The SYMVARO GmbH is an award-winning software company with more than 15 years of experience in the development of web applications and apps for the utilities industry. Our software solution waterloo is tailored precisely to the requirements of water suppliers and is developed together with experts from the water industry.
The SYMVARO team, led by two industry experts with over 15 years of experience in software development, is driving digital innovation in the utilities industry.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Rudolf Ball is a computer scientist, certified trainer and successful entrepreneur. With over two decades of experience in the development of innovative products, he is driving forward the digitalization of the utilities industry. In 2010, he founded SYMVARO GmbH, where he works as Managing Director. His passion for new technologies and forward-looking solutions makes him a sought-after expert for our partners in the water industry.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
As a qualified information manager, Philip Kozeny plans and manages innovative projects for the digital world of tomorrow. In 2010, he founded SYMVARO GmbH together with Rudolf Ball, where he has been working as Head of Development for waterloo Software-as-a-Service solutions ever since.
His in-depth knowledge of water management solutions and processes qualifies him as a competent partner for software development in the utilities industry.
With over 15 years of experience in software development, we have already implemented numerous software solutions for the utilities industry. We develop software with passion and expertise that is not only functional, but also intuitive to use. Our focus is on simplifying complex processes and offering water suppliers real added value.
Together with a strong network of industry experts, from meter manufacturers to civil engineering offices, and in close cooperation with pilot customers, we develop innovative solutions for the challenges of modern water management.
In order to guarantee our high quality standards, we promote the continuous training of our employees. Part of our team is already trained as water attendants and we have set ourselves the goal of increasing this proportion to a third of the workforce.
kununu Top Company Seal 2024
SYMVARO GmbH was awarded the “Top Company Seal” by kununu in 2023 and 2024, making it one of the approximately 5 percent of the most popular companies with high employee satisfaction.
September
SYMVARO wins "Carinthia Export Prize"
In recognition of its outstanding export performance, SYMVARO GmbH received an award from the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and Raiffeisen Landesbank Kärnten in the “Service Exporters” category at Export Day 2023.
June
SYMVARO receives "Digital Economy" seal of approval
SYMVARO GmbH has held the “Digital Economy” seal of approval since 2018, awarded by the state of Carinthia together with the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Center (GSZ).
January
KWF award for "Technological Services"
SYMVARO GmbH was named the winner in the “Technological Services” category by the Carinthian Economic Development Fund (KWF) as part of the “Investments in Growth and Employment 2014-2020” funding program.
December
SYMVARO nominated as "Office of the Year 2018"
September
2024 was a groundbreaking year for SYMVARO and our waterloo software solution, characterized by numerous innovations that are significantly advancing the digitalization of the water industry.
In April, the year started with the release of “Needs for action 2.0” for waterloo Control, our self-monitoring system. This feature, now with an intuitive dashboard and extended functions, is available via the web application, full-service tablet and smartphone app.
May saw the launch of the “Meter Plus App” in the app stores. This digital solution enables citizens to conveniently read their own meter readings and transmit them directly to water suppliers.
This was followed in June by the introduction of waterloo Flow, a special software solution for self-monitoring burst pipes and leaks. An important innovation for safeguarding the infrastructure.
The highlight was the release of waterloo Risk Management in October. This extension for waterloo Control is based on the Water Safety Plan (WSP) and provides water suppliers with comprehensive support in assessing risks to the drinking water supply and planning effective countermeasures.
These milestones underline our commitment to strengthening the water industry with forward-looking software solutions and ensuring drinking water safety in the long term.
For SYMVARO, the developer of the pioneering software solution waterloo, 2023 was a year of external recognition that underlined our success and importance in the digital economy and in exports.
In January, we consolidated our position as a pioneer of digitalization: we received the coveted “Digital Economy” seal of approval. This award, presented by the state of Carinthia in cooperation with the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Center (GSZ), has confirmed our leading role in digital transformation since 2018.
A particular highlight was in June, when SYMVARO GmbH won the prestigious “Carinthia Export Prize”. The Carinthian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) and Raiffeisen Landesbank Kärnten honored us at the Export Day 2023 in the “Service Exporters” category for our outstanding achievements in international business. This award not only underlines our success on a global level, but also our commitment to establishing the innovative waterloo software solution beyond Austria’s borders.
The year 2022 was significant for SYMVARO, the developer of waterloo, as we significantly expanded our reach and received public recognition for our corporate culture.
In February, we launched an innovative digital roadshow on the digitalization of the water industry. This event, the largest of its kind in the industry, brought together hundreds of participants and numerous new customers. The digital roadshow offered water suppliers from all over Austria the opportunity to get to know waterloo Control and other innovative software solutions from SYMVARO conveniently and efficiently. Through exciting live presentations, interactive workshops and individual consultations, participants were able to obtain comprehensive information and experience the benefits of digital water management first-hand.
