20 years of parson: the timeline
In 2026, we look back on 20 years of company history – and with it, many changes, encounters, and learning processes that have shaped us. Since our founding in 2006, the field of technical communication has undergone a fundamental transformation. We have not only observed this change, but have also actively helped shape it through projects, discussions, and collaboration with customers, partners, and colleagues.
Looking back at these years is about more than a sequence of events. It tells the story of building a foundation, growth, new ideas, turning points, adaptation, and how our perspectives and ways of working have evolved. Professional developments, organizational decisions, cultural changes, and new forms of collaboration have also played an important role.
The following sections provide an overview of key milestones in our development – from organizational growth and location expansion to professional positioning and community engagement, and on to current topics such as AI and content ecosystems. They show how our priorities, frameworks, and working methods have evolved over time – and what has emerged from these changes.
2006 – 2012: Founding, building foundations, and gaining visibility
After founding parson communication in Hamburg in 2006, Ulrike Parson initially focused on professional software documentation. During those early years, the main priorities were establishing the company, acquiring projects, creating stable working structures, gaining practical project experience, and gradually expanding the professional network.
As the number of projects and team size increased, the company moved to a larger office building in 2010. This was an early, visible step in the company's development and a sign of its growing organizational stability.
At the same time, we expanded our portfolio to include XML-based documentation solutions in response to the growing demand for structured, modular content creation. We also strengthened our professional presence by participating in technical communication events and engaging more actively with the professional community. We removed translation services from our portfolio so that we could focus entirely on technical documentation.
Step by step, we established ourselves as a specialized technical communication partner. This phase was characterized by building a sustainable team, gaining project experience, and increasing visibility in the market.
2013–2016: Growth, locations, and professional positioning
After transforming into parson AG in 2013 and opening an office in Berlin, we significantly expanded our organizational and spatial structure, establishing cross-location collaboration.
Our team kept growing, reaching 14 technical writers by 2015, which reflected the increasing demand for structured content solutions. At the same time, we intensified our engagement in professional networking, standardization, and knowledge sharing.
In parallel, we further developed our professional positioning:
We regularly presented at the tcworld conference.
We participated in standards and project groups.
We also adopted the DITA standard early on and launch the German Learning DITA (DITA lernen) training platform.
Cultural and organizational developments also shaped this phase.
We were awarded the Hamburg Family Seal (Hamburger Familiensiegel) for our family-friendly working conditions.
We introduced a sociocratic organizational model.
We started training junior technical communicators.
In 2016, we became certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.
2016 marked our 10-year company anniversary, a time for reflection during a period of strong growth, increased responsibility, and clear professional positioning. These years represent our transition from project-based documentation work to strategic consulting and a stronger position within the industry.
2017 – 2021: Standards, workplace transition, and pandemic impacts
We became actively involved in developing iiRDS, the standard for digitally delivering technical documentation, and became a founding member of the iiRDS Consortium. This engagement reflected our growing focus on interoperable information architectures, metadata models, and standardized information delivery. During this period, we also expanded our partnerships, networks, and presence in research, community activities, and training.
In 2019, we moved into a new, larger office building in Hamburg – another sign of our development and changing requirements for collaboration, infrastructure, and project work.
Shortly afterward, the COVID-19 pandemic created a new reality. The shift to fully remote work and the changing conditions of projects required a high degree of adaptability and organizational flexibility.
At the same time, this period accelerated significant developments in technical communication:
- We digitalized training, including the launch of our own e-learning portal.
- We advanced the digitalization of content processes by introducing consulting services for component content management systems and content delivery portals.
- We established smart content and intelligent information as key concepts in technical documentation, alongside the growing adoption of iiRDS as a standard.
2021 also marked our 15-year anniversary, accompanied by extensive activities in research, standardization, and industry projects. These years have permanently changed our work methods and strengthened organizational resilience and professional networking.
2023–2026: AI, security, and future orientation
Since 2023, we have systematically integrated AI technologies into our strategy and service portfolio, advancing our innovation projects, particularly in product data-driven documentation, knowledge modeling, and information process automation.
At the same time, we are responding to the growing need for information security and technological integration by:
- TISAX® certification
- Expanding our technological partnerships
- A stronger presence within the professional community
In May 2023, our partner and software provider, Empolis, honored us with a Partner Award for our trusted and successful collaboration, as well as our outstanding achievements in implementing innovative customer solutions together.
From a content perspective, we are focusing more on integrated scenarios, such as digital twins, configuration-specific documentation, and self-service information systems.
For us, our 20th anniversary is not an endpoint but another step in our development, supported by long-standing relationships, organizational experience, and our willingness to actively embrace change.
Learn more:
- News 20 years of parson – celebrating, reflecting and moving forward
- 20 years of parson: a conversation with founder Ulrike Parson
- About parson
- Milestones
- References