T3

What T3 does

T3 GmbH is a German solutions provider specializing in Industrial Knowledge and Information Management for the machinery and plant engineering sector. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Erlangen, the firm builds AI-ready knowledge infrastructures on top of the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform, combining semantic technologies, knowledge graphs, modular content management compliant with the iiRDS standard, and generative-AI assistants to make technical documentation, product data, and service knowledge systematically usable across the enterprise. Its flagship offerings include the T3 Knowledge Loop framework, T3 Industrial Knowledge Architecture, Empolis Buddy (a Graph-RAG GenAI chatbot), Knowledge Forge for AI-based knowledge extraction, Smart Content Delivery, Smart Maintenance, and Intelligent Worker Assistance, with an emerging product line in agentic AI workflows, digital twins, and digital product passports.

The company's revenue model is a mix of professional services — consulting and strategy, knowledge engineering, system integration, and information management — together with software reselling and long-term support for partner platforms including Empolis, Quanos Content Solutions (SCHEMA ST4), Tarsus, and plusmeta. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific; no public pricing is disclosed. Go-to-market is consulting-led, enterprise field sales supported by an active presence at technical-communication and industrial-service conferences (tekom, Quanos Connect, EMPOLIS:EXCHANGE, LEARNTEC) and co-presentation slots with named industrial customers.

T3 serves a roster of DACH-based enterprise industrial customers including Siemens, KUKA, ZEISS, Bosch Rexroth, WOLF, Washtec, Von Ardenne, and SLM, with engagements spanning technical documentation modernization, service-information platforms, maintenance digitalization, and knowledge-transfer programs. The firm operates exclusively in the DACH region with no disclosed international expansion, is family-managed with no external investors, and has received multiple industry awards including Comenius-EduMedia recognition in 2019, 2022, and 2023 and Empolis Top Partner Awards in 2022 and 2023.

Name

T3

Legal name

T3 GmbH

Website

https://t3.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

T3 GmbH is a German IT solutions provider specializing in Industrial Knowledge and Information Management for the machinery and plant engineering sector, building AI-ready knowledge infrastructures on the Empolis platform for enterprise clients including Siemens, KUKA, and ZEISS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Erlangen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consulting & Strategy: T3 provides strategic consulting for technical knowledge and information architectures, including business case development, target vision, and decision-making support. Engagement spans from initial strategy conception through implementation.
2. Knowledge Engineering: T3 models metadata, ontologies, and knowledge graphs, and prepares technical knowledge using AI-assisted methods so that content is structured, usable, and processable.
3. System Integration: T3 connects CCMS, PIM, ERP, PLM, IoT, and content delivery systems into seamless content pipelines — media-break-free, automated, and cross-system.
4. Information Management: T3 creates Single Source of Truth structures for technical information, orchestrating modularization, variant management, governance, and content supply chains across the entire product lifecycle.
5. Reselling & Support: T3 resells and provides long-term support for Empolis Industrial Knowledge, SCHEMA ST4, and other partner platforms, with deep domain understanding for machinery and plant engineering.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

T3 GmbH is a solutions provider for Industrial Knowledge & Information Management in the machinery and plant engineering sector. The company builds AI-based knowledge infrastructures on top of the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform, combining semantic technologies, knowledge graphs, iiRDS-compliant Smart Content Delivery, Graph RAG-based GenAI assistants (Empolis Buddy), and integrated Knowledge Hubs. T3 also resells and supports partner platforms (Empolis, Quanos SCHEMA ST4, plusmeta, Tarsus) and delivers accompanying professional services in consulting, knowledge engineering, system integration, and information management.