In April, SYMVARO received special public recognition when the ORF news program “Kärnten heute” reported on us. We were able to present our successful approach to employer branding and our strategies for actively recruiting employees as a model company. This report underlined our commitment to a positive and attractive working environment.
2021 marked a decisive turning point for SYMVARO and the water industry, as it was the official birth year of our pioneering software solution waterloo Control and the start of our digital expansion strategy. The foundation stone was laid back in January with the release of waterloo Control. This innovative software solution revolutionized the self-monitoring of infrastructure elements for water suppliers.
At the same time, January also saw the launch of waterloo Pronto Autopilot, a software extension that enables water suppliers to send meter reading sheets to customers not only by post, but also conveniently by e-mail.
SYMVARO launched the waterloo Control online roadshow in the fall. Originally planned as a live event in St. Stefan im Gailtal, we quickly adapted to the coronavirus measures and successfully moved the roadshow to the virtual world. The huge success of this adaptation showed us that digital formats can also achieve an immense reach.
At the same time, SYMVARO GmbH has presented waterloo Control at numerous trade fairs and conferences since fall 2021. Through exciting live presentations and informative technical discussions, we brought digital self-monitoring for water suppliers directly to our customers and consolidated our position as a leading provider in the field of digital water management.
2019 was a strategically important year for SYMVARO, the innovation engine behind waterloo. We consolidated our position as a digital pioneer and laid the foundation for one of our core solutions.
Our commitment to digital transformation was recognized back in March: SYMVARO received the “Digital Economy 2018” seal of approval. This recognition from the state of Carinthia, the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Centre underlined our pioneering role in the digitalization of the region.
May brought a pioneering cooperation with DATEV eG. The aim of this partnership was to enable more efficient processes for municipal water suppliers. Thanks to powerful interfaces between our waterloo software – which efficiently manages the entire life cycle of water meters – and DATEV’s tried-and-tested financial applications, we were able to implement end-to-end processes and an optimized data flow for waterworks and special-purpose associations.
This was followed in September by another important strategic partnership with SIV.AG. This technology cooperation created a powerful connection for the water industry. Since then, water utilities have benefited from an interface between the kVASy® ERP software suite and the waterloo software, which enables an end-to-end digital process from meter reading to billing.
December 2019 then heralded the next stage of digital water supply: the development of waterloo Control. Although the official release was not due until January 2021, we used the time of the first COVID-19 lockdown (March 2020) to perfect this self-monitoring software solution based on our Snowflake strategy. The focus was on the immense challenge of self-monitoring for water suppliers, which requires strict legal requirements, regular inspections and complete documentation of sources, elevated tanks, hydrants and other infrastructure elements. In close cooperation with 11 pilot customers, we developed an innovative tool that combines ten years of experience and provides water suppliers with a smart solution for internal and external monitoring.
2018 was a defining year for SYMVARO, filled with strategic decisions, significant investments and well-deserved awards that laid the foundation for the continued success of our waterloo software solutions.
A new era was ushered in in January: our successful software solutions for the water industry were united under the strong umbrella brand waterloo. This marked the beginning of a clear brand identity and bundled our expertise under a memorable name.
February brought a decisive milestone: an investment by Diehl Ventures and the KWF. Diehl Ventures, a group that manufactures measuring devices for water consumption, among other things, became a strategic partner of SYMVARO GmbH. Our waterloo software solution, which enables the digital management of water meters, convinced the Diehl Group. The common goal: to develop further solutions to promote the digitalization of the water industry.
In July, we celebrated an important customer milestone: the waterloo family counted 100 members! This proud number of cities, municipalities and water utilities across Austria and Germany using our software was clear proof of the trust in our solutions and our continuous growth.
September was doubly eventful: firstly, we celebrated the inauguration of our new head office in Klagenfurt am Wörthersee. The new, modern office space created the ideal environment for our growing team. This was followed shortly afterwards by outstanding recognition: SYMVARO was nominated for “Office of the Year”. Our offices impressed the jury of the 2018 OOTY Awards in the criteria of design & ergonomics, flexibility, employee friendliness, wellness & healthy offices, innovation & integration of technology, inspiration & creativity and corporate identity & representation.
The year 2018 ended in December with two more awards: We received the KWF seal of approval for “Technological Services” from the Carinthian Economic Development Fund. In addition, our status as a digital pioneer in Carinthia was confirmed by the “Digital Economy 2018” seal of approval, awarded by the strategic cooperation between the state of Carinthia, the Carinthian Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Center. By the end of the year, more than 120 cities, municipalities and water suppliers throughout Austria and Germany were already using our waterloo software solutions.
This eventful year laid the foundations for our expansive future and consolidated SYMVARO’s position as an innovation leader in the water industry.
2017 was a year of international recognition for SYMVARO, impressively confirming our innovative strength in the field of smart city solutions and our role as a developer of waterloo software solutions.
