Panorama Top 250 of French software publishers – 15th edition: AI enters the heart of French software publishers’ business models

For the 15th consecutive year, Numeum and EY unveil the results of the Top 250 French software publishers, the industry’s benchmark panorama. Conducted between May and September 2025 among 284 companies, the 2025 study highlights an ecosystem that remains solid, despite a slight slowdown in the sector’s overall growth. Publishers are driven by innovation and the accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence, paving the way for the agentic revolution.

Solid growth despite uncertainties : In an uncertain economic environment, French software publishers reported an increase in worldwide publishing sales to €23.1 billion in 2024, reflecting sustained momentum. Publishers with sales of over €100 million, excluding the Top 3 (Dassault Systèmes, Ubisoft and Criteo), reported a 14% increase in publishing sales, while the other categories under €100 million also posted double-digit sales growth. Profitability remains high: 79% of publishers achieved positive operating income, confirming the strength of the SaaS model and the structural efficiency of the sector.

Artificial intelligence at the heart of French software: 83% of software publishers now rank AI among their top three technological priorities (+9 points vs. 2023), and 61% have already integrated generative AI functionalities into their offerings (+21 points vs. 2023), while 31% plan to do so in the next two years. 92% have made at least one AI solution available to their teams, particularly for R&D and marketing, and 61% are already seeing productivity gains. Only 24% of publishers use their own AI models, with heavy reliance on third-party solutions underlining the challenges of data sovereignty and governance.

Headcount on the rise, but hiring momentum slowing: the global headcount of French pure-play publishers grew by 8.1% in 2024. However, forecasts for 2025 reflect a certain caution: 62% of publishers plan to increase their workforce (-10 points vs. 2023). The sector continues to strive for gender diversity: women represent 34% of the workforce and 31% of management committees, stable but still insufficient figures. 55% of publishers report recruitment difficulties.

CSR consolidates and becomes a sustainable pillar: corporate social responsibility (CSR) confirms its maturity: 77% of publishers have initiated a structured approach, 79% consider it a priority, and 58% are now carrying out their carbon footprint. 43% are involved in a certification process (+10 points vs. 2023). This stabilization of indicators testifies to the lasting anchoring of social and environmental issues within the publishers’ strategy.

International expansion and external growth, two stable drivers: international expansion remains a pillar of growth for the sector, with 55% of sales generated outside France, a level that has remained stable over the past seven years. Major publishers with sales in excess of €100 million account for the bulk of this internationalization, while smaller publishers remain mainly focused on the French market. Furthermore, 57% of publishers are planning an external growth operation in the next few years (+ 3 points vs. 2023), a sign of renewed confidence in their ability to invest and diversify.

Financing, the key to investment in AI: French software publishers maintain a solid financial structure, based mainly on self-financing and operating profitability. While access to external financing is becoming more complex, 67% of players use debt to support their development. Public schemes remain essential levers: 73% of publishers benefit from the Research Tax Credit (CIR). Against a backdrop of rapid technological change, preserving these tools is crucial to maintaining the competitiveness of French R&D and encouraging investment in artificial intelligence.

Cyberattacks, a constant threat : cybersecurity remains a major issue for the sector: 57% of publishers suffered at least one intrusion attempt in 2024. Phishing and ransomware remain the main threats identified. 85% of publishers entrust their data hosting to external service providers or certified cloud providers, in order to concentrate on their core business while guaranteeing a high level of protection. Against a backdrop of rapid AI adoption, securing models, data and infrastructures is becoming a governance and sovereignty priority.

Innovation, the key driver of the French model: 73% of software publishers identify innovation as their primary growth driver, ahead of geographic growth (3rd) and cross-selling (4th). The rise of “AI-native” solutions, designed around artificial intelligence from the outset, bears witness to this trend. Quoted by 23% of respondents, upselling (2nd) is emerging as a major growth lever to enrich existing offers and increase the value generated per customer.

” After the era of the cloud and SaaS (Software as a Service), the sector is entering the era of agentic intelligence: where software systems no longer simply automate, but learn, plan and act autonomously. French software publishers have everything they need to tackle this new cycle: recognized skills, a strong R&D base and a culture of trust that is the hallmark of our ecosystem. This solid foundation will enable them to transform this technological transformation into a genuine economic opportunity for France and Europe. This edition of the Top 250 once again illustrates the sector’s ability to remain resilient while innovating, and to combine performance and responsibility. The dazzling adoption of generative AI bears witness to a vibrant ecosystem, investing in R&D, talent and digital sovereignty. The challenge is no longer simply to produce software tools, but to design systems capable of orchestrating, reasoning and acting. It is this demand for innovation and cooperation that will enable French software to establish itself as a strategic pillar of European digital transformation. “emphasizes Jean-Philippe Couturier, President of Numeum’s Publishers and Platforms division.

“2025 confirms the strength of a sector which, despite the economic slowdown and uncertainties, is maintaining high growth and retaining its ambitions. We are witnessing the emergence of a new generation of publishers, often “AI-native”, who are redefining business models and accelerating the transformation of the French software landscape. For their part, established players are relying on a robust business model and strong profitability to invest and accelerate their transformation. This combination of stability and boldness is the strength of the French software industry. In a global environment where technological competition is intensifying, our ecosystem retains a major asset: its ability to innovate in a context where technologies and business models are evolving rapidly. ” says Jean-Christophe Pernet, Partner at EY.

Top 250 winners 2025

Hosted by Marion Moreau, the ceremony honored 5 publishers:

• Trophée 2025 Innovation, awarded to Lucca, a software platform for human resources management – talent, time & activities, payroll, professional expenses…

• Trophée 2025 International, awarded to Planisware, a BtoB SaaS platform for project, program and product portfolio management.

• Trophée 2025 Prix du Jury, awarded to Groupe Isagri, a software publisher serving farms and the accounting profession.

• 2025 External Growth Trophy, awarded to Orisha, publisher of management software for professionals in the healthcare, construction, real estate and retail sectors.

• 2025 Video Games Prize, awarded to Sandfall Interactive, a development studio specializing in premium 3D games for PC and next-generation consoles.

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Methodology of the TOP250 2025 study:

The Top 250 French Software Publishers is based on a questionnaire survey of French software publishers conducted by EY and Numeum. In this 2025 edition, the overall ranking is based on the worldwide software sales of 284 publishers. Only French companies declaring that they were not subsidiaries of a foreign group during the financial year in question are included in this panorama. The individual figures provided in this study are based on data declared by companies in response to the questionnaire. In some cases, they are supplemented by public data. Sales figures are rounded to the nearest hundred thousand euros. Data were collected from publishers between May and September 2025.

About Numeum
Numeum is France’s leading employers’ association for digital professionals. A member of the Syntec federation, the second largest branch of the MEDEF, it represents digital services companies (ESN), software publishers, platforms and engineering and technology consulting companies (ICT). Numeum’s 2,500 member companies account for 85% of the sector’s total sales, which in turn represent 70 billion euros in sales and 670,000 employees in France. Chaired by Véronique Torner since June 2023, Numeum is implementing an impact project to raise the profile of the industry and federate the ecosystems of Digital professionals in France and Europe. The presidency has set itself three main priorities: the regions, to support members throughout France; skills, to meet the challenges of attractiveness and gender diversity; and responsible digital, to support and sustain the development of a digital ecosystem on a trajectory of positive economic, social, societal and environmental impact.
To find out more:www.numeum.fr

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