Bauer Software and Softtech Merge to Form Bauer Softtech GmbH Within Orca Group
The Bauer Software GmbH and the Softtech GmbH have officially merged to form Bauer Softtech GmbH, uniting two sister companies under the Orca Group umbrella with a combined team of roughly 50 employees across Neustadt an der Weinstraße and Heppenheim. The merger, which was finalized on October 6, 2026, consolidates two organizations that have already collaborated for years on shared projects and support services.
For around 40 years, both firms have developed software for architecture and engineering firms as well as the public sector. Softtech was founded in 1985, focusing on planning, CAD, and graphical quantity takeoff. Bauer Software was founded in 1986, establishing its footprint in cost management, HOAI-Abwicklung, and office administration. By combining these complementary portfolios into Bauer Softtech GmbH, the unified entity now manages the complete architectural lifecycle from preliminary design phases through specification, awarding of contracts, and final cost control. The firms are both rooted in tendering, awarding, and accounting, but their combined expertise allows for a comprehensive approach to workflows that are already integrated in practical planning environments.
Integrating Artificial Intelligence Across BIM and HOAI Frameworks
Under the leadership of Managing Director Christoph Heimlich, the newly consolidated company aims to accelerate the deployment of web applications and artificial intelligence across construction planning workflows. Über vier Jahrzehnte liefern BauerSoftware und SOFTTECH bereits digitale Werkzeuge für erfolgreiche Bauprojekte. Als gemeinsames Unternehmen treiben wir die Entwicklung von Webanwendungen und Künstlicher Intelligenz entlang der Bauplanung voran. Unsere Kunden dürfen sich auf die Zukunft freuen
resümiert Christoph Heimlich. The firm’s combined development capacity is now directed toward consulting, support, and ongoing innovation.
Artificial intelligence tools are already embedded within existing software stacks. In the project management suite Buildup, artificial intelligence assists in generating itemized bills of quantities, parsing BIM data structures, and auditing HOAI fee calculations. Meanwhile, the web-based measurement tool Grava connect utilizes automated plan analysis to process, evaluate, and verify volume calculations. This shared technical experience is now available to the entire enterprise.
Continuity for Existing Contracts and Enterprise Clients
Users face minimal disruption following the corporate restructuring. Existing software licenses, maintenance contracts, and service durations remain fully active without requiring new signatures or renegotiated agreements. All core product lines—including Avanti, Grava, Spirit, and Buildup—will continue to receive ongoing maintenance, commercial distribution, and active feature development. The original brand identities for both Bauer Software and Softtech will remain in the market.
Client points of contact across sales, technical consulting, and customer support remain unchanged. The primary administrative shift involves legal entity status, designating Bauer Softtech GmbH as the formal issuer for all future invoices.
Structural Alignment Within the Orca Group Portfolio
This structural reorganization represents a consolidation of sister companies rather than an external acquisition, as both entities previously operated under parent organization Orca Group. Clemens Weidenbach, CEO of the Orca Group, emphasized that the merger establishes a unified corporate pillar designed around stable operations, deep technical specialization, and long-term reliability for engineering and architectural practices. BAUER SOFTTECH bildet innerhalb der Gruppe ein starkes Haus mit klarem Profil: zwei etablierte Marken, ein Team, ein gemeinsamer Anspruch an Fachtiefe und Verlässlichkeit. Für unsere Kunden bedeutet das Stabilität
said Weidenbach.
Future Roadmap and Integration Unanswered
While the company has confirmed the continuation of its existing product brands and the centralization of its administrative billing, specific details regarding the long-term integration of the two development teams at the Neustadt an der Weinstraße and Heppenheim locations remain to be seen. Furthermore, while the firm has highlighted its commitment to AI-driven tools, it has not yet disclosed a public timeline for new product releases or the specific scale of future investment in its web-based application suite.
