saas.group has acquired Aplano, a Berlin-based workforce planning software company that helps small and mid-sized businesses manage employee shifts, working hours and absences.
Founded in 2020, Aplano combines shift scheduling, time tracking and absence management in one platform. The software allows managers to create and publish employee schedules, while workers can check their shifts, request changes, share their availability and apply for leave through the app.
The platform also records working hours through phones, tablets or terminals and allows businesses to export the data for payroll processing. Aplano serves companies across several industries, including pharmacies, healthcare, retail, hospitality, logistics and cleaning services. More than 2,500 businesses use its software.
Aplano Becomes saas.group’s 28th Acquisition
The acquisition marks saas.group’s 28th successful acquisition and strengthens its HR software portfolio with a product designed for businesses that rely on shift-based workforces.
Aplano’s co-founders, David Gregorian and Tadeus Gregorian, said the company was originally created to solve their own workforce scheduling challenges. The idea started in a pharmacy, where shift planning was managed through spreadsheets and schedule changes were handled through chat messages.
The founders built a simple scheduling tool using their own funds. As other businesses began using the software, Aplano expanded into different industries.
The founders said joining saas.group would help the company enter its next stage of growth while maintaining the product’s simplicity. They also confirmed that customers will continue using the same product with the same team following the acquisition.
saas.group Expands Its HR Software Business
Tim Schumacher, Founding Partner at saas.group, said Aplano fits the group’s investment strategy because it was built by founders who experienced the problem themselves and developed a product now used by thousands of businesses.
He highlighted the importance of workforce scheduling for pharmacies, care homes and retail businesses, where many employees do not work at traditional office desks.
Aplano adds another workforce management product to saas.group’s HR portfolio, supporting businesses that need practical tools to manage shift-based teams.
Founded in 2017, saas.group acquires and develops software businesses with established products and recurring revenue. Its portfolio includes companies such as Tower, Rewardful, Prerender, Juicer, Seobility and Timebutler, among others.
The transaction involved advisers on both sides. saas.group was advised by Lina Law and BA Group, while Aplano received advice from FE International and EKM Law.
