From Dream to Market Leader in Time Management: 30 Years of Protime

Protime: 30 Jahre Zeiterfassung Peter s' Jongers

A look back with Peter s’Jongers

It feels like only yesterday that, on 12 January 1995, we stood at the notary’s office, a mix of pride and nerves, to officially launch Protime. The world was a very different place then—Windows applications were just emerging, the PlayStation made its debut, and commercial internet was still in its infancy. Yet, even as young entrepreneurs in our twenties, we knew the future would look very different. Back then, time tracking was still done with outdated punch clocks, but we were convinced it would soon be fully automated.

With that vision in mind, Eric Timmermans, Luc Timmermans, and I decided to start a company. We had no technical background whatsoever, but we knew one thing—software was the future. Our first big win? Convincing Piet Verstraete, a brilliant developer, to join our adventure. Our second? Securing a bank loan of €30,000—without any guarantees. But we made it work. And so, our journey began.

The early years felt like the Wild West at times. We sold traditional punch clocks just to keep the business afloat while Piet worked tirelessly on the first version of Protime software. Our first customers, including Katoen Natie and Volvo Parts, placed their trust in us from the start—even when our installations were comically amateurish. We worked from a small apartment in Deurne until 1997, when we moved into a ‘real’ office—a half-villa along the A12 motorway. There were seven of us then, and we thought we’d never need more space. Growth, however, had other plans.

The pace picked up in the early 2000s. The Y2K scare drove a surge in demand, and by 2008, we had acquired our Dutch partner, Prosphera—our first step towards becoming an international player. New offices soon followed in Paris, Manchester, and Luxembourg. In 2011, SD Worx joined as a strategic partner, providing us with an even stronger foundation. In just four years, our revenue grew by 60%, and our team expanded with dozens of new Protimers.

But the market kept evolving. In 2016, the introduction of mandatory electronic cash registers in the hospitality sector meant our software had to become even more flexible. The acquisition of the start-up Onlinewerkrooster—now known as Strobbo—in 2018 was our answer to that challenge.

Protime 30 Jahre Zeiterfassung Gille Sebreghts

Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future, by Gille Sebrechts

Now, in 2025, we’re entering an exciting new chapter. In 2023, I had the honour of taking over from Peter as CEO, carrying forward the vision and passion that made Protime what it is today—a leading company with over 550 employees across eight European offices. But what truly sets Protime apart is our culture. It’s this unique culture that has earned us the ‘Best Place to Work’ label for ten consecutive years.

Our ambition is clear: we want to remain Europe’s leading Workforce Management provider. At the same time, we are committed to being a Once in a Lifetime employer. Our strategy is built on the belief that happy employees create happy customers. And that philosophy is reflected in everything we do.

The world of time management and human capital continues to evolve. Technology is advancing rapidly, and our customers’ expectations are evolving with it. As a team, we remain focused on innovation, collaboration, and usability. Digitalisation, AI, and seamless integrations are just a few of the areas where we are making significant strides. At the same time, we continue to build a company where people are proud to work and where everyone can reach their full potential.

Our strategic partnership with SD Worx remains crucial in this journey. By leveraging their extensive network and expertise, we can accelerate our international ambitions and expand into new markets. Together, we are developing solutions that empower businesses not only across Europe but around the world—helping them work more efficiently and better support their employees.

Looking back, we have every reason to be proud of what we’ve built together. From a small apartment in Deurne to an international player with offices across Europe, our journey has been remarkable. But this is not the final destination. Our vision remains as ambitious as it was on that January day in 1995.

Protime is ready for the future. With our team, our customers, and our partners, we will continue to do what drives us most—making time valuable.