact: Mr. Diesilva Sagaya.
• Stibo Systems Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office USA in Atlanta, Georgia. Contact: Mr. John Allen Flynt.
• Class.Ing Ingenieur-PartnerschaftminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManages ECLASS Office Switzerland in Zug. Contact: Mr. Frank Scherenschlich.
• PROLIST INTERNATIONAL e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarmonization partnership providing PROLIST Lists of Properties (NAMUR NE100) through ECLASS shop. PROLIST members receive free access. ECLASS adopted PROLIST block structure since version 7.0.
• ETIM InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term cooperation with ETIM (International electrical engineering) for interoperability between ECLASS and ETIM classification standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• GPC (Global Product Classification): GPC is GS1's product classification taxonomy for consumer goods and retail. It is comparable to ECLASS as both provide product categorization used in B2B catalogs and supply chain data exchange, with ECLASS mapping its classes directly to GPC.
• ETIM International: ETIM International is the leading classification standard for technical products, particularly in the electrical and HVAC sectors. It is directly comparable to ECLASS as both organizations maintain product classification taxonomies used in B2B data exchange, with documented cooperation on interoperability mapping.
• UNSPSC: UNSPSC is the United Nations Standard Products and Services Code, a widely adopted product and services classification taxonomy. It directly competes with ECLASS for procurement and supply chain classification, and the two are formally cross-mapped in ECLASS's mapping table.
• PROLIST INTERNATIONAL e.V. PROLIST INTERNATIONAL e.V. develops the NAMUR NE100 standardized lists of properties used in process automation. It is directly comparable to ECLASS as both serve industrial master data standardization, with ECLASS distributing PROLIST property lists through its shop and adopting PROLIST block structure since version 7.0.

Broad incumbents

• CPV (Common Procurement Vocabulary): CPV is the European Union's public procurement classification vocabulary maintained for public tendering. It is comparable to ECLASS as both classify goods and services for procurement workflows, and the ECLASS-UNSPSC-GPC-CPV mapping table includes cross-references between the two.
• IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission): IEC is the international standards body for electrotechnology. It is comparable to ECLASS because ECLASS's data model is built on IEC 61360, and the two cooperate on common semantics for product descriptions through the COMDO project.
• ISO (International Organization for Standardization): ISO is the international standards body whose standards underpin ECLASS (ISO 13584, ISO 8000). It is comparable as both operate as standards-setting organizations addressing product data and classification, with ECLASS aligning to ISO frameworks rather than competing commercially.
• GS1: GS1 is the global standards organization for barcodes, product identifiers, and supply chain visibility. It is comparable to ECLASS as both underpin product data exchange in B2B commerce, and ECLASS publishes a technical specification for transmission in GS1 XML CIN 3.1 format.

Others

• Stibo Systems: Stibo Systems is a master data management (MDM) software vendor that manages ECLASS's US regional office. It is comparable as an ecosystem enabler — it operationalizes ECLASS classifications within enterprise MDM platforms rather than directly competing as a classification standard.
• BASF IT Services GmbH: BASF IT Services GmbH operates ECLASS's SAP Competence Center and is an official cooperation partner. It is comparable as an ecosystem implementation partner that operationalizes ECLASS classifications within SAP landscapes for large enterprises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ECLASS_eV
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ7Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eclassstandard

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 ECLASS e.V.