What is the difference between a time tracking app and an ERP-integrated time control system?

A generic time tracking app (Sesame, Bizneo, Personio) is an external system that lives separately from your ERP — each has its own database and they connect via a connector or manual export. dvgtime is a Spanish SaaS workforce management and time-tracking tool that works standalone (browser, mobile PWA app, and kiosk, with no ERP required) just like those apps, but also offers an OPTIONAL native integration with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or other ERPs (Sage, SAP…) via connector. The key difference: a generic app gives you clock-ins; dvgtime gives you clock-ins with the same SaaS convenience and, if you use an ERP, native connectivity with the rest of your HR cycle — without the fragile connector that generic apps rely on.

Can a generic time tracking app integrate with my ERP?

Yes, almost all of them have 'connectors' or APIs. But there is a difference between 'it can integrate' and 'it is natively integrated'. A connector requires maintenance (every time the ERP or the app updates), adds latency (data arrives in batches), creates failure points (if the connector goes down, the integration breaks), and is usually limited to certain fields (not all data gets through). A native solution eliminates all four problems.

How much does each option cost for a company with 30 employees?

Generic time tracking app: typically €2–5/user/month = €720–1,800/year in licences. dvgtime on BC: €2,000/year flat (regardless of number of users) + €800 for onboarding. For 30 employees, the figures are comparable. But for larger companies (>50 employees), dvgtime is clearly cheaper thanks to its per-tenant pricing instead of per-user.

Do I need Business Central to use dvgtime?

No. dvgtime works standalone from the browser, mobile app (PWA), and kiosk without any ERP, just like a generic app. The Business Central integration is an OPTIONAL add-on, not a requirement. If you also use an ERP, dvgtime connects natively with Business Central or, via connector, with other ERPs (Sage, SAP…). That is why it makes sense when a generic app gives you clock-ins but you lose integration: with dvgtime you get the SaaS app and, if you have an ERP, native integration. Generic apps tend to win on UX polish; dvgtime wins on scalability, data reliability, and native ERP integration when you use one.

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Time Tracking App vs Integrated Time Control in Your ERP

A practical comparison between generic time tracking apps (Sesame, Bizneo, Personio) and time control integrated in Business Central. When to choose each option.

5 min

Time tracking app vs integrated ERP: two models compared head-to-head

When the time comes to digitise time tracking, most SMEs face the same decision: buy a generic time tracking app (Sesame, Bizneo, Personio, Factorial, etc.) or integrate time tracking into their ERP?

There is no universal answer. The right choice depends on 3 specific factors: your current ERP, the size of your workforce, and how your HR team operates. This guide is a practical comparison between both models, with a recommendation for each scenario.

The two options in a nutshell

Generic time tracking app: a SaaS product your company contracts separately. It lives on its own server with its own database and connects to your ERP via API or export.
dvgtime: a Spanish SaaS workforce management and time-tracking tool that works on its own (browser, mobile PWA app, and kiosk, with no ERP required) — the same convenience as generic apps — and, if you use an ERP, connects natively and optionally to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central or other ERPs (Sage, SAP…) via connector. When connected to Business Central, clock-in data shares the same environment as payroll, contracts, and project allocations, without the fragile connector generic apps depend on.

Structured comparison: axis by axis

These are the 8 axes that truly matter in a purchasing decision, with a winner for each one:

Decision axis	Generic time tracking app	dvgtime (SaaS; native with BC or other ERPs if you use them)	Winner
1. Employee experience	Excellent, highly polished UX	More understated, but fully functional	Generic app
2. Payroll connectivity	Export or API · 2–8 HR hours/month	Connected to BC: same environment · 0 hours	dvgtime (with ERP)
3. Hour allocation to projects	Separate system · double entry (attendance + project)	A single entry counts as both	dvgtime
4. Traceability and compliance (RD-ley 8/2019)	Compliant if configured; data depends on your subscription tier	Compliant by default; with BC, data continuity guaranteed	dvgtime
5. Scalability and price	Per user (€2–5/user/month)	Per tenant, fixed (~€2,000/year)	dvgtime (>50 employees)
6. Shifts, collective agreements, and calendars	Standard coverage fine; complex scenarios require a higher-tier plan or remain limited	Rotating shifts, collective agreements, and regional calendars included as standard	dvgtime
7. Mobile and on-site work	Native app, very good UX	Mobile app (PWA) + kiosk + geolocation	Tie
8. Support and data sovereignty	Lock-in: data lives in their database	Connected to BC, data lives in your Business Central — fully portable	dvgtime (with ERP)

Looking for a head-to-head with a specific vendor? We have the dedicated comparison: Sesame vs dvgtime.

Cost by workforce size

The axis that changes most with scale is price: the generic app charges per user, while the integrated system applies a flat per-tenant fee.

Workforce	Generic app (approx.)	dvgtime (approx.)
30 employees	~€1,500/year	~€2,000/year
100 employees	~€5,000/year	~€2,000/year
200 employees	~€10,000/year	~€2,000/year

From 50 employees onwards, the integrated model is between 2 and 5 times cheaper.

Executive summary

Scenario	Recommendation
Company of 5–20 employees · no ERP	Generic app or dvgtime standalone
Company of 5–30 employees · with Business Central	dvgtime (native with BC)
Company of 30–100 employees · with Business Central	dvgtime (native with BC)
Company of 100+ employees · any ERP	dvgtime (native with BC, via connector with other ERPs)
Highly complex company (shifts, collective agreements, multi-site)	dvgtime
Company with a very junior HR profile	Generic app (more polished UX)
Company with a technically mature HR manager	dvgtime

Why dvgtime is the best choice if you already use Business Central

One thing worth clarifying upfront: dvgtime works standalone (browser, mobile PWA app, and kiosk) with no ERP required, just like a generic app. The Business Central integration is an optional add-on. That said, if your company already runs on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, dvgtime brings three advantages no generic app can match:

Advantage 1 · Per-tenant pricing, not per user

€2,000/year per tenant (the entire workforce included). A generic app costs between €720 (15 employees) and €10,000 (200 employees). From 50 employees onwards, dvgtime is between 2x and 5x cheaper.

Advantage 2 · Zero payroll reconciliation

The clock-in data is already inside the same Business Central as payroll. HR saves between 2 and 8 hours a month on reconciliation — plus 100% of copy-paste errors.

Advantage 3 · Data sovereignty

Your data lives in YOUR Business Central. If you ever change Microsoft partner (or extension) in the future, the data is still there. With a generic SaaS app, cancelling the subscription means losing access to your data (or paying for a special export).

When NOT to choose dvgtime

To be honest:

If you don’t use any ERP and have no plans to adopt one, dvgtime is still valid in standalone mode, but you won’t take advantage of its biggest differentiator (native integration); in that case it competes head-to-head with any generic app.
If your workforce is very small (<10) and everyone works on-site, the fixed cost of €2,000/year may not be justified compared to €720 for a generic app.
If you prioritise the app’s UX over integration (because your workforce profile demands it), a generic app like Sesame or Personio may have the edge.

Shall we talk?

If you are evaluating a time tracking app against an ERP-integrated system, book a free session with a Davisa consultant. In 30 minutes we’ll help you decide which option fits your specific situation best (without upselling you something you don’t need — if a generic app is the right call, we’ll tell you so).

To dig deeper: Mandatory time tracking in your company: how to comply with Business Central, Digitalising clock-ins: 5 common mistakes to avoid and discover dvgtime.