At the end of 2025, Localyze was acquired by Boundless — a US-based global immigration platform. Since early 2026, the integration has been underway: the product is evolving, and the strategic focus is expanding from Germany-first to global-first.
For companies whose primary immigration need is Germany, this shift raises legitimate questions. Not because Localyze was a bad product — they built something genuinely useful — but because a different ownership structure means different priorities. This article breaks down what's changing, what companies switching to relokate are saying, and how to decide which approach is right for you.
What's changing since the Boundless acquisition
The acquisition happened at the end of 2025 — so it's still very fresh. From 2026 onwards, clients are experiencing several changes:
US ownership, different data governance
Boundless is a US-based company. For German companies — especially those in regulated industries or with works councils — this raises questions about data sovereignty, GDPR compliance, and where sensitive employee immigration data is processed and stored. relokate is a German company (relokate HR GmbH, Berlin) with all data hosted exclusively in Germany.
From Germany-focused to global-first
Localyze was Berlin-based and built for European relocations. Boundless covers 180+ countries. When a platform goes global, resources get spread across dozens of country-specific workflows. Germany's complex processes — Ausländerbehörde appointments, qualification recognition via anabin and IHK FOSA, city-specific rules — require deep local knowledge that's hard to maintain at global scale.
Team-based case management vs. dedicated partner
Larger platforms typically use a team-based approach where multiple consultants work across cases. At relokate, every employee gets one dedicated Relocation Partner from start to finish — a model that companies tell us creates stronger accountability and continuity.
Evolving processes during integration
Acquisitions naturally bring product and operational changes. During integration periods, workflows, contact persons, and case management processes may evolve — something to consider if you have active immigration cases in progress.
Subscription pricing vs. actual needs
Localyze uses a subscription model — you pay monthly even in months with zero relocations. For mid-sized companies with irregular hiring patterns, this creates a cost mismatch. relokate charges per case: you pay only when you actually relocate someone.
What clients switching from Localyze tell us
Localyze built a genuinely useful product, and for the right use case, Boundless may still be an excellent choice. Here's the feedback companies who have moved to relokate consistently share:
“We finally have one dedicated contact person instead of being passed between multiple consultants.”
In larger organizations using Localyze/Boundless, cases were often handled by rotating consultants. At relokate, one Relocation Partner owns the case from visa application to first workday.
“The monthly strategic call makes all the difference — we never had that before.”
relokate offers strategic monthly calls with your dedicated partner to review open cases, discuss upcoming hires, and optimize your immigration processes. This kind of strategic HR sparring wasn't part of the Localyze model.
“The process is very straightforward now. We always know exactly where things stand.”
Companies value process clarity, especially during provider transitions. At relokate, the process is simple: hand over the case, track it live, your hire arrives on time.
How relokate differs: German stability, German hosting, German expertise
relokate is a German company (relokate HR GmbH, registered in Berlin), purpose-built for one thing: immigration and relocation to Germany. All data is hosted exclusively in Germany. There's no US parent company, no global pivot, no shifting priorities.
German company, German data hosting
relokate HR GmbH is a German company with all servers in Germany. Your sensitive immigration data — passport copies, salary information, qualification documents — never leaves Germany. Full GDPR compliance by design, not by workaround.
One dedicated Relocation Partner per employee
Not a rotating team of consultants. One person who knows your hire by name, understands their visa type, family situation, and timeline — and owns the process from the first document to the last registration.
Strategic monthly calls
Your dedicated partner doesn't just handle cases — they review your pipeline, advise on upcoming hires, and help optimize your immigration process. This is strategic HR sparring, not just case management.
Attorney escalation built in
When German authorities stall, relokate escalates with formal inaction letters (§75 VwGO) and partner attorney takeover. This is included in every case — no separate vendor, no extra contract.
Pay per case — no subscription
You pay when you relocate someone. No monthly platform fee, no minimum commitments. If you hire 3 people this quarter and zero next quarter, you only pay for 3 cases.
Full-service, not self-service
relokate doesn't just give you a dashboard. Your Relocation Partner handles everything — document collection, application submission, appointment booking, authority communication — while your HR team tracks progress in real time.
