Service operations have long been an overlooked engine of profitability within manufacturing, generating recurring revenue and often delivering higher margins than new machine sales. Yet despite their strategic significance, these functions remain heavily manual and overloaded, especially as machine complexity grows and skilled labour becomes scarce. Addressing this gap, Munich based startup Lytra has closed its pre seed financing round led by High Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from additional investors, to expand its AI driven platform for manufacturing service automation.
Unlocking a Hidden Value Driver in Manufacturing
After sales service is becoming one of the most important levers for manufacturers seeking resilient and scalable revenue streams. Customers now expect fast resolution times, personalised support and seamless access to spare parts and technical assistance. Meanwhile, engineering teams face mounting pressure to maintain service quality despite tight resources, ageing workforces and increasingly complex machinery.
Lytra aims to tackle these challenges head on. The company has developed an AI operating system specifically built for manufacturing service operations. Rather than offering a generic automation platform, Lytra focuses on the unique knowledge structures, workflows and domain expertise inherent in mechanical engineering.
A Multi Agent System for Service Automation
Lytra’s platform integrates a suite of AI agents that automate critical service processes such as spare parts identification and ordering, technician scheduling and first line technical support. These agents draw from existing engineering documents, service histories, machine specifications and organisational process knowledge.
Unlike traditional enterprise software that requires lengthy configuration, Lytra is designed to be fully operational from day one. The platform is integrated into the customer’s IT environment and immediately begins supporting service teams by handling routine requests. This frees skilled technicians to focus on complex, high value cases while significantly reducing response times.
By centralising service intelligence and enabling faster decision making, the system helps manufacturers preserve expert knowledge, a crucial advantage at a time when many service veterans are retiring and industry wide skills gaps are widening.
Solving a Structural Industry Challenge
According to Timo Bertsch, Investment Manager at High Tech Gründerfonds, after sales service represents one of the largest unrealised opportunities in the manufacturing sector. He explains that companies often lack the processes and automation needed to scale service delivery effectively, even though demand for fast, high quality support continues to rise.
Bertsch believes Lytra addresses this challenge with a clear focus on scalability and operational efficiency. The company’s platform not only automates repetitive tasks but also helps organisations capture and reuse expert knowledge that would otherwise be difficult to preserve.
Transforming Service Into a Revenue Engine
Lytra sees its mission as transforming after sales service from a cost centre into a predictable revenue driver. By enabling manufacturing companies to automate service request handling across a single integrated platform, Lytra helps teams achieve higher throughput, reduce delays and deliver more consistent support across global operations.
The platform gives manufacturers the tools to meet customer expectations for fast service while maintaining profitability. In many cases, improved service quality also strengthens customer relationships and boosts long term equipment sales.
Scaling Across Mid Sized Manufacturers
The new funding will support Lytra as it builds on the results of its initial pilot projects. The company plans to expand its platform and increase adoption among mid sized manufacturing firms throughout 2026. These companies often face the strongest pressure to modernise service operations but lack the internal capacity to build AI driven solutions themselves.
By providing industry specific automation that works with existing systems, Lytra aims to become a critical partner for manufacturers navigating the shift toward digital service operations.
A Platform for the Future of Industrial Service
As the manufacturing sector embraces digital transformation, Lytra is emerging as a key player in reshaping how industrial after sales service is delivered. The company’s AI based operating system addresses a structural industry challenge at a moment when service demand is rising faster than organisations can scale manually.
With new investment and growing customer interest, Lytra is positioned to help manufacturers unlock long term value, improve customer satisfaction and build resilient, automated service operations built for the future.