Zeitpilot

The Problem

Swiss SMEs are trapped in a compliance nightmare. They need time tracking that meets **Arbeitsgesetz** requirements, but the options are either:

- **Excel spreadsheets** (error-prone, no audit trail, labor-intensive)

- **Generic cloud tools** (overseas data, unpredictable costs, overkill features)

- **Enterprise software** (Bexio, Abacus) bundled with accounting features they don't need

Meanwhile, field workers need mobile solutions, gastro businesses need shift-specific tracking, and micro-businesses can't afford €50/month subscriptions.

What We're Hearing

We're still using Excel for time tracking. It's a nightmare to audit and nobody wants to maintain it. — Swiss SME owner

Bexio and Abacus are too expensive and too complex for what we actually need. — Treuhänder feedback

We need something that works offline on mobile and syncs when we're back at the office. — Field service manager

Data sovereignty is non-negotiable in our industry. We can't send employee hours to US servers. — Legal/regulated profession concern

**10+ search signals confirm active demand** for affordable, Swiss-compliant time-tracking solutions. Pain score: 75+ for Excel workarounds.

The Opportunity

**Zeitpilot** is a purpose-built time-tracking tool for Swiss SMEs that:

1. **Meets Arbeitsgesetz compliance** — automatic break tracking, overtime calculation, audit logs

2. **Respects data sovereignty** — optional on-premise/self-hosted deployment, no mandatory cloud

3. **Starts free, scales affordably** — freemium model for micro-businesses, transparent pricing (no surprise bills)

4. **Works offline-first** — mobile app syncs when connectivity returns

5. **Integrates with Swiss software** — Bexio, Abacus, QuickBooks for those who want it

6. **Industry-ready templates** — gastronomy shifts, construction crews, healthcare rotas

**Why now?**

- Swiss businesses are actively rejecting Bexio/Abacus and seeking alternatives

- AI-powered compliance checking (RAG on Arbeitsgesetz docs) can ensure rules are followed automatically

- Remote/hybrid work + mobile-first workforce = demand for offline-capable solutions

- GDPR/data sovereignty anxiety is rising — Swiss-hosted is a competitive advantage

**Who pays?**

- **Micro-businesses (1-5 people):** Freemium tier (€0–€5/user/month)

- **SMEs (6-50 people):** Professional tier (€10–€20/user/month)

- **Treuhänder/Accounting firms:** Bulk licensing + API access (€500+/month)

- **Gastro/Logistics chains:** White-label + compliance certification (€2000+/month)

**Revenue model:** Freemium SaaS + optional on-premise licensing + integration marketplace.