VCE

What VCE does

VCE is a privately held German SaaS company founded in 1994 and headquartered in Dortmund that develops multi-carrier shipping management software for enterprises, third-party logistics providers, and e-commerce businesses. The company's core offering is an API-first, cloud-hosted platform that connects 180+ parcel carriers and freight forwarders with customer-side systems such as ERP, WMS, and online shop platforms (e.g., Shopify), with capacity for up to 100,000 labels per day. The platform is modular: VCE CARMA handles carrier selection, label creation, tracking, and post-purchase communication; VCE FRAME provides freight cost management and invoice verification; VCE LAVES supports fulfillment optimization and inventory management; VCE PERFORM addresses shipping process optimization; VCE VAMOS provides mobile order management; and Shipping Starter offers a plug-and-play tier for small e-commerce merchants. The platform emphasizes a "Made & Hosted in Germany" positioning and holds ISO 27001 certification, targeting data-conscious European customers.

VCE generates revenue through SaaS subscriptions, usage-based per-label pricing, and professional services for system integration and customization. Pricing is quote-based across tiers ranging from the Shipping Starter entry-level product to the full Shipping Platform for enterprise multi-carrier operations, and the company sells primarily through direct enterprise field sales supported by guided demos and free consultations. The company distributes indirectly through carrier and integration partnerships — notably its official DHL Partnership — and co-developed a custom FIEGE First-Mile module with FIEGE Logistik that powers eBay's immediate-shipping service in Germany. Named enterprise customers include Mister Spex (15+ countries), LGI Logistics Group International, BMW, BENTELER, FIEGE, Duvenbeck, BRAX/Leineweber, Meyer & Meyer, and NOSTA Group, spanning fashion/apparel, 3PL/4PL logistics, automotive, industrial manufacturing, and omnichannel retail verticals. The company operates with a small team of 37 employees under sole Managing Director Ingo Strunk, is bootstrapped with no disclosed external funding or ownership changes, and shows no subsidiaries, M&A activity, or public-market presence.

Name

VCE

Legal name

VCE Verkehrslogistik Consulting & Engineering GmbH

Website

https://vce-solutions.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VCE is a German SaaS company providing multi-carrier shipping management software that connects 180+ carriers with ERP, WMS, and e-commerce systems. It serves enterprises, 3PLs, and e-commerce businesses across Europe with modular shipping and fulfillment solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dortmund

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software as a Service (SaaS) Subscription: VCE provides its shipping platform as a cloud-based SaaS solution. Pricing is based on usage tiers from 100 to 100,000 labels per day. The company offers tiered plans starting with Shipping Starter for small e-commerce businesses up to full Shipping Platform for enterprise operations.
2. Per-Label/Transaction Fees: The platform processes shipments with automated label generation and tracks volumes from 100 to 100,000 labels per day, indicating transaction-based pricing tied to shipping volume.
3. Professional Services & Implementation: Implementation services including system integration, customization, and consulting for connecting existing IT infrastructure (ERP, WMS, shop systems) with the VCE platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

VCE provides a cloud-based, multi-carrier shipping software platform that connects 180+ parcel services and freight forwarders, automates label generation, track & trace, returns, and freight cost management. The platform integrates with shops, ERP, and WMS systems via an API-first architecture and is hosted in Germany for enterprise, e-commerce, 3PL/4PL, and omnichannel retail customers shipping from 100 to 100,000 labels per day.

Product overview

VCE Solutions offers a modular shipping software platform with a core Shipping Platform that connects carriers, systems, and shipping data. The product portfolio includes: CARMA (carrier management), FRAME (freight cost management), LAVES (fulfillment/picking optimization), and PERFORM (shipping optimization) as modules, alongside the Shipping Starter and Digital Logistics Platform as product tiers. The platform supports 180+ carriers and integrates with external systems like WMS, ERP, and e-commerce platforms via an API-first approach. Core capabilities include multi-carrier management, automated label generation (up to 100,000 labels per day), track & trace, returns management, and freight cost control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARMA: Multi-Carrier Shipping Platform for carrier management, label creation, tracking, and post-purchase communication.
• FRAME
• LAVES
• Shipping Starter

Products and services

• VCE Shipping Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Scale to 100,000 labels per day without performance issues
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DHLcoreTechnology or IntegrationVCE is an official DHL Partner, displayed with DHL Partner signage. The partnership enables VCE customers to ship via DHL services integrated into the VCE shipping platform.
• FIEGE LogistikcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-developed eBay First Mile shipping service with FIEGE. VCE TMS integrated with custom FIEGE First-Mile module and mobile app for driver operations. Partnership created new shipping logistics for eBay sellers.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationVCE CARMA integrates directly with Shopify for seamless order and shipping data synchronization. Enables Shopify merchants to use VCE multi-carrier shipping features.
• eBaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through FIEGE for eBay Sofortversand (immediate shipping) service. VCE technology enables eBay sellers to ship via FIEGE First Mile network.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Packlink PRO: European multi-carrier shipping platform under Auctane serving SMB shippers. Directly comparable to VCE on the multi-carrier parcel shipping proposition, with particular strength in the Iberian and broader Southern European e-commerce market.
• Shipcloud: German multi-carrier shipping API platform, founded in Hamburg. Very directly comparable to VCE on geography (DACH), product (multi-carrier label API, multi-carrier management, returns), and target customer (German e-commerce and SMB shippers), making it the most direct head-to-head competitor in the home market.
• Easyship: Global multi-carrier shipping and rate-management platform focused on cross-border e-commerce. Comparable to VCE on multi-carrier rate shopping, label generation, and customs documentation, but oriented toward international shippers and cross-border workflows.
• nShift: Nordic-headquartered multi-carrier shipping, TMS, and delivery management platform with deep European enterprise footprint. Direct competitor to VCE in multi-carrier management, carrier rate shopping, and TMS, typically going up-market from VCE's core mid-market segment.
• Sendcloud: European multi-carrier shipping and returns platform serving SMB and mid-market e-commerce shippers. Closest direct competitor to VCE in multi-carrier label generation, returns portals, and shop system integrations, with a stronger pan-European brand but a different historical focus on SMBs vs. VCE's enterprise tilt.
• ShipStation: US-based multi-carrier shipping software owned by Auctane, serving SMB and mid-market e-commerce shippers. Comparable in core functionality (label generation, multi-carrier rate shopping, branded tracking, returns) but with a fundamentally different geographic and customer base focus.
• Metafour: UK-based courier and shipping software provider offering multi-carrier management, TMS, and depot solutions. Direct peer to VCE in the multi-carrier and last-mile space, often competing in the same 3PL and enterprise verticals in Western Europe.
• Shippo: API-first multi-carrier shipping platform serving SMBs, marketplaces, and developers globally. Direct peer to VCE on the API-first architecture and developer integration model, with broader US/global reach and developer-focused GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Descartes Systems Group: Global logistics technology platform offering TMS, routing, customs, and trade compliance software. A much broader incumbent that overlaps with VCE in TMS and shipping functionality but serves a global enterprise customer base and a wider portfolio of adjacent modules.

Emerging players

• ShipHero: WMS provider with built-in multi-carrier shipping and rate shopping for e-commerce brands. Adjacent/emerging peer to VCE with overlapping shipping capabilities, but a WMS-led go-to-market targeting merchants and 3PLs in North America.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vce-verkehrslogistik

Compliance4 records

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 VCE