BUG Group Enhances Collaboration with New ERP System

Berlin-headquartered BUG Verkehrsbau SE has been building secure foundations for modern rail transport for over 3 decades. Today, this leading full-service provider of transport infrastructure employs more than 800 employees.

Its wide-ranging services cover track construction, civil and specialized engineering, structural works, communications and electrical engineering, as well as safety and surveying. The company also manages the implementation of rail lines and signaling systems and offers construction equipment and machinery rentals. With these capabilities, the BUG Group is driving the transition toward sustainable transport and building future-ready infrastructure.

A single data source for the entire group

In 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, the BUG Group began searching for a new ERP system.

“The pressure came mainly from the commercial department,” recalls Mathias Krämer, Head of IT at BUG.

The IT department described how the previous software lacked the flexibility to fully reflect the company’s complex structure. From both a process and technical perspective, the system often reached its limits. To ensure seamless operations, the group needed a unified database that could serve all companies within the organization.

“We already had an ERP system, but tasks like billing and performance reporting were still handled in spreadsheets. As a result, critical information often ended up hidden or lost in those files,” the IT Manager explains.

“Another challenge was that different companies within the group occasionally used different chart of accounts and were assigning the same business partners to different clients or suppliers. We urgently needed consistency,” says Mathias Krämer.

Software that maps BUG Group’s corporate structure

Four system providers were shortlisted, and the company ultimately chose RIB software with solutions that included RIB iTWO, RIB 4.0, RIB Finance, RIB Personal, and RIB Site. Today, four years later, almost all divisions are working with RIB Software. At each fiscal year-end, additional companies are gradually migrated to RIB Finance, though in some cases the old and new systems still run in parallel.

The technical departments are already further ahead: some smaller projects are successfully being calculated with RIB 4.0. The long-term goal is to manage all cost estimations in this system. Even now, about 99% of technical and calculation tasks are handled using RIB solutions.

RIB won over BUG primarily with its ability to flexibly map the group’s complex corporate structure. Working closely with the software provider, the company developed tailored workflows for different areas of responsibility.

As one of the pilot customers for RIB 4.0, and the first to use the full suite in the cloud, BUG was able to have many of its requirements incorporated directly into new releases. While the IT department notes that a few minor adjustments are still needed, the core systems function extremely well. As Krämer sums it up: “We are perfectly happy!”

Another key factor in the decision was that Deutsche Bahn, one of BUG’s most important clients, also relies on RIB software. In addition, many employees were already familiar with the system and valued its usability.

Peace of mind with 24/7 support

All RIB programs are hosted in Germany. “Running an ERP system in-house would have required enormous effort,” explains the IT Manager. With only six IT staff supporting 350 users, such an approach would have been extremely difficult.

“The 24/7 data center support is a huge relief for us,” adds Krämer. “We have guaranteed security and availability, whether working from home or directly on a construction site, as well as full GDPR compliance. The system’s performance has completely won us over. And now, our IT team finally has the time to focus on supporting users.”

Since the migration took place during the pandemic, operating an internal Exchange server or SharePoint was never a realistic option. The priority was enabling mobile work. All meetings with RIB consultants were therefore held online. This laid the groundwork for what would become the RIB Academy, a true win-win for both sides.

Project information accessible to everyone

The switch to new software also introduced a new tool for technical tasks, such as cost calculation. At first, not everyone welcomed the change. But the added capabilities, like simplifying cost estimates for major projects with Deutsche Bahn worth around €50 million, soon won over the skeptics.

“With RIB solutions, collaboration across the company has improved dramatically,” says Mathias Krämer. “The system is complex, but it creates consistent, streamlined processes. Every department now has access to accurate information at any time. That’s real added value for each division within the BUG Group.”

1. V100 at Berlin Central Station. BUG Verkehrsbau SE has made it its mission to create secure foundations for modern rail transport.

2. Two-way excavator. The BUG Group’s service portfolio includes track construction, civil and special civil engineering, structural engineering, communications and electrical engineering, as well as safety and surveying.

3. Tamping machine from BUG Group’s track equipment fleet.

4. Vector DualMode locomotive from Siemens.

Image credit: ©2025 BUG Group