Feature comparison: Localyze/Boundless vs. relokate
| Feature | Localyze / Boundless | relokate |
|---|---|---|
| Company origin | Berlin-founded, now US-owned (Boundless) | German company (relokate HR GmbH, Berlin) |
| Data hosting | Global infrastructure (US parent) | Exclusively Germany — full GDPR by design |
| Geographic focus | Global (180+ countries) | Germany only — deep expertise |
| Service model | Software-first (self-service) | Software + dedicated Relocation Partner |
| Case ownership | Team-based approach across consultants | One dedicated partner per employee |
| Strategic HR sparring | Not typically included | Monthly strategic calls included |
| Pricing | Subscription + per case | Per case only — no platform fee |
| Attorney escalation | Via external partners | Built-in (§75 VwGO inaction letters) |
| Germany visa coverage | Standard types | All types incl. Chancenkarte, Fast-Track, ICT |
| Full relocation services | Immigration focus | Visa + Anmeldung + housing + settling-in |
| Case takeover speed | Varies | 24-hour takeover with seamless data transfer |
| Minimum commitment | Annual subscription | None — pay as you go |
Different needs, different approaches
This isn't about one platform being "better" than the other. It's about what your company actually needs. Both are legitimate choices for different situations.
Localyze / Boundless is the right fit if:
- You're a large, global organization relocating employees to many countries and need one platform for everything
- Your HR team prefers self-service tools and manages the immigration process internally
- You need multi-country reporting and API integrations with your global HRIS
- Data hosting location is not a primary concern for your compliance team
relokate is the right fit if:
- You want German stability — a German company with German data hosting and no US parent
- You want one dedicated Relocation Partner per employee, not rotating consultants
- You value strategic monthly calls to review your pipeline and optimize processes
- You need attorney escalation built into every case for when authorities stall
- You prefer pay-per-case pricing without subscription commitments
- You want the full relocation handled — visa, housing, Anmeldung, settling-in — not just software
Switching is simpler than you think
The most common concern we hear: "We have open cases — switching seems risky." In practice, switching is straightforward:
Step 1: Export your case data
Download all active cases and documents from your current provider. Most platforms support CSV/PDF export of case data, timelines, and documents.
Step 2: Upload to relokate
We import your case data into the relokate platform. Your dedicated Relocation Partner reviews every open case, assesses the current status, and identifies any risks or next steps.
Step 3: Seamless continuation
relokate takes over active cases within 24 hours. We contact the relevant Ausländerbehörde, pick up where the previous provider left off, and continue the process without any gap in service. Your employees won't notice the switch.
Step 4: Your HR team gets full visibility
All cases — active and upcoming — are visible in one dashboard from day one. Your dedicated partner schedules the first strategic call to review priorities and align on timelines.
Our perspective
“Companies switching to relokate consistently tell us the same thing: they valued the software, but when cases got complex — authority delays, qualification recognition, family reunification — they needed a partner who could own the process end-to-end. What they appreciate most: one dedicated contact person, strategic monthly calls to review their pipeline, and a clear process where they always know what's happening.”
Team relokate
The bottom line
Localyze built a solid product for European immigration management. The Boundless acquisition gives it global reach — and for large, multinational organizations that need one platform across 180+ countries, that combination may be exactly right.
But if you want German stability — a German company, German data hosting, deep German immigration expertise, and a dedicated human partner who knows your cases by heart — relokate offers a fundamentally different approach. Not better or worse. Different. Built for companies who see Germany as their primary hiring market and want a partner that treats it that way.
Want to see the difference?
Book a 30-minute demo — we'll show you the platform, walk through your specific use case, and give you an honest assessment of whether relokate is the right fit.
Book a demoA note on fairness
This article is published by relokate. We've aimed to be factual and respectful. Localyze built something valuable, and Boundless is a legitimate global platform. The acquisition simply means a different strategic direction — which works for some companies and not for others. We encourage you to evaluate both based on what matters most to your team.
Ready to streamline your relocations?
See how relokate compares — book a demo and get a custom pricing estimate for your team.
About the author
relokate Team
Immigration & Relocation Experts
The relokate team combines global mobility expertise, immigration law knowledge, and operational precision — supported by a network of independent partner attorneys and institutional partners including the Business Immigration Service (BIS) at Berlin’s LEA. 1,500+ successful relocations since 2020.
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