Self-service leave management: no more shared Excel spreadsheets

Employees request time off from their phone, managers approve with one click. Leave balances updated automatically.

• The problem it solves
• The solution: Lucca (Timmi Absences), Factorial, or Combo
• Real-world case: 20-employee SME
• How to implement this solution
• Alternatives and comparison
• Available funding to finance this investment
• Conclusion

The problem it solves

Every day, SMEs and independent businesses waste time and money on tasks that technology can automate. 5–10 hours per month of manual HR administration — that's exactly what this solution eliminates. Time spent on these tasks is time not invested in business development, customer relationships, or innovation.

The solution: Lucca (Timmi Absences), Factorial, or Combo

Lucca (Timmi Absences) is one of the most accessible tools in this category. It can be set up in a few hours, requires no advanced technical skills, and the return on investment is visible from the very first month.

How it works

The tool integrates with your existing systems (email, calendar, CRM, accounting software) and automates repetitive tasks. The artificial intelligence learns from your habits and improves over time. You stay in control of the decisions that matter — the AI handles the rest.

Key benefits

• 24/7 availability: the tool keeps running even when you're out on a job or away for the weekend
• Zero data entry errors: the system never gets numbers or dates wrong
• Scalability: volume can triple with no significant additional cost
• Full audit trail: everything is logged and instantly retrievable

Real-world case: 20-employee SME

A 20-employee SME was managing leave requests through a shared Excel spreadsheet. The issues were all too familiar: version conflicts, incorrect balances, no visibility into team scheduling. With Lucca, employees submit leave requests directly from the mobile app and see their balance in real time. Managers receive a notification, get a clear view of the team's schedule, and approve with a single click. The HR team got back 8 hours a month, and balance errors became a thing of the past.

How to implement this solution

Step 1: Assessment (1 day)

Step 2: Free trial (1–2 weeks)

Step 3: Rollout (1–2 weeks)

Step 4: ROI measurement (months 1–3)

Alternatives and comparison

Several solutions exist in this category: Lucca (Timmi Absences), Factorial, and Combo. The right choice depends on your size, budget, and existing tech stack. For SMEs with fewer than 20 employees, the simplest solution is often the best — team adoption matters more than advanced features.

Available funding to finance this investment

As a French SME, you may be eligible for several support schemes:

• France Num: digital vouchers worth €500 to €6,500 for the digitalization of small and medium-sized businesses
• Crédit Impôt Innovation (CII): reclaim 20% of your innovation spending
• OPCO: funding for training tied to the tool
• BPI France: innovation loans and digital transformation grants

Want to go further? Check out our Digital transformation for SMEs: the ultimate 2026 guide, which covers the full picture.

Conclusion

At €3–8 per employee/month and savings of €300–500/month (for 20 employees), the math speaks for itself. This solution is one of those "quick wins" that every SME or independent business should prioritize. The risk is virtually zero thanks to free trial periods, and the gains are immediate and measurable.