DATAGROUP was honored with the Lunendonk B2B Service Award in the Performance category on March 9, 2026. The independent jury recognized the IT service provider's long-term, sustainable growth and successful integration of numerous acquisitions into a high-performance company. The Lunendonk B2B Service Award honors companies that stand out through continuous growth and sustainable corporate development, with winners selected anonymously by an independent jury of journalists from leading business and trade media.
The assessment in the Performance category is based on verifiable metrics such as revenue development, employee growth, and sustainable company development. DATAGROUP particularly impressed the jury with its long-term growth strategy, having acquired and successfully integrated more than 30 IT firms since going public in 2006. This has allowed DATAGROUP to develop into an integrated IT service provider with a clear focus on managed services, with more than 80 percent of revenue now coming from long-term service contracts.
High contract renewal rates along with cross-selling and upselling contribute to stable business development. In addition to growth through acquisitions, the company also records organic growth because of successful integration and continuous improvement. The award confirms the consistent execution of our strategy, said Andreas Baresel, CEO of DATAGROUP, after accepting the award. Our growth is based on long-term customer relationships, a strong managed services business, and successful integration of new companies into a shared organization.
DATAGROUP's transformation from a regional software provider to an IT service company represents a significant industry case study. Founded in 1983 by Max Schaber in the Stuttgart region, the company generated around 30 million euros in revenue when it went public in 2006. By 2011, with revenue of 146 million euros, DATAGROUP was listed for the first time in the Lunendonk ranking of leading IT service providers. A major milestone came in 2014 with the introduction of the modular CORBOX service portfolio, which established the basis for scalable growth and long-term service contracts.
Today, CORBOX represents the central service portfolio of DATAGROUP for operating modern IT infrastructures and business applications, with current company revenue exceeding 565 million euros. The company's growth strategy combines organic expansion with strategic acquisitions, particularly noted for optimal integration of new companies. DATAGROUP is actively participating in the consolidation process with its buy and turn around and buy and build strategy, which has broader implications for the IT services industry's ongoing consolidation trends.
For readers in the business and technology sectors, this recognition highlights the importance of sustainable growth strategies in competitive markets. The award validates DATAGROUP's approach to managed services and corporate development, suggesting potential industry benchmarks for successful acquisition integration and long-term customer relationship management. The independent nature of the jury selection adds credibility to the recognition, as winners are chosen anonymously from a pool of candidates proposed by Lunendonk, representing a qualified judgment by independent market observers. More information about the company's services can be found at https://www.datagroup.de.
