Why SMEs struggle with absence management
For small and medium-sized businesses, managing absences often falls somewhere between HR, operations, and planning with no clear system in place.
Requests arrive via email, approvals get lost, and Excel files quickly become outdated.
It might work for 10 people, but not for 50 or 200. As your team grows, manual processes turn into daily chaos missed updates, payroll corrections, and frustrated employees.
That’s why SMEs are increasingly adopting digital absence management software: one platform to request, approve, and track absences automatically.
What SMEs actually need in absence management software
The best tool isn’t the most complex. It’s the one that fits how you work. For SMEs, that means a system that’s easy to use, quick to roll out, and scalable.
Here’s what to look for:
|
Must-have feature |
Why it matters for SMEs |
|
Simple setup |
No IT department needed. Go live in days, not months. |
|
Mobile access |
Field and remote workers can request time off anytime. |
|
Automatic approval flow |
No more emails or manual follow-ups. |
|
Central calendar |
Everyone sees who’s off and when. |
|
Integration with payroll |
Prevent double entry and pay errors. |
|
Affordable pricing |
Scales with your team size. |
If a tool doesn’t deliver these six basics, it will cost you more time than it saves.
Why traditional HR tools often fail for SMEs
Large HR suites are built for enterprise environments. Complex setups, expensive licenses, and months of implementation. SMEs don’t need that.
Common frustrations with generic systems:
- Too many features no one uses
- Difficult to onboard non-office workers
- No integration with local payroll or NSSO (Belgium)
- Poor support for multilingual teams
SMEs need simplicity, not bureaucracy.
The best option for SMEs in Belgium
Suivo Time Registration & Absence was designed for growing companies that want enterprise-grade reliability without enterprise-level complexity.
Here’s why it stands out:
- Mobile-first design – employees request absences directly in the Suivo app.
- Automated approval flows – supervisors approve instantly; HR is updated automatically.
- Integrated payroll sync – works with Belgian systems like SD Worx, Partena, and Protime.
- Shared calendar – planners see all holidays and absences in one view.
- NSSO-compliant & CIAO-ready – full audit trail and local legal alignment.
- Local support – available in Dutch, French, and English.
With Suivo, SMEs get the same compliance and automation capabilities as larger companies at a scale and price that fits their growth.
Growing without growing admin
A Belgian installation company with 70 employees managed absences manually via Outlook and spreadsheets. As the team grew, tracking became a full-time job.
After implementing Suivo:
✅ Absence requests submitted via mobile app
✅ Supervisors approve in minutes
✅ HR dashboard updated in real time
✅ Payroll integration eliminated double entry
✅ Admin workload reduced by 60 %
“We finally have a clear overview of who’s off without sending a single email.”
Comparing Suivo to other SME tools
|
Feature |
Suivo |
Generic HR tools |
Spreadsheet + Email |
|
NSSO compliance |
✅ |
❌ |
❌ |
|
Mobile app for field staff |
✅ |
⚠️ Partial |
❌ |
|
Automatic approvals |
✅ |
✅ |
❌ |
|
Local payroll integration |
✅ |
⚠️ Limited |
❌ |
|
Multilingual support |
✅ NL / FR / EN |
⚠️ One language only |
❌ |
|
Implementation time |
⏱ 1–2 weeks |
⏱ 2–3 months |
— |
Suivo combines enterprise reliability with SME simplicity. A balance most international tools can’t match.
Benefits SMEs see after digitalising absences
- 70 % faster approval time
- 25 % less HR administration
- 100 % visibility on holidays and unplanned absences
- Happier teams thanks to transparent communication
When everything runs in one system, SMEs finally get time back to focus on growth, not admin.
One simple system, zero confusion
The best absence management software for SMEs is one that combines simplicity, automation, and compliance. With Suivo, you can manage absences, holidays, and time registration from one intuitive platform. Tailored for growing businesses.
Make absence management effortless.
Book your free expert session and discover why Suivo is the preferred absence management system for Belgian SMEs.
