The beginning: Digital data collection in a mobile world
Our founding in October 2000 coincided with a time of change. The new millennium ushered in the era of digital and mobile communications in Germany – not least thanks to UMTS and the growing popularity of mobile devices like the Palm Pilot.
We recognized early on that the new mobile network infrastructure offered enormous potential not only for consumers but also for data-driven business processes. With a focus on mobile offline data collection, we developed the first software solutions for market research on mobile devices. Our co-founder, Matthias Helferich, provided technological impetus from the very beginning:
“We wanted to develop applications that would take real work off the user’s hands – through intuitive operation, robust offline capability, and clean data structures,” recalls Helferich.
Growth with mQuest: Mobile digitization becomes standard
In the 2010s, we achieved our breakthrough with the mQuest platform. Originally conceived as a tool for interviewers and field research teams, mQuest quickly became relevant in other industries – for example, traffic surveys, car clinics, claims settlement, store checks, and even quality assurance in industry.
The modular structure and platform independence made mQuest our successful product. At the same time, we consistently expanded our expertise in user experience (UX), IT security, and enterprise integration.
Audit processes rethought: The development of cluetec Audit
Our most recent success story is with our product cluetec Audit . Since 2019, the software has offered a specialized solution for planning, conducting, evaluating, and tracking audits in the production, logistics, and service sectors.
“cluetec Audit is the logical evolution of our platform concept,” says Matthias Helferich. “We talked to companies that had to manage audits using Excel, Word, and paper lists. From this, we developed a system that not only digitizes, but truly improves processes – more flexible, more legally compliant, and significantly more efficient.”
Today, cluetec Audit is particularly popular in production, among technical service providers, and in certified industrial companies – wherever standard compliance, traceability, and scalability are required.
Strategic milestone: Partnership with Possehl Digital
A significant growth step for us in 2022 was the entry of Possehl Digital GmbH , a subsidiary of the Lübeck-based management holding company L. Possehl & Co. mbH . Even under the umbrella of the Possehl Group, we remain strategically independent and at the same time benefit from the synergies of a globally active group with over 13,000 employees.“cluetec is driving digitalization within quality assurance with great passion and innovative strength. With their expertise, cluetec ideally complements our portfolio and supports us in further advancing the digital strategy within the Possehl Group. In this way, we are securing the future viability of industrial SMEs,” explains Christoph Haß, Managing Director of Possehl Digital GmbH.
A look back with substance – an outlook with ambition
Twenty-five years after our founding, we now employ 30 people at our Karlsruhe location. Our products have proven themselves millions of times over and are used worldwide in market research, the automotive sector, and industry.
We consistently look to the future. With Audit Intelligence , we provide our clients with artificial intelligence that takes quality assurance to a new level.
“Our goal is to make audit processes more intelligent and predictive – with technologies like AI, but always with a focus on true usability,” says Helferich. “Technology is only valuable if it works for people.”
Anniversary with perspective
We’re celebrating our anniversary with an internal summer party for employees and their families, as well as a user day entitled “Audit smart, not hard .” We’re planning presentations, client meetings, and a joint review of our development.
“25 years is a milestone – but for us, it’s far from the end,” Helferich emphasizes. “We’re just at the beginning of what’s possible with mobile, intelligent solutions for digitizing audits.”
About cluetec
cluetec GmbH, based in Karlsruhe, Germany, specializes in the digitalization of quality assurance processes. This includes audits, inspections and checklists of all kinds. With cluetec Audit, the company offers a powerful software solution for planning, conducting, tracking and analyzing audits. cluetec Audit supports its customers in reducing business risk, acting more sustainably and at the same time creating full transparency about the mapped processes.
The solution is used across all sectors of industry, particularly in mechanical and plant engineering, manufacturing and technical services. cluetec has been part of the Possehl Digital Group since 2022.
Press contact: cluetec GmbH, Lennart Preuß, l.preuss@cluetec.de
