The first computer
Daniel Schönland from Gütersloh receives his first computer: a TI-99/4A, plus Extended BASIC for his birthday. He programmes before he learns to write at primary school. The C64, Amiga 500 and Amiga 600 follow.
About PaperOffice
From conviction. Since 2002. For what comes next.
From a challenge of his own to intelligent document processing. The story of Daniel Schönland and PaperOffice.
The founder
A concrete problem. A solution of his own.
In 2002 Daniel Schönland is looking for software to deal with document chaos in his own company. What is available does not fit his requirements. So he builds it himself.
The internal solution becomes PaperOffice. What starts as a concrete task grows over the years into a platform for intelligent document processing.
The story connects technical curiosity with a question that remains: how can work with documents be made better?
- Since 2002 Developed continuously
- Own development Knowledge in the company
- Infrastructure in Europe Operated in-house
Our development
A story that continues.
The founder’s beginnings. The development of PaperOffice. From 1983 to today.
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First Linux server, first websites
First own server running SuSE Linux. First websites in plain HTML, long before CSS. In 1996 PHP and MySQL are added, the tools that later power PaperOffice.
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Lycos, Schlund+Partner, studies
Professional work at Lycos in Gütersloh and at Schlund+Partner (today 1&1 / United Internet): data centre, frontend, backend. In parallel communication design at FH Bielefeld and IT systems management at the IHK.
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The beginning
PaperOffice is created
Daniel Schönland builds the first version of PaperOffice because no software on the market fits his own company.
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MySQL and COMPUTERBILD
A move to MySQL as the basis for revision-safe filing. COMPUTERBILD presents PaperOffice.
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Cover story and machine learning
PaperOffice is on the cover of ComputerBild, with a magazine DVD in Germany, Poland and Russia. The same year, work begins on machine learning for document classification.
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New architecture, first deep-learning models
The application is rebuilt from the ground up. First deep-learning models go into use for OCR and classification.
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QNAP chooses PaperOffice
QNAP selects PaperOffice as exclusive worldwide DMS partner. The collaboration connects document management with the storage infrastructure companies already use — and strengthens the international use of PaperOffice.
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Collaboration across locations
Distributed work becomes everyday practice for many companies. PaperOffice expands support for collaboration across sites. Teams should be able to access their documents together while keeping control of their data.
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The start of generative AI
Late in 2022 we begin integrating ChatGPT into PaperOffice. This extends our previous work with machine learning to generative AI. The focus is how language and document content can be used in everyday work with information.
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Language models become part of the architecture
We begin specializing large language models through targeted fine-tuning for the needs of document processing. At the same time, existing machine-learning engines are gradually moved to LLM-based processing pipelines. AI becomes a fixed part of the PaperOffice architecture — from classification through to structured processing of content.
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Own GPU clusters. More independence.
We begin running our AI models on our own GPU clusters. This gives us more control over compute, model operations and the technical development of our AI.
In the same year, ASUSTOR, a subsidiary of ASUS, selects PaperOffice as exclusive DMS partner. A further international partnership connects our software with established storage technology.
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Own DataCenter. In Europe.
The PaperOffice DataCenter in Navarra, Spain, goes into operation. Here we bring together our own hardware and the operation of our central AI processing. The core pipeline runs on our infrastructure in the European Union, without requiring US public-cloud services.
The aim is Data in → Data out: data comes in, is processed here, results go out — nowhere else.
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Today
A platform for people, applications and AI agents
PaperOffice connects document management, specialised AI and automated processes into a platform for AI Document Operations. Organisations use it directly in the app, via API in their own applications, or via MCP with their AI agents. Documents are captured, understood, reviewed, processed and connected to business processes.
Developing further together
The experience remains. The possibilities grow.
AI-first. Developed together. Thought long term.
What can be automated is automated. Everyone on the team works with AI support — and brings experience, judgement and responsibility.
How PaperOffice worksOur principles
What drives the work.
Take responsibility
Decisions with people, data and long-term value in view. Development and operations belong together.
Pass on knowledge
An answer becomes knowledge for everyone. Solutions are documented and made reusable through knowledge bases.
Keep improving
Use experience, question processes and develop what is new. The focus is on what makes customers’ work better.
Learn more
Get to know PaperOffice.
People, ways of working and infrastructure. And the ways to move forward together.
The team
The people who keep developing PaperOffice together.
Meet the teamHow we work
AI-first, digital, and with knowledge that helps everyone.
Discover how we workOur data centre
Own hardware. Own operations. In the European Union.
View the infrastructureWork with PaperOffice
Build customer solutions as an integrator or reseller.
Explore the partner programmeFrequently asked
Questions about the company.
The key answers about PaperOffice.
Who is behind PaperOffice?
Daniel Schönland founded PaperOffice in 2002 and leads the company as CEO. Development, operations and support work on the platform together. Meet the team.
How long has PaperOffice existed?
The first version of PaperOffice was created in 2002. The founder’s personal history goes back to his first computer in 1983. The timeline shows both developments.
How does PaperOffice work today?
PaperOffice works AI-first: what can be automated is automated. The team uses AI, documents solutions and makes knowledge reusable. Communication is primarily digital; when a request cannot be resolved that way, the team is available in person. More about how we work.
Where are documents processed?
PaperOffice operates its own infrastructure in the European Union. Information on processing, safeguards and evidence is on the pages about the data centre and security and compliance.
How can someone work with PaperOffice?
The partner programme is for integrators and resellers who want to develop or offer customer solutions with PaperOffice. Explore the partner programme or Start a partnership. For joining the team, open positions are listed.