In November, we celebrated a special success: SYMVARO won the prestigious “Central Europe Startup Awards”. As a regional offshoot of the Global Startup Awards for the CEE region, our Carinthian software company was able to prevail in the “Best Smart City Solution” category CEE-wide after having already won the overall award in Austria. This award underlined our vision and our commitment to making cities smarter and more liveable through digital solutions.
Even though the focus today is strongly on water management and waterloo, we already demonstrated our ability to develop innovative software for complex urban challenges in 2017. Being recognized by the Central Europe Startup Awards was an important milestone that cemented our position as a leading technology company in the region and paved the way for future success.
For SYMVARO, the innovation leader behind the waterloo software, 2016 was characterized by international expansion and the development of pioneering ideas for the digitalization of the water industry.
In September, we embarked on an exciting journey to the Austrian Pitching Days in New York. Participating in this event allowed us to visit various incubators, startups and investors in New York and Boston – a dream come true for any startup to make valuable contacts and present our vision.
November took the SYMVARO team to the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona. At the Advantage Austria stand, we made numerous new and interesting contacts with potential sales partners worldwide. At this trade fair, it became clear that our waterloo solution was exactly in tune with the times, as increasing efficiency and reducing costs are key pillars of today’s smart cities.
In parallel to our international presence, we also pushed ahead with development in Germany: the waste app developed by SYMVARO for waste management sent out its first millionth reminder to app users – impressive proof of the acceptance and benefits of our solutions.
Another decisive impetus came in 2016 in Villach (Austria): A third of all meter readings here were already transmitted via the app developed by SYMVARO. This success laid the foundation for a groundbreaking new idea: the self-reading of meter readings via chatbot, which would later be integrated into our waterloo solutions.
2016 was therefore a year in which we not only expanded our global presence, but also further developed innovative ideas for the digitalization of public services, particularly in the water sector.
2015 marked a decisive turning point for SYMVARO, the developer of the pioneering software solution waterloo. It was a year of consolidation, intensive learning and the first international successes that laid the foundations for our current position.
A rapid development phase began in May: SYMVARO was accepted into the renowned “ABC Accelerator” program in Ljubljana. This intensive period away from the main site in Carinthia provided us with valuable learning and the realization that focus is the key to success. This led to the consolidation of all our water management products on a single digital platform: waterloo. The central concept behind it: “Water Meter Lifetime Management” (WMLM) – the digital management of a water meter from initial use to decommissioning.
October brought double recognition: firstly, SYMVARO was named Austrian winner in the “Best User Experience” category by an international jury as part of the Central European Startup Award (CESA).
An outstanding invitation followed shortly afterwards: The SYMVARO team was selected by an international jury of experts as one of the world’s top 10 most promising companies in the water sector and was allowed to take part in the EXPO World Exposition 2015 “Feeding the planet. Energy for life” in Milan. There, we impressed an international audience from over 140 countries with our waterloo software concept.
In December, we rounded off the year with another international success: We secured third place at the H20 Challenge in Madrid with our SaaS solutions waterloo. This competition promotes innovative water technologies and paved the way for a promising international future.
2015 was therefore the year in which waterloo was born as a holistic platform and SYMVARO established itself as an innovation leader in the water industry.
The year 2013 marked a decisive milestone for SYMVARO: it was the birth year of waterloo, our pioneering software solution that was to revolutionize the water industry in the long term.
Together with five committed waterworks, SYMVARO GmbH was looking for the ideal digital solution for recording meter readings and handling complex meter replacement processes. After intensive discussions and workshops, the innovative idea of waterloo saw the light of day in the digital world.
With waterloo, we have developed an optimal all-in-one tool for waterworks that is characterized by its ease of use and immense resource savings when reading and managing meter readings.
This solution quickly became synonymous with efficiency and progress in the industry and paved the way for the further digitalization of the water industry.
Every great success story begins with an idea, and for SYMVARO and the later waterloo software, this began in 2011.
Fascinated by the dedicated and long-term thinking mentality of water supply employees, SYMVARO GmbH developed an innovative iPhone app for transmitting meter readings.
This first digital solution, which laid the foundation for our expertise in the water industry, was supplemented by an Android app the following year. This marked the beginning of our journey to revolutionize the processes of water suppliers with smart software solutions.
The year 2010 marks the founding of SYMVARO GmbH, a company that has set itself the goal of developing digital solutions for the cities of tomorrow.
Under the visionary leadership of Dipl.-Ing. Rudolf Ball (CEO) and Philip Kozeny (CTO), the software company started out with a wide-ranging portfolio of applications.
From innovative bike rental systems and pioneering energy portals to practical apps for municipalities, SYMVARO has focused on digital solutions that make urban life easier and more efficient from the very beginning.
These diverse beginnings laid the foundations for the expertise that would later lead to the development of our core solution, WATERLOO.
