TISAX Software Comparison

Why You Need TISAX Software

Managing TISAX compliance manually works as long as your company is small and only needs to implement a single framework. But once you manage multiple locations, dozens of policies, hundreds of assets, and a growing supplier list, every manual approach reaches its limits. The typical symptoms: scattered documents in SharePoint folders, outdated Excel lists that nobody maintains, and an ISMS that only exists on paper.

A GRC platform solves these problems structurally. It provides a central location for all compliance activities: policies, risk assessments, asset inventory, evidence, supplier monitoring, and audit preparation. Instead of isolated documents, you have a connected system where changes in one place automatically flow into all linked areas. This reduces not only effort but also error rates, and that is precisely what makes the difference between a smooth pass and a major finding in a TISAX assessment.

A GRC platform becomes especially relevant when you need to implement other frameworks alongside TISAX. ISO 27001, NIS2, GDPR, or industry-specific requirements share many requirements with TISAX. A platform with cross-framework mapping identifies these overlaps and prevents you from implementing and documenting identical measures multiple times.

The 4 Approaches Compared

When automotive suppliers face TISAX preparation, they essentially have four options. Each has its justification, but also clear limitations:

1. Excel and SharePoint

The lowest-barrier approach: you download the VDA ISA questionnaire, create Excel spreadsheets for risk assessments, and store policies in SharePoint folders. The costs are minimal (practically zero additional tool costs), and you can start immediately.

The drawbacks show up quickly: no version control during simultaneous editing, no automatic reconciliation between risks and measures, no reminders for due reviews. Beyond a certain complexity, Excel becomes a risk factor itself. During the assessment, the auditor has difficulty verifying whether measures were actually implemented because an audit trail is missing. For companies with fewer than 20 employees and a single location, Excel can work as a starting point. Beyond that, we strongly recommend a specialized solution.

2. External Consultant

Many suppliers hire an external TISAX consultant who manages the entire preparation process. A good consultant brings experience from dozens of assessments and knows the typical pitfalls. This accelerates preparation and reduces the risk of negative audit outcomes.

The price: EUR 50,000 to 100,000+ depending on scope and company size. There is also a structural problem: the knowledge built stays with the consultant, not with you. After the assessment, you are left with an ISMS that you must maintain yourself but may not fully understand. At re-assessment after three years, you need to re-engage the consultant or familiarize yourself from scratch. The consultant approach makes sense for companies without an internal ISMS manager who need a label quickly. Long-term, it is the most expensive option.

3. Enterprise GRC (ServiceNow, Archer, SAP)

Enterprise GRC platforms like ServiceNow GRC, RSA Archer, or SAP GRC are designed for large corporations. They offer extensive features, complex workflows, and deep ERP integrations. However, they are correspondingly complex to implement (6 to 12 months), expensive (six-figure annual license costs), and require dedicated administrators.

For mid-market automotive suppliers, these platforms are typically oversized. The implementation time alone often exceeds the entire timeframe you have for TISAX preparation. Moreover, most enterprise GRC platforms do not offer native VDA ISA mapping, so you need to set up the framework manually. The enterprise approach is only worthwhile for corporations with hundreds of employees in the compliance department and multi-million GRC budgets.

4. Kopexa: Purpose-Built for Mid-Market and Suppliers

Kopexa was specifically built for mid-market companies and automotive suppliers. The platform provides everything you need for TISAX without the complexity and cost of an enterprise solution. Typical time-to-value: under 4 weeks. This means you are productive within a month and can begin assessment preparation.

Starting at EUR 249/month, Kopexa is a fraction of the cost of a consultant or enterprise platform. At the same time, you build internal know-how because you manage your ISMS yourself in the platform. The platform guides you through the VDA ISA questionnaire, suggests measures, and shows your compliance status at any time. At re-assessment after three years, you benefit from the existing data base and save time and money again.

TCO Analysis: What Does TISAX Really Cost?

The true costs of TISAX certification go far beyond the bare audit fees. For an informed decision, you need to look at the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) over the entire 3-year cycle:

Fixed Costs (Independent of Approach)

• ENX Registration: approximately EUR 4,500 (once per assessment cycle)
• Audit Provider Fees: EUR 5,000 to 15,000 depending on assessment level and company size. AL3 on-site audits are at the upper end, AL2 remote audits at the lower end.

Variable Costs (Depending on Approach)

* For Excel/DIY, internal personnel costs dominate. Calculated with average personnel costs of EUR 5,000/FTE month.

The numbers clearly show: the seemingly "free" DIY approach with Excel is often more expensive overall than a specialized GRC platform because the internal effort is massively higher. The consultant approach can make sense in the first cycle but becomes disproportionately expensive over three years and especially at re-assessment. Enterprise GRC solutions are only worthwhile from a compliance team size of 10+ people.

How Kopexa Stands Out from the Competition

In the German-speaking GRC market, several providers offer TISAX support. An honest look at the landscape:

• DataGuard offers a comprehensive GRC platform with a strong focus on data protection and ISO 27001. The pricing structure is not public, and the platform is geared more toward larger enterprises. TISAX is supported but is not the primary focus.
• Secfix positions itself as an ISO 27001 tool for startups and SMEs. The platform is lean and user-friendly, but the TISAX-specific feature set (VDA ISA mapping, prototype protection, supplier monitoring) is limited.

Kopexa stands out in three key areas: transparent pricing (starting at EUR 249/month, publicly listed on the website), native VDA ISA and TISAX mapping (no manual framework setup required), and product-led growth (you can try the platform for free before committing). On top of that, there is KSPEC, our open standard for machine-readable compliance checks, which enables automated verification of technical measures.

When Kopexa Is the Right Choice

Kopexa is the optimal solution for you if you are in one of the following situations:

• You are a mid-market automotive supplier (50 to 2,000 employees) and need to obtain or renew a TISAX label.
• Your compliance team consists of 1 to 20 people who manage TISAX alongside ISO 27001, NIS2, or other frameworks.
• You want to reduce consultant costs or fully internalize compliance without accepting enterprise complexity.
• You are looking for a platform with fair pricing that grows with your company and is immediately ready for re-assessment in three years.
• You need supply chain monitoring and want to centrally manage your suppliers' TISAX labels.

Want to try Kopexa with no obligation? Schedule a free demo or start directly with the free trial.

Further Reading

Deepen your knowledge with these resources:

• Framework Comparisons for detailed ISO 27001 vs. TISAX analyses
• TISAX for Automotive Suppliers with assessment level guide and scoping tips