Big news, as Protime acquires Sheepblue. This AI-based workforce planning software was developed by the Austrian startup of the same name. The tool focuses on sectors in which work is carried out in shifts, such as logistics and manufacturing, which involve a large number of factors such as shift changes, day and night work and so on.

Protime was already strong in employee scheduling with an AI module for the retail and hospitality sector. This AI module draws up staff rosters, taking into account peak times, weather and staffing levels, among other factors. With the acquisition of Sheepblue software, Protime expands its tool, enabling it to be used for virtually any industry.

Protime is one of the largest workforce management providers in Belgium and the Netherlands and aims to become so in all of the countries in which its parent company, leading European HR services provider SD Worx, operates. The ambitions are high: in five years, the software company wants to double its customer base to over 10,000 customers in Europe. On the one hand, it wants to do that by becoming active in more countries. Last year, for example, Protime acquired its Spanish sector peer SoftMachine . On the other hand, Protime aims to further expand and strengthen its workforce management solutions, such as with the acquisition of Sheepblue software.

"The European market for Workforce Management software will grow by about 10% annually. Increasing numbers of companies need an integrated workforce management tool with a scheduling module. The benefits are numerous. This provides them with more accurate forecasts and limits overstaffing and understaffing, overtime and staff planning errors. All this can save them a lot on costs,” says Gille Sebrechts. “Because the process is automated, they save a lot of time when drawing up staff schedules. Finally, this also yields more engaged employees, because they appreciate transparency as well as flexibility in their work schedules.”

"The European market for Workforce Management software will grow by about 10% annually. Increasing numbers of companies need an integrated workforce management tool with a scheduling module. The benefits are numerous. This provides them with more accurate forecasts and limits overstaffing and understaffing, overtime and staff planning errors. All this can save them a lot on costs,” says Gille Sebrechts. “Because the process is automated, they save a lot of time when drawing up staff schedules. Finally, this also yields more engaged employees, because they appreciate transparency as well as flexibility in their work schedules.”
Gille Sebrechts
CEO Protime
Eduard Rameder
"Sheepblue is more than just automation; it's about building a smarter, more human-centric approach to workforce scheduling," says Eduard Rameder, Managing Director and CTO at Sheepblue. "We empower businesses to optimise their resources while fostering a positive work environment for their employees. We're excited to join forces with Protime, whose shared values and positive work environment align perfectly with our own. This transition ensures business continuity and positions our valued customers for even greater success. We're grateful for their trust and look forward to this new chapter.”
Eduard Rameder
Co-founder and CTO of Sheepblue
Written by: Isabelle Fassin
Field Marketeer Flanders Protime