22 Jun 2026

Optilon expands into Germany

Andrea
Olsson
Marketing Coordinator

Optilon is expanding into Germany – and for CEO Mikael Ahlström, the move is as much about timing as it is about opportunity. With supply chains under growing pressure from geopolitical shifts, tariffs, and market volatility, we asked him what this next chapter means for Optilon and its customers across Europe.

Why Germany, and why now?

– Germany represents the largest industrial and manufacturing economy in Europe, and many of Optilon’s existing customers already have operations there. Establishing a presence in Germany is therefore a natural next step in supporting our customers and partners across Europe.

Supply chains have become more complex due to geopolitics, tariffs, and increased volatility, which has increased the demand for advanced planning, decision support, and supply chain design capabilities.

This creates a strong market opportunity aligned with Optilon’s expertise and product development. The timing is also right because Optilon has invested in its own platforms, AI capabilities, and ecosystem partnerships – making it possible to scale internationally in a structured way rather than opportunistically.

What key market needs or opportunities do you see in Germany?

– Germany has a very strong industrial base with complex manufacturing, global supply chains, and high requirements for planning, optimization, and decision support. These are exactly the areas where Optilon has built deep expertise over the past 20 years.

Many German companies are now moving from traditional planning systems toward integrated decision platforms, scenario planning, and AI-supported decision making. Optilon combines strategy, design, implementation, and decision support platforms – which positions us well to support this transition.

We also see strong opportunities in areas such as supply chain design, S&OP, production planning, inventory optimization, and AI-driven analytics, where we already have proven customer cases and solutions.

How would you describe the German market compared to your existing markets?

– Compared to the Nordic markets, the German market is larger, more industrial, and often more structured in how companies approach technology investments and partnerships. Projects are typically larger, decisions take longer time, and local presence and credibility carry more weight.

At the same time, the potential scale is significantly larger, and many companies operate globally from Germany – making it an important strategic market for long-term growth in Europe. In many ways, the German market fits very well with Optilon’s experience from working with large industrial companies and complex supply chains.

What differentiates Optilon in the German market?

– What differentiates Optilon is that we combine strategy, process, technology, and analytics rather than focusing only on software implementation. We help companies improve supply chain performance and decision making – not just implement systems.

We also combine leading planning technologies with our own platforms, AI capabilities, and collaboration tools, which allows us to deliver integrated solutions rather than isolated systems.

Another key differentiator is our ecosystem model – we work closely with leading technology partners while also developing our own products, which allows us to remain independent and always focus on the best solution for the customer.

What are Optilon’s ambitions for the German market over the next few years?

– Our ambition is to establish a strong and sustainable presence in Germany and the broader DACH region, working closely with customers and partners to build long-term relationships. In the first phase, the focus is on building local presence, references, and partnerships.

Over time, the ambition is to grow the business, expand our ecosystem, and establish Germany as one of Optilon’s key markets in Europe. We see this as a long-term investment and an important part of Optilon’s European growth strategy.

How does this expansion strengthen Optilon’s position in Europe?

– The expansion moves Optilon from being primarily a Nordic company to becoming a broader European supply chain partner. Many of our customers operate globally, and by expanding into Germany we can support them across more markets.

It also strengthens our partnerships and ecosystem in Europe and gives us access to a larger industrial customer base. Overall, this is an important step in building Optilon as a European company rather than a regional one.

Expanding into Germany marks a significant milestone in Optilon’s journey. As supply chains grow more complex and the demand for smarter planning increases, Optilon is building the partnerships, platforms, and presence needed. We look forward to the journey – and to the conversations it will start.

Optilon expands into Germany

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