Find Companies by Technology
The technology a company uses may be more relevant to its sales than the industry it operates in.
An automation provider might want to know which companies use specific robots. A software provider is looking for companies that use SAP or Microsoft Dynamics. A mechanical engineering supplier is interested in what production facilities or types of machinery are in use.
AI-powered company research can identify such technology-related information from publicly available sources and evaluate companies based on it.
This way, you’re not just looking for companies that belong to a particular industry. You’re looking for companies whose technological environment aligns with your offering.
Is it possible to find companies based on the technologies they use?
Yes. Companies leave numerous public clues about the technologies they use. These include information on company websites, job postings, technical documents, reference projects, partner sites, certifications, press releases, and information about new investments.
AI can analyze these sources and identify references to the software, machines, production equipment, automation systems, or technical standards they use.
For example, you can research companies that use SAP, operate specific CNC machines, work with Siemens PLCs, deploy industrial robots, or use a particular production or automation technology.
It’s important to note that a technology signal found publicly is not automatically proof. Good research distinguishes between confirmed information, reliable evidence, and assumptions.
Why Technologies Are a Powerful B2B Search Criterion
Traditional company data primarily answers the following questions:
Who is the company?
Technological information answers a different question:
How does the company operate?
This can be crucial for assessing a potential need.
A software provider might need companies with a specific ERP system. A machine service provider looks for operators of certain types of equipment. A component manufacturer is interested in companies whose production processes require its components.
Technographic data is already used in B2B sales for precisely this reason. It supplements firmographics—such as size, location, or industry—with information about which technologies a company actually uses.
What technologies can be researched?
Software and Enterprise Systems
ERP, CRM, MES, PLM, CAD/CAM, marketing automation, e-commerce, cloud platforms, or other business software.
Examples:
SAP S/4HANA
Microsoft Dynamics 365
Salesforce
HubSpot
Siemens Teamcenter
SolidWorks
Shopify
AWS
Machinery and Production Equipment
Machine manufacturers, machine types, production facilities, or specific plant designs.
Examples:
DMG Mori
Trumpf
Mazak
Krones
Multivac
Homag
Automation and Control Technology
Robotics, PLCs, industrial communication, sensor technology, or automation platforms.
Examples:
Siemens S7
Beckhoff
Fanuc
KUKA
ABB Robotics
Universal Robots
Standards and Technical Procedures
Technical standards, certifications, or platforms can also provide insights into the technological environment.
Which of these are truly useful as search criteria depends on the specific offering.
Technology is not the same as a manufacturing process
A manufacturing process describes how something is produced or processed.
Technology, on the other hand, refers to a technical system, a machine, software, platform, or infrastructure that a company uses.
Manufacturing processes:
5-axis milling
Technology:
DMG Mori DMU 50
Automation:
KUKA robots
Software:
Siemens NX
Company:
Specific manufacturing facility
These are different types of knowledge objects. And that is precisely why they can be combined.
A concrete example
Automation provider seeks companies with existing Siemens infrastructure
Let’s take a provider of an industrial automation solution that integrates particularly well into Siemens environments.
A typical target audience might be:
Manufacturing companies in Germany with 100 to 1,000 employees.
That’s far too broad.
A searchable profile might be:
Find manufacturing companies in Germany with 100 to 1,000 employees,
where there are references to Siemens S7, TIA Portal, or Siemens-based automation
. Prioritize companies with in-house production, multiple
automated production lines, and current job postings for
PLC programmers or automation technicians.
Where do these technology signals come from?
Job Postings
Job postings are a particularly interesting source.
When a company is looking for a PLC programmer with knowledge of Siemens TIA Portal, that creates a technology signal. The same applies if the company is seeking SAP consultants, CNC programmers for specific control systems, or robotics specialists.
Company website
Machine fleets, technology pages, partner logos, product descriptions, and reference projects can provide direct clues.
Technical Documents
PDFs, data sheets, certificates, operating instructions, and company brochures often contain very specific technical information.
Partners and References
Technology providers themselves publish customer references and case studies.
This means that information may also be visible outside the website of the company you’re looking for.
Press Releases
A press release about a new production line, ERP migration, robotic cell, or machine investment does more than just signal technological progress.
Technology available or technology needed?
Just because a company uses a certain technology doesn’t mean it needs your product.
We must therefore distinguish between three different situations:
TECHNOLOGY FIT
The company uses Technology X.
↓
COMPATIBILITY FIT
Our offering is compatible with Technology X.
↓
DEMAND SIGNAL
There are indications of a change,
a problem, an investment, or an expansion.
↓
OPPORTUNITY
The company, fit, and timing are right.
Example:
A company uses SAP.
That alone doesn’t make it a target customer for an SAP migration service provider.
It becomes more interesting when:
The company uses SAP ECC and is simultaneously looking for several S/4HANA specialists.
How bloo.research Finds Companies Based on Technologies
bloo.research searches for B2B companies based on a custom search profile.
In addition to traditional company characteristics, publicly available technical criteria can also be taken into account. Depending on the use case, these may include products, technologies, manufacturing processes, or other characteristics.
The key point:
You don’t have to wait for someone to create a filter based on the characteristic relevant to you in a company database.
You describe which companies you’re looking for and how they can be identified.
bloo.research handles the systematic research and evaluation.
When does the search not work?
This site also has its limitations.
Technologies can only be identified if publicly available information exists.
A company can use a machine, software, or technology without ever mentioning it publicly.
Furthermore, information can be outdated. A five-year-old job posting does not prove that the technology mentioned is still in use today.
Therefore, the research should always take the following into account:
Source
Date
Strength of the signal
Further confirmation
Confidence
Research Target Customers Even More Precisely
A manufacturing process is just one characteristic of a suitable target customer. Depending on your offering, other characteristics—such as companies based on products or technologies —may be more decisive. This is the best way to find suitable B2B customers.
Find B2B Target Customers
Learn about the overall method and develop a searchable profile based on your Ideal Customer Profile.
Find Companies by Product
Find companies based on the products they manufacture, process, use, or sell.
Find companies by manufacturing type
Find manufacturing companies based on their actual production and manufacturing processes.
Find Companies by Technology
Identify companies based on the machinery, equipment, and technical systems they use.
FAQ
Technographic data describes the technologies a company uses. This often refers to software, CRM, ERP, cloud, or marketing systems. In an industrial context, however, machines, equipment, and automation technologies may also be relevant.
Yes. Depending on the software, there may be publicly available references on websites, in job postings, technical documents, integrations, partner directories, or other sources.
To some extent. Information on machinery fleets, client references, job postings, images, technical documents, or investment announcements can provide clues. However, without a reliable source, the information should not be presented as a confirmed fact.
Yes, provided that companies or other public sources provide information about the manufacturer or machine type used.
Firmographic data describes characteristics of a company, such as industry, size, revenue, or location. Technographic data, on the other hand, describes the technologies a company uses.
A particular technology may indicate compatibility issues, the need for integration, the need for replacement, or a specific technical infrastructure. It is therefore an additional criterion for account selection and prioritization.