Scandit: From Swiss Startup to Global Smart Data Leader

Celebrating 15 years of the Top100 Swiss Startup Award, we spotlight pioneers who shaped their industries. Among them is Scandit, identified early on as a Top100 startup, a Venture Leaders alumnus, and a Venture Kick funding recipient. Since then, it has grown into a global market leader in smart data capture, with offices across continents, strategic corporate partnerships, and a multi-billion-dollar valuation. From Swiss startup to unicorn, Scandit’s evolution shows how Top100 has opened doors to the international stage. Co-founders Samuel Mueller, Christian Floerkemeier, and Christof Roduner explain how their platform gives workers and customers “superpowers” to interact with the physical world.

As Top100 celebrates its 15th anniversary, Scandit illustrates how Swiss innovation can transform work processes across industries worldwide. Its Smart Data Capture platform embeds intelligence into any smart device, automating context-aware workflows that reduce operational costs, boost efficiency, and improve employee and customer experiences. From early prototypes to today’s global unicorn, the co-founders reflect on scaling internationally, overcoming challenges, and building technology that raises the standards for AI-powered data capture.

Scandit co-founders Christof Roduner, Christian Floerkemeier, and Samuel Mueller

Do you remember the first time your technology successfully read a code?
In November 2009, we moved from a research project to form Scandit. At that time, we were mostly scanning barcodes printed on A4 sheets of paper.

"Focus on maintaining your company culture
especially as you scale."

What was your first prototype or test like?
We used a granola box as our first prototype. Our reader couldn’t yet scan all barcodes, so we worked with a target set of 5,000 predefined codes, of which this was one. To give an idea of the technology at the time: we connected a Windows laptop via USB to a Symbian S60 phone to download our software.

Scandit in its early days

Which milestones — from your early move to Silicon Valley to securing Google Ventures as an investor — turned Scandit into a global leader in computer vision?
>    In 2013, with just 12 employees, our first financing round enabled larger-scale hiring and the formation of our first US team. We also held our first global team outing and began building our Sales and GTM teams.

>    In 2016, our Series A with Atomico fueled growth from 35 to 80 employees in 12 months, led to the definition of our company values, the opening of offices in London, Boston, and Warsaw, and expanded our product portfolio with MatrixScan, Keyboard Wedge, and WebSDK.

>    By 2022, we reached unicorn status and raised $150 million in Series D led by Warburg Pincus. That year, we launched ShelfView, our AI-powered shelf intelligence solution, opening a sizable new market. In 2024, we made our first acquisition to strengthen our hybrid data capture offering.

What strategies are driving its customer acquisition and funding success? 
Scandit’s GTM strategy is tailored to each customer segment, from large enterprises to SMBs. Sales and Marketing teams are fully aligned to support this approach. We succeed with a land-and-expand model, winning initial deals and growing within accounts as customers recognize Scandit’s value.

While we mainly use direct sales, we also partner with hardware providers such as Apple and Samsung and embed our solutions with vertical-focused ISVs for out-of-the-box smart data capture. Our Enterprise-Level Success offering guides customers through evaluation, integration, and live operations, accelerating time to value and enabling measurable ROI.

"A factor that makes a real difference in your startup’s success —
Be prepared to say no 90% of the time."

What was the hardest technical challenge in scaling to millions of users?
Barcode scanning at scale is demanding, especially in the early days with far less capable smartphone cameras. Barcodes appear in vastly different environments—from bright shops to dark warehouses—yet our software overcame these challenges using machine learning to detect and decode codes on-device, even in difficult lighting, from distance, or at awkward angles.

Another challenge is device variability: scanning works smoothly on the latest phones but can frustrate users on older models. Our software supports more than 20,000 devices to ensure broad compatibility and a reliable experience.

Today, newer devices enable advanced features such as augmented overlays for workflow guidance and real-time insights—for example highlighting review scores or allergy information to support purchasing decisions.

Scandit Instore Pickup with MS Find Blue bins shelves 

What’s the most surprising way a customer has used your technology?
One of the most rewarding uses came from French healthcare company Sanofi. They integrated Scandit into an app that helps visually impaired people read and understand medication instructions, often printed very small. By scanning the packaging, users gained independence and avoided the frustration of previous solutions that struggled in low light or at different angles. The app’s impact is reflected in its high ratings on the Apple and Google Play stores.

Where is computer vision headed in the next decade?
Computer vision is moving toward two major transformations. The first is deeper multi-modal integration, as seen in Vision Language Models that merge visual analysis with other data. The second is a stronger focus on post-capture intelligence, meaning insights extracted from collected data will drive automated workflows and strategic decisions. Together, these developments elevate computer vision from a technical tool to a core element of business intelligence.

How has Scandit transformed the way industries capture and use data?Expectations from customers and employees have increased, especially since the pandemic. Scandit enables enterprises to address shifting workforce dynamics and labor shortages. It empowers employees and supports consumers who expect more personalized and digital experiences. Legacy data capture systems such as pen and paper or general-purpose scanners no longer suffice for businesses striving for automation and efficiency. 

Scandit supports enterprises across retail, transportation, logistics, and healthcare in capturing data and acting on insights. Its technology scans multiple barcodes simultaneously, provides actionable information through augmented reality overlays, and reduces repetitive tasks for workers. ShelfView monitors grocery aisles, enabling retailers to track stock in near real time and maintain price and planogram compliance. Enterprises can also embed compliance steps directly into workflows, for example verifying IDs for alcohol delivery.