Transparency: This article is written by ABAX Field Operations, which itself provides a time tracking app. We describe competitors based on publicly available information.

There are plenty of time tracking apps. Almost all of them meet the minimum requirement: you can record time and export a report. What sets them apart is integration, the mobile experience, and whether the system is actually used by the technician or filled in by someone else afterwards.

In short

  • Tidsbanken is the most specialised Norwegian system for payroll and absence management.
  • Svenn integrates time tracking with projects and HSE — popular among SMB tradespeople.
  • SmartDok offers time tracking as part of a broader HSE/QA system for construction and civil engineering.
  • Field Ops combines time tracking with work orders, dispatch and invoicing in one platform.

What should a time tracking app for construction be able to do?

The legal requirement under the Working Environment Act (arbeidsmiljøloven) §10-7 is a written, continuous record per employee. For more on that, see Time tracking for tradespeople: requirements and consequences.

Beyond the legal requirement, a good app for construction and trades should cover:

  • Offline functionality — recording must work without mobile coverage
  • Link to job cards/work orders — time without a project reference cannot be invoiced
  • Overtime and supplement calculation — evening and weekend supplements, risk supplements
  • Absence and leave — holidays, sickness, time off in lieu
  • Export to payroll system — Tripletex, Visma, Fiken
  • Approval flow — the employer checks and approves before the payroll run

Tidsbanken — specialist in time and absence

Tidsbanken is a Norwegian system built primarily for payroll and absence administration. According to the supplier, it is an approved solution for payroll basis and personnel follow-up (Tidsbanken, 2025).

The strength is the depth of absence management — holidays, sickness, shifts and overtime are detailed and correctly calculated. The system is solid for businesses with complex shift plans or many pay types.

The weakness is that Tidsbanken is a pure time and absence system, not an order management system. It lacks a natural link to job cards, the dispatch calendar and invoicing. For service businesses where time is invoiced per job, an external integration is required.

Best suited for: Businesses with complex shift plans, many employees with different supplements, where absence management matters as much as time tracking.

Svenn — time tracking as part of the SMB package

According to the company, Svenn has more than 10,000 users and is aimed at tradespeople and carpenters (Svenn, 2025). Time tracking is one feature among several — alongside project management, HSE and Tripletex integration.

That makes Svenn a natural choice for SMB tradespeople who want one system for everything. The downside is that the time tracking function is set inside a broader package and may not be as specialised as dedicated systems.

For businesses already using Svenn for HSE and projects, it is obvious to have time tracking in the same app. For businesses that primarily need time and payroll, Tidsbanken may have better depth.

Best suited for: SMB tradespeople who want time tracking, project management and HSE in one app at a manageable price.

SmartDok — time tracking in an HSE/QA context

SmartDok is primarily an HSE/QA system for construction and civil engineering, used by more than 4,000 businesses according to the company (SmartDok, 2025). Time tracking is part of the system — hours, machine logging and material consumption in the same platform.

The advantage is that time data lives in the same system as the HSE documentation — RUH, SJA and checklists. For businesses already using SmartDok for HSE, it is practical to have time there too.

The flip side is that SmartDok is module-based and priced per contact. Businesses that only need time tracking buy more system than they need.

Best suited for: Businesses that already use SmartDok for HSE and want to gather everything in one system.

Field Ops — time as part of the whole job flow

Field Ops is our platform. Time tracking in Field Ops is tied to the work order: the technician checks in on a specific job, records time per job, and the hours flow automatically into the invoice draft. It is not an isolated time system — it is time as part of the whole flow from job to invoice.

What sets us apart from the other three: the integrated link between time and work order means time tracking directly produces invoicing basis without manual copying. And the ABAX telemetry integration gives a real-time overview of who is where.

The downside: if you are after a simple absence system with shift plans and complex pay types, Tidsbanken is more specialised.

Best suited for: Service businesses where time is invoiced per job — and where you want time tracking, invoicing and dispatch linked in one system.

Comparison

TidsbankenSvennSmartDokField Ops
Primary functionTime and absenceSMB packageHSE/QAField service
Link to invoicingVia integrationYes (Tripletex)PartialYes, direct
Offline supportYesYesYesYes
Absence management★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Work order linkNoPartialNoYes
AI dispatchNoNoNoYes

Three questions that decide the choice

  1. Is complex absence management and shift planning the most important thing? → Tidsbanken is the most specialised.
  2. Do you want time tracking as part of an SMB package with HSE and projects? → Svenn or SmartDok.
  3. Do you invoice per job and want a direct link from time to invoice? → Field Ops is built for it.

Frequently asked questions

Can we use two systems — one for time and one for HSE?

Yes, and many do. The most important thing is that the integration between them is good enough that data doesn't have to be copied manually. Manual transfers are a source of errors.

What is the typical pricing model for time tracking apps?

Most Norwegian systems price per user per month, with a minimum number of users. Expect 50–200 kr per user per month depending on the feature level. Contact the supplier for an exact price — none of those covered publish open list pricing.

Summary

The best time tracking app depends on what you need around the time tracking itself. Tidsbanken is the deepest on absence and payroll. Svenn suits SMB tradespeople who want one system. SmartDok suits businesses that are already there. Field Ops suits service businesses where time and invoicing need to link directly. The most important criterion is that the technician actually uses the app — and that depends on the threshold, not the number of features.

See also: Digital time tracking on the construction site · From timesheets to A-melding and payroll

Sources