WSCAD – Technological Leader in electrical CAD through Proven Innovation
WSCAD GmbH is one of the technological leaders in electrical CAD solutions and, according to the TOP 100 Ranking 2025, is among the ten most innovative medium-sized companies in the German-speaking area. The company is part of the Buhl Group and has been developing software for electrical engineering in machinery and plant construction, building automation, and electrical installation for over 30 years. More than 40,000 users in over 100 countries now rely on WSCAD’s integrated solution.
WSCAD’s electrical CAD solution combines six disciplines—electrical engineering, control panel construction, process engineering, fluid technology, building automation, and electrical installation—on a single platform with a central database. Changes to one component are immediately reflected in all plans. Supplementary apps allow seamless digitalisation: rooms can be measured with a smartphone or tablet and transferred directly into installation plans. Service technicians scan field devices and instantly access current plans, part data, and original manufacturer datasheets.
Shaping the Market
WSCAD’s innovative strength continues to make decisive contributions to the electrical CAD sector and shape the market.
- 2015 – Launch of wscaduniverse.com, the first open, cloud-based electrical CAD data platform. Today, it offers more than 2.1 million records from over 400 manufacturers, free for all users and providers.
- 2019 – Introduction of a completely new user interface. Modern, intuitive, and tailored to user needs, it fundamentally simplifies operation and allows users to work much more quickly with the software.
- 2024 – WSCAD integrates artificial intelligence directly into the electrical CAD solution ELECTRIX AI as the first provider worldwide—a game-changer and paradigm shift for efficiency and user-friendliness.
ELECTRIX AI – The Productivity Booster
By integrating AI into the electrical CAD software ELECTRIX AI, WSCAD is transforming electrical engineering. The AI Copilot understands and responds to users’ text commands and handles tasks in seconds that previously took minutes or hours:
- Material lists and terminal diagrams are created in seconds, up to 95% faster.
- Macros are placed by text command, no manual searching needed – time saving of over 90%.
- Automated error checking at the press of a button – what once took hours, the AI Copilot completes in seconds.
- Help and technical queries are answered in real-time, no lengthy research, manuals, or support requests needed.
- Quickly find components – across all projects.
- Become productive faster – less experienced users can tackle expert tasks, while experts gain time for value-adding projects.
- Automated project translation – saves time and money.
- AI-driven control cabinet generation is up to 99% faster.
- …and much more.
Find out here why WSCAD is ranked among the top ten innovative medium-sized companies in 2025 thanks to its unwavering innovative power.
Top Grade A+ for WSCAD
WSCAD’s innovative strength was recently confirmed in June 2025 through the presentation of the renowned TOP 100 Innovation Award. The award, presented annually by compamedia GmbH, is based on an independent, scientifically grounded analysis led by Professor Dr Nikolaus Franke from the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Vienna University of Economics and Business. In addition to past innovation successes, the evaluation focuses on future-oriented innovation structures, including strategic management commitment, lived innovation culture, agile structures, and measurable market success. With the top grade A+, WSCAD is setting industry standards in systematic innovation management and technological renewal.
Figure 1: Top rating A+ for WSCAD GmbH
Innovation – The Foundation of Success
In the TOP 100 innovation analysis 2025, WSCAD achieved the top rating A+ and is thus among the top ten of the 100 most innovative companies in the German-speaking region. The average rating of TOP 100 companies is A. The competition was particularly fierce in 2025. Among the TOP 100 are world market leaders and “hidden champions”, high-tech companies, as well as pioneers in new industries. High participation included companies from IT, plant and mechanical engineering, construction, electronics/electrical engineering, metalworking, finance and insurance, chemical/plastics, renewable energies, and more.
To identify the very best, the jury spent weeks reviewing information, spotting patterns, and benchmarking companies—a particularly demanding task given the high calibre of all entrants. The jury concluded that WSCAD’s innovation processes are exceptionally professional and systematic, providing a very high likelihood of future innovation successes. WSCAD serves as an inspiration through best practices and is seen as a pioneer in the sector.