Product overview

T3 is a solution provider for Industrial Knowledge & Information Management in mechanical and plant engineering, offering a comprehensive portfolio built on the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform. The core portfolio centers on the T3 Knowledge Loop framework and T3 Industrial Knowledge Architecture, which unify technical product information and technical know-how through AI-supported semantic approaches. Key products include Content Delivery and Smart Content Delivery (central knowledge portals with AI-powered search and semantic linking), Empolis Buddy (GenAI assistant for secure, traceable AI responses), and Knowledge Graph (semantic integration hub connecting documentation, product data, and service knowledge). The extended portfolio spans Knowledge Management solutions (including Knowledge Forge for AI-based extraction, AI-based Micro Learning, and Community Knowledge), Technical Documentation tools (AI-based Automation, Smart Content Management, Component Content Management, Model Driven Documentation), Data Integration (Content Pipelines, Interfaces), AI Assistants & IoT Integration (Intelligent Worker Assistance, Smart Maintenance, Smart Troubleshooting, IoT-integrated Information, Agentic AI Workflows, Digital Twin, Digital Product Passport, Digital Nameplate), eLearning (T3 Learning Content Manager for SCHEMA ST4), and Trusted AI. T3 also provides professional services including Consulting & Strategy, Knowledge Engineering, System Integration, Information Management, and Reselling & Support, working with platform partners including Empolis, Quanos, plusmeta, and Tarsus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• T3 Smart Content Delivery: A solution for intelligent content delivery and knowledge distribution in industrial environments.
• T3 Smart Assist
• T3 Learning Content Manager
• T3 Knowledge Loop

Products and services

• Content Delivery (Empolis Industrial Knowledge Knowledge Hub) Central knowledge hub for industrial enterprises built on the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform, providing AI-supported semantic search, smart content linking, intelligent rights management, and offline-capable mobile access across R&D, shopfloor, service, support, sales and customers.
• Smart Content Delivery Advanced content delivery using Smart Content units with fine-grained semantic linking via the iiRDS standard, eliminating document searching by providing context-matched content linked to the user's work situation, including Topic Mode for navigating document context.
• Empolis Buddy (GenAI Assistant) GenAI chatbot that delivers secure, traceable, and trustworthy answers grounded in the customer's own Knowledge Graph via Graph RAG, supporting voice and chat input/output and offering round-the-clock self-service for customers and employees via an API-first architecture.
• Knowledge Graph (Semantische Datenintegration) Semantic integration hub that connects technical documentation, product data, and service knowledge from CCMS, PIM, ERP, PLM, CRM, and IoT systems into a unified Knowledge Graph, providing the AI-ready context layer for Smart RAG, smart content, and trusted AI assistants.
• Smart Maintenance End-to-end digitalization of industrial maintenance processes using AI-based extraction of maintenance information from supplier documentation, dynamic generation of maintenance plans, checklists, and automated determination of time requirements and spare parts through the semantic knowledge model.
• Smart Troubleshooting UI-integrated fault resolution solution that links error descriptions and solutions directly to machine control, panel, and remote service interfaces, providing structured diagnosis via decision trees and semantically linked content for tools, spare parts, and manuals.
• Intelligent Worker Assistance (Empolis Workplace App) Mobile, offline-capable knowledge platform with QR-code scanning for context-specific machine info, collaborative chat for problem solving, smart checklists for standard operating procedures, and integrated Empolis Buddy assistant with voice recognition, targeting field service technicians and shopfloor workers.
• Headless & Integrated Knowledge Hub Headless knowledge hub architecture with REST-capable, open API design that integrates the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform into enterprise systems (SharePoint, Confluence, MS Teams, Salesforce, ProAlpha, Google Drive, Dropbox), enabling custom apps, chatbots, machine control integration, and digital platforms.
• Knowledge Forge (KI-basierte Knowledge Extraction) AI-based knowledge extraction tool that identifies domain knowledge from unstructured sources (tickets, documents, databases) and auto-generates structured knowledge articles with built-in GDPR-compliant anonymization, supporting both bulk import and single-article creation.
• T3 Learning Content Manager (eLearning) SCHEMA ST4 plugin for creating automatically dubbed, multimedia, interactive eLearnings with QTI-compliant exercises, SCORM-compliant training materials, and integrated didactic design, supporting qualification, onboarding and knowledge transfer.
• T3 Industrial Knowledge Architecture Comprehensive semantic foundation combining technical product information and technical know-how, AI-supported to create an end-to-end knowledge layer that makes technical knowledge AI-ready and available system-wide for humans, machines, and systems.
• Consulting & Strategy Strategic consulting services for technical knowledge and information architectures, including business case development, realistic target visions, and decision-making support for industrial enterprises building AI-ready knowledge infrastructure.
• Knowledge Engineering Modeling of metadata, ontologies, and knowledge graphs using AI-assisted methods to prepare and structure technical knowledge so it is usable and processable across the enterprise.
• System Integration Integration services connecting CCMS, PIM, ERP, PLM, IoT, and content delivery systems into seamless, media-break-free, automated, and cross-system content pipelines.
• Information Management Establishment of Single Source of Truth structures for technical information, orchestrating modularization, variant management, governance, and content supply chains across the entire product lifecycle.
• Reselling & Support (Empolis / SCHEMA ST4 / plusmeta / Tarsus) Reselling and long-term support for Empolis Industrial Knowledge, Quanos SCHEMA ST4, plusmeta, and Tarsus AI Platform, backed by deep domain expertise in machinery and plant engineering.

