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PhantomPDF sees successful use at Drees & Sommer

Drees & Sommer, based in Stuttgart, is an international consulting firm in the construction and real estate sector. With 41 offices worldwide, the company has used Foxit Software’s PhantomPDF since 2016 to create and edit PDF documents. Since then, it has benefited from low license and maintenance fees for its 2,150 users who also praise the software’s intuitive, Microsoft Office-style user interface.
About the author: The PDF Association staff delivers a vendor-neutral platform for PDF’s stakeholders, facilitating the development of open specifications and ISO standards for PDF technology. Staff members include: Alexandra Oettler (Editor), Betsy Fanning … Read more

Drees & Sommer, based in Stuttgart, is an international consulting firm in the construction and real estate sector. With 41 offices worldwide, the company has used Foxit Software’s PhantomPDF since 2016 to create and edit PDF documents. Since then, it has benefited from low license and maintenance fees for its 2,150 users who also praise the software’s intuitive, Microsoft Office-style user interface.

 width=Drees & Sommer, based in Stuttgart, is an international consulting firm in the construction and real estate sector. With 41 offices worldwide, the company has used Foxit Software’s PhantomPDF since 2016 to create and edit PDF documents. Since then, it has benefited from low license and maintenance fees for its 2,150 users who also praise the software’s intuitive, Microsoft Office-style user interface.

As Drees & Sommer was forced to bear significant maintenance costs for its previous software solution, Ralf Schneller, head of IT purchasing, started to look for alternatives. As part of a field test over the course of one year, multiple groups put a range of different PDF editors through their paces. “We need a PDF editor for a range of applications,” said Ralf Schneller. “These include typical functions, such as exporting Office files to PDF, but also converting CAD files or working with forms.” This comprehensive testing phase produced a clear winner: PhantomPDF. The software offers a comprehensive scope of functionality at an impressive price. It features functions for collaboration and PDF creation, as well as editing, commenting, approval, security, organizing, exporting, text recognition (OCR) and signing PDF documents and forms. It is therefore possible to migrate to PhantomPDF at any time – and often more cost-effective than upgrading to the latest version of comparable solutions. “Ultimately, PhantomPDF scored on its usability,” said Ralf Schneller. “We also felt very well supported by Foxit during the pre-consulting phase, as they responded very quickly to our requests for changes. The support that we needed in order to export comments from PDF forms also resulted in a quick, practical solution for us.”

Users were prepared for the coming change by showing them training videos covering PhantomPDF’s various functions. The IT department also set up a dedicated forum to answer questions on how to use the tool. The software was automatically distributed to individual clients at each office. “Foxit also did a very good job here,” said the head of IT purchasing. Once installation was complete, users would receive a notification when they switched on their computers to tell them that PhantomPDF was now installed as a PDF editor. Since then, 2,150 users worldwide have been using the software and its comprehensive range of functionality. Thanks to the self-explanatory, ribbon-based user interface, no further training was necessary.

About Drees & Sommer SE
For more than 45 years, Drees & Sommer has supported public- and private-sector owners and investors in all aspects of real estate. Managed by partners and headquartered in Stuttgart, the company has 41 offices worldwide. The focus is always on profitability, whereby we promote sustainable building to the greatest possible degree. We call this approach ‘the blue way’.
The construction and real estate experts always have the goal of producing measurable added value for the client. This could mean, for example, streamlining the implementation of a construction project, making the operation of a property more economical, or cutting energy costs through innovative concepts. Currently, the company with its approximately 2,150 employees is acting as an independent project manager for more than 960 construction and real estate projects.
Drees & Sommer and EPEA Internationale Umweltforschung Hamburg are jointly committed to Cradle to Cradle®, bringing principals, investors, architects and manufacturers together to promote the approach.


Founded in 2001, Foxit is a leading provider of innovative PDF and eSignature products and services, helping knowledge workers increase productivity and do more with documents. Foxit combines easy-to-use desktop software, mobile apps, and cloud services in one powerful solution: The Foxit PDF Editor Suite. This Intelligent Document Platform allows…

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