The story of Softplan's innovation journey began long before its founding, in 1990. When looking back and remembering the entire entrepreneurship trajectory, we come across the arrival of the first computers in companies. It was the 1980s and the business world was beginning its first major digital transformation.
While everyone was adapting to this revolution, my partners and I, They are and Carlos, we saw the opportunity and embarked on this new trend and, in a few years, we turned what was a side project into our focus and purpose in life.
Softplan: a story of opportunities and innovation
Softplan was born as a simultaneous project, while I, the They are and Carlos worked at the Santa Catarina State Information Technology and Automation Center (Ciasc). After working hours, we developed personalized applications for companies in the most diverse segments.
Until, in 1990, we received a new client, a construction company, to develop an integrated solution that would computerize all the company's departments. This was the moment that really changed the course of our trajectory and we gradually dedicated 100% of our time to Softplan – so much so that that first system gave rise to what is now known as Sienge.
In the company's first decade, our approach was focused exclusively on developing on-demand systems for companies across a variety of industries.
This was a complex process: although initially profitable, it was not very scalable, as each project required in-depth dedication to understanding the client's needs and developing personalized solutions – which made maintenance and technological evolution costly. However, it was this initial phase that provided us with a solid foundation in tech and business.
As we mature, we realize the importance of specialization and focus on specific markets. It was then that we decided to focus our efforts on three verticals of the economy: civil construction, public management and justice – areas in which we had already accumulated valuable experience.
33 years of growth: a look to the future
Some important events mark Softplan's trajectory over the last 33 years and mine as a result.
In 2012, we assumed, in partnership with the Court of Justice of the State of São Paulo, as the company responsible for piloting an important and innovative digital transformation project. Along with this, transacting several isolated systems, which required technological updating, to a more modern, integrated and functional one. This milestone not only consolidated our presence in the justice market, but also highlighted our ability to successfully address complex and large-scale challenges.
In 2016, it was the year in which we migrated our solutions to cloud technology. This was considered a strategic and bold change at that time, but it marked the transition of our business model, moving from sales of licenses to software for software as a service (SaaS). This decision not only aligned us with global trends, but also allowed us to offer more flexible and scalable solutions to our customers.
In the period from 2017 to 2019, we invested in internal and open innovation, incorporating the best practices and methodologies from the main global innovation centers. This even allowed us to strengthen our connections with ecosystems and make the first investments in startups and scale-ups.
In 2020, when Softplan completed 30 years, we strengthened the company's board of directors, improved corporate management processes, began the succession of partners under the leadership of Eduardo Smith, who became CEO, and assembled the new team of executives .
From then on, we continued to innovate in our models and businesses, starting an ambitious project to acquire startups and larger companies, aligned with our strategy of specializing in market verticals.
Legacy: what awaits us
In less than 4 years, ten companies have already been acquired in total, expanding our portfolio in the private market and consolidating our presence in the markets in which we operate, especially Civil Construction and Legal Intelligence.
The acquisitions represent sustainable growth for Softplan and even greater penetration into the private market. In the Construction industry, for example, we cover more than 80% of the production chain, offering an increasingly complete solution within a strategy that feeds back the technology we developed from one to many, resulting in the expansion of the customer base.
Our journey so far has been marked by opportunities, challenges, learning and constant innovation. At Softplan, We believe that the secret to success lies in the ability to adapt, innovate and focus on areas in which we are experts.
After 33 years on the market, today we have more than 10.000 customers, more than 2.500 employees, we have accumulated national and international awards for innovation, interaction with startups and are among the best companies to work for in Brazil, according to GPTW.
We remain committed to creating innovative solutions for the civil construction, legal intelligence, public management and justice sectors. We look forward to the opportunities that the future holds for us. Our journey is far from over, and we can't wait to see what the next chapter brings.