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability11 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EmpoliscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Empolis is the provider of the Empolis Industrial Knowledge platform, the core technology underlying T3's knowledge infrastructure solutions. T3 is a certified partner and reseller of Empolis products, integrating the platform into customers' systems for Smart Content, Knowledge Graphs, AI assistants (Empolis Buddy), and Content Delivery. T3 has been recognized as Empolis Top Partner in both 2022 and 2023.
• Quanos Content Solutions (formerly SCHEMA)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025T3 is a certified Gold Partner, Reseller, and service provider for Quanos Content Solutions' SCHEMA ST4, a Component Content Management System (CCMS). T3 integrates SCHEMA ST4 into customer environments for modular documentation, Smart Content, and cross-channel publishing. T3 has delivered numerous SCHEMA ST4 projects and co-presents regularly at the Quanos Connect conference.
• TarsuscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Tarsus provides the Tarsus AI Platform and Tarsus ZERO for AI-based autonomous learning solutions. T3 is a certified partner of Tarsus and integrates the AI platform into its Industrial Knowledge ecosystem. T3 presented at the Information Energy 2026 event on autonomous learning scenarios using the Tarsus AI Platform.
• iiRDS ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025T3 is a founding member of the iiRDS Consortium. iiRDS (intelligent Information and Documentation Standard) is an industry standard for topic-oriented, smart content delivery. T3's CTO Elmar Baumgart actively represents T3 in this consortium, contributing to the development of the standard for cross-manufacturer semantic content integration.
• tekomminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025T3 is an active participant in the tekom ecosystem — the world's largest professional association for Technical Communication. T3 regularly presents at tekom events (annual conference, spring conference, Technology Day) and contributes to the advancement of the field.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RWS Group: Global language-services and technical-documentation powerhouse serving regulated/industrial clients; overlaps with T3's consulting, technical documentation and information-management services at a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint, providing an alternative for multinational manufacturers.
• Stibo Systems: Established provider of enterprise PIM/MDM and master-data platforms used by industrial manufacturers; competes with T3's Headless Knowledge Hub and Semantic Data Integration at the enterprise master-data layer, especially for organizations prioritizing product-data governance alongside technical content.
• PTC: Global PLM, CAD and digital-thread platform vendor with adjacent service-content and IoT offerings for discrete manufacturers; competes indirectly with T3's IoT-integrated Information and Digitaler Zwilling/Digital Product Passport capabilities inside large accounts.

Emerging players

• Sinequa: Enterprise search and AI-analytics vendor with strong traction among industrial and engineering accounts; competes with T3's Knowledge Graph and AI-based knowledge retrieval capabilities where customers want an off-the-shelf cognitive-search layer rather than a custom CCMS-integrated stack.
• Coveo: SaaS provider of AI-driven enterprise search and relevance platforms widely deployed in customer-support and field-service contexts; overlaps with T3's Empolis Buddy GenAI assistant and Smart Troubleshooting use cases, particularly for buyers preferring pure-SaaS deployment over on-premise semantic hubs.

Regional players

• Comma Soft AG: German AI and data-analytics consultancy with similar Mittelstand/DACH customer footprint; comparable in size and AI-knowledge-management positioning to T3, making it a credible substitute for industrial knowledge-AI mandates where buyers want an independent German partner.

Direct peers

• Quanos Content Solutions GmbH: Provider of the SCHEMA ST4 component content management system that T3 implements and resells as a certified Gold Partner; both firms serve the same German Maschinenbau customer base with documentation, modular content and Smart Content capabilities, making them either direct collaborator or substitute depending on customer preference.
• Enterprise Knowledge: US-based dedicated knowledge management and information-strategy consultancy whose services (KM strategy, ontology/taxonomy engineering, enterprise search integration) map directly to T3's Consulting & Strategy, Knowledge Engineering and System Integration offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/t3-gmbh-erlangen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 T3