Berger-Levrault

On our first morning in Toulouse, we were welcomed by Berger-Levrault in Labège. This visit was the result of multiple exchanges over two years, delayed due to the health crisis. During these years of communication, a connection was also formed that led to welcoming two students, members of the technological missions, for internships. For this edition, Berger-Levrault was the first company we wanted to visit.

The company sparked great interest among the team due to its rich history, culture, and innovation. Remarkably, Berger-Levrault is over 500 years old. It has successfully navigated technological shifts to reach its current status. The company dedicates 25% of its revenue to research and development, aiming to support society with numerous digital solutions. This investment allows it to operate 68% in government and local authorities, 17% in medical and social institutions, 11% in businesses and industries, and 5% in educational institutions.

Despite its vast global presence, Berger-Levrault remains discreet and dominant in its operations. For example, the emergency service system at Disneyland Paris is a Berger-Levrault product. The voting management system for the last French election, including the distribution of ballot boxes and papers, also came from Berger-Levrault.

The company is built on three core values:

• Dignity: Acting with respect and integrity in service of the common good.
• Kindness: Treating each person with sincerity and authenticity.
• Selflessness: Embracing responsibility, accepting change, and prioritizing the collective.

These values have earned Berger-Levrault its reputation and enabled collaboration with over 2,000 employees serving more than 51,000 clients—reaching millions of users. Its continuous growth is fueled by acquiring companies for the common good. One such acquisition is CARL Software, which we will visit in Limonest soon. Acquired in 2017, CARL has flourished under Berger-Levrault’s care, and its community greatly appreciates the buyer’s benevolence—a true, authentic family.

The company constantly seeks to improve collaboration among international teams, addressing time zones, language barriers, and cultural differences in digital practices. While software may be universal, Berger-Levrault embraces cultural diversity to create reliable and inclusive products. It provides effective and autonomous tools for all.

Autonomy is a key concept at Berger-Levrault. The goal is to create interconnected software solutions that facilitate information retrieval and maintain fluid user interactions. Significant effort is invested in developing an autonomous platform to address interoperability challenges. Products are designed to be simple and plug-and-play.

Regarding sustainable development, Berger-Levrault has long been committed. The issue of pay equity dates back to World War II—when the company was already 400 years old. Gender parity remains a major focus, and the company strives to uphold it across all its global offices.

Berger-Levrault is meticulous in its technological choices for the sake of the environment. The internet currently accounts for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions, projected to rise to 8% by 2025 and 15% by 2030. The company is actively addressing this trend. For instance, sending one email is equivalent to leaving a light bulb on for an hour. With 320 billion emails sent daily, digital solutions must emerge quickly.

The company also promotes sustainability among youth through its renowned competition, “The City’ZEN Challenge,” now focused on environmental themes. The goal is to develop digital solutions that contribute to the ecological transformation of urban life.

Berger-Levrault is also innovating in data syndication, aiming to connect different types of data with real-world coherence. For example, analyzing tree size along highways based on daily traffic flow could help determine whether more trees should be planted or if existing trees effectively reduce wind resistance for drivers.

The CIM (City Information Modeling) concept reveals hidden cause-and-effect relationships. CAE is currently working on creating digital twins of cities, enabling access to interconnected data types. This helps citizens better understand their environment and how to interact with it. For future residents, it offers insights into adapting to specific areas and making informed decisions about where to live.

All sectors can benefit from this innovation. CIM, also known as City-BIM, is a compromise between GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and BIM (Building Information Modeling). GIS combines geographic and statistical data to visualize spatial dynamics, while BIM creates digital models of infrastructure. By merging these, we can model large-scale ecosystems beyond infrastructure—linking coherent data, enabling immersive views, and launching simulations.

In conclusion, the future of data accessibility and knowledge sharing is among Berger-Levrault’s top priorities. This industry veteran is striving for a greener, fairer, simpler, more inclusive, and prosperous future. It continues to uphold the principles that have guided its collaborators and users. In fact, in 2025, its goal is to double its revenue to play a more active role in societal transformation.

Knowledge sharing is the key to success!