About us

Successful software pioneer for over 55 years

Few other European-based software companies still in existence can claim to be more experienced than INFORM: Our journey dates back to March 1969. That is when Professor Hans-Jürgen Zimmerman, Chair of Operations Research at RWTH Aachen University in Germany through 1998, founded INFORM (Institute for Operations Research and Management). His goal was to demonstrate the entrepreneurial added value of intelligent algorithms as a core business activity. Back then, the term AI was hardly known, and digital data was lacking.

Fast forward to the present and our software is optimizing billions of decisions every day in a cross-section of industries, from aviation, transportation, and logistics, to financial, manufacturing, and telecommunications. It is used for diverse applications, including demand and production planning, workforce management, logistics and transportation, inventory management, risk management, and financial fraud prevention.

I wanted to show that operations research can help you make better decisions. Companies can save money by using it.
Prof. Dr. h.c.mult. Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann

The first years: 1969 until the end of the 70s

Training in operations research and individual projects on optimal decision making for companies: optimal control of truck fleets, systems for optimal control of production areas, the optimization of champagne cuvées, spreads and color mixes .

Modern workplaces right from the start

At the beginning of the 80s INFORM has 15 employees.

1980s: the company grows

INFORM's first own building is built in 1988 in Pascalstr. 23 and is designed for approx. 40 employees in the first construction phase.

The first modem for data transmission

This acoustic coupler was used to transfer source files to Timken Company, USA, for the first time in the 1980s. The transfer rate was 300 bits per second.

Timken Company is still our customer today.

1989: The first APS system is introduced

One of the first FELIS applications (now FELIOS) at BARMAG Maschinenbau (now Oerlikon BARMAG). FELIOS now comprises several modules and is used in companies all over the world.

1991: first airport customer

The first Airport TESS system is deployed at Frankfurt Airport. 7 years later, it becomes the Groundstar software solution, and is now the world's market-leading system for optimizing ground handling processes at commercial airports.

1999: First Riskshield customer

Eurocard / Mastercard is the first customer to use the Riskshield software solution. The software prevents misuse in cashless payment transactions worldwide.

2001: Continuous growth

The number of employees continues to grow: Professor Hans-Jürgen Zimmermann and Adrian Weiler in 2001 at the topping-out ceremony of the second INFORM building. 225 workstations are soon available on the newly founded campus.

Outstanding expertise

An important milestone: INFORM is the first company ever to receive the 2006 Enterprise Award from the Society for Operations Research.

Optimization can also be played

The first INFORM game was launched in 2007 under the motto "Be a GroundStar". It still works today.

2009: der INFORM-Campus entsteht

2008 beginnen wir mit dem Bau des 3. firmeneigenen Gebäudes. Bis zu 500 Mitarbeiter finden darin Platz. 2014 werden durch einen Anbau weitere 200 Arbeitsplätze geschaffen.

2016: new software Workforceplus

The newly developed WorkforcePlus software ensures optimized workforce scheduling in numerous industries. Lufthansa Technik is our first major customer.

INFORM celebrates its 50th anniversary

Started as a pioneer - today a leader in business process optimization. In 2019, more than 750 software engineers, data analysts and consultants serve over 1,000 customers worldwide.

INFORM focuses on internationalization

We have already been active with a partner office in the USA since 1991 and in Australia since 2019. Now we are continuing our international expansion: 2021 Chile, 2022 Brazil and Singapore followed 2023 by Portugal.

2023: INFORM sets focus on ethical AI with new guidelines

We publish our guidelines for the responsible use of AI. These guidelines underline our commitment to develop AI technology transparently and on an ethical basis.