Measurable and Out in Front
The radar diagram in Figure 2 shows WSCAD’s evaluations compared with the participating Top 10 and TOP 100 companies. The average values of TOP 100 were standardised to a value of 100. In areas such as integration and monitoring, WSCAD is level with the Top 10, and surpasses them in resource deployment, innovative direction, and innovation management. This success reflects the company’s commitment to providing users with the best tools for electrical engineering. According to the jury, WSCAD’s innovation processes are unusually professional and systematic, making future innovation very likely. WSCAD inspires with best practices and is viewed as a pioneer in the sector.
Figure 2: WSCAD exceeds the average of the top 10 companies in Innovative Orientation, Innovation Management, and Resource Utilization
Innovation is No Accident
This success also depends on motivated and capable staff, as well as executive commitment to supporting innovation activities. Leadership acts as a role model, exerting considerable influence on a company’s innovation culture. This includes granting creative freedom, openness to new ideas, actively moderating innovation processes, and promoting further training. A value of 5 in Figure 3 means management is actively involved in every project’s goal development, regularly reviews progress, and intervenes early in case of discrepancies. Such involvement reveals robust top-management leadership in innovation and is notably higher at WSCAD than the average for the Top 100, Top 10, and SMEs.
Innovation strategy gives direction and structure to innovation activities. WSCAD again scored above average with a value of 5, indicating strong development, communication, leadership, and adaptability.
Figure 3: Top management involvement in innovation projects
Figure 4: Innovation leadership, communication, and adaptability in company comparison
Digital transformation is key, offering potential for more efficient processes, new business models, and innovative products and services that address changing customer needs. In digitalisation and ongoing development, WSCAD again scores above the Top 100 and Top 10.
If you take innovation seriously, you invest strategically. These resources make the difference and demonstrate how deeply innovation is embedded in the company’s strategy. With nearly one-fifth of its revenue dedicated to this area, WSCAD is far ahead of the Top 100 and even the Top 10 companies. By contrast, Figure 6 shows that the average SME achieves a value of just 1.2, according to the latest ZEW Innovation Survey.
Figure 5: Digitalization as a decisive factor for development
Figure 6: Innovation activity as a percentage of revenue
How Does Innovation Arise?
New ideas come from initiative, open exchange, autonomy, and an appreciation for entrepreneurial risk. This requires attentive, business-minded employees who seek to simplify processes, improve services, or detect and prevent mistakes. Cultivating this potential is crucial for success. A culture valuing transparency, learning from mistakes, and rewarding entrepreneurship is key. This was especially evident when integrating AI into WSCAD’s electrical CAD: management, staff, and developers entered completely new territory. With a value of 5 in support, viewing mistakes as opportunities, and staff communication, WSCAD exceeds not only the SME average of 3.7 but also Top 100 and even Top 10 companies.
Figure 7: Innovative orientation – WSCAD ahead of the Top 100 and Top 10 companies
Innovation is part of our corporate culture.
Anyone who tries something new is allowed to make mistakes to learn from them.“
Listening to the Customer
Innovations become successful products when companies either have an instinct or listen to their customers. WSCAD excels at both. In customer input for product development, WSCAD scored 5, ahead of the Top 10 and Top 100 (each 4.6) and well above the SME average (3.7). Listening and making the right product decisions is just half the equation – projects must also be implemented, and marketing/sales functions as a bridge to customers, having veto rights and influence. In the “veto right” and “project initiation” categories, WSCAD again scores well above Top 10 and Top 100.
Figure 8: As the interface to customers, Marketing/Sales at WSCAD has a greater influence on product development than in the Top 100 and Top 10 companies
Innovation Means Security for the Future
Doing things right means innovations and new products yield increased turnover and profit. More turnover means more users—and there would not be more users if they did not enjoy the product. In addition to purely business aspects, technological leadership is an early indicator for future success and long-term stability. Over the past three years, WSCAD has achieved outstanding gains in turnover and profit from innovation, well ahead of the Top 100 and Top 10 companies. This benefits not only WSCAD but also customers and users, who get a modern, efficient solution to meet market challenges and secure an edge. Higher turnover and profits guarantee continuing product development and long-term partnership.
Figure 9: Contribution of innovative improvements over the past three years to revenue and profit – WSCAD clearly ahead of the Top 100 and Top 10 companies. The profits achieved are consistently reinvested into product development.
