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How Timeular Scaled a Smart Time-Tracking Die with WooCommerce

6/20/2024
Timeular
Manuel Bruschi
Timeular
timeular.com
Berlin, GermanyFounded 2016
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Monthly Revenue
Undisclosed
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Founders
Manuel Bruschi
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Employees
17
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Business Description

Timeular is a Berlin-based startup offering a physical time-tracking device and companion software that empowers individuals and teams to record and analyze their time usage. The modular eight-sided Tracker and integrated app aim to boost productivity and transparency for freelancers and organizations globally.
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Executive Summary

Timeular reimagined time tracking with its Tracker—an eight-sided Bluetooth die that logs tasks with a flip. From its Kickstarter launch and $1.1M fundraising to a remote team of 17 across five countries, they harnessed WooCommerce and key extensions to sell hardware and subscriptions globally. Dive into this case study to see how streamlined workflows, flexible plugins, and a clear work culture powered 50 software releases and set a new standard in productivity tools.
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Case Study Content

Case Study: Timeular’s Journey

Timeular set out to fix a familiar pain: logging work hours. Traditional timesheets feel like chores. They designed an eight-sided Tracker that links via Bluetooth LE to desktop and mobile apps. A flip logs start and stop times, and tags and mentions in notes tie each block to projects or billable hours. It’s a playful tool that removes friction, capturing every moment with precision.

Building the Product

The first version launched in three weeks. They rapidly iterated, deploying fifty updates in under a year. An early Kickstarter campaign smashed its goal, unlocking $1.1M in funding. With user feedback driving features, the Tracker became both more durable and intuitive. Desktop and mobile apps now support mentions for JIRA tickets, #tags for billing categories, and real-time dashboards for deep dives.

Technical Stack

Beyond WooCommerce, the team leverages Upwork to find freelance talent and GitHub for code collaboration. They test code manually, use Drive to share docs, and communicate on Slack. The apps use React Native and Electron for cross-platform support. Bluetooth LE is at the core of hardware connectivity.

Ecommerce and Subscriptions

To sell hardware and subscriptions globally, Timeular relied on WooCommerce. Its flexibility accommodated multiple warehouses, currency display in € and $, and geolocation-based pricing. Extensions like Subscriptions, Stripe Gateway, and Shipment Tracking stitched payment, fulfillment, and recurring billing into a single interface. Non-developers manage orders with ease, while the team deploys rolling releases without downtime.

Remote-First Team Culture

Seventeen people across five countries work fully remote, following a 40-hour week with generous paid leave. They gather onsite three times per year for weeklong sprints. This rhythm keeps momentum high: fresh ideas collide in person, then flow back into daily work. Clear goals, like hitting 10,000 daily active users, unite the global crew.

Impact and Feedback

Consultants report that every ten-minute call is now tracked, rather than lost. Founders and freelancers pull minute-exact reports to invoice clients accurately. Users praise the ease: “It’s incredibly easy for me to keep track of my time every day down to the minute,” says Ashlee B. Development teams sync data between the Tracker and apps without missing a beat.

Lessons Learned

  • Align product design with real user habits: the simple flip interface removes barriers to logging time.
  • Choose an ecommerce platform that scales: WooCommerce handled hardware, subscriptions, and high-volume checkouts with plugins.
  • Maintain a clear work-rest philosophy: a 40-hour week plus recharge time keeps a remote team firing on all cylinders.
  • Iterate quickly: fifty versions showed that small, continuous updates build trust and respond to user needs.

The Road Ahead

With site performance optimizations in progress, Timeular is gearing up for massive scale. Faster queries and upgraded hosting will handle growing subscription loads. The next target: 10,000 daily active users. If they hit it, the Tracker may become the standard for time tracking across freelancers and enterprise teams alike.

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Key Takeaways

  • 1Timeular’s eight-sided Bluetooth Tracker lets users switch tasks by flipping the device, seamlessly logging activities in real time.
  • 2By combining hardware sales with subscription software via WooCommerce, Timeular created a scalable multi-sided revenue model for B2C and B2B users.
  • 3Running fully remote across five countries, the 17-person team delivers frequent product updates, hitting 50 software releases since launch.
  • 4Using WooCommerce extensions like Subscriptions and Shipment Tracking, Timeular streamlined global sales, recurring billing, and logistics.
  • 5Custom currency display and geolocation ensure localized checkout in euros or dollars, improving conversion in key markets like the United States.
  • 6Slash time spent on manual timesheets: users report precise minute-by-minute tracking, boosting transparency and client billing accuracy.
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Key Facts

Funding Raised
$1.1M
Team Size
17 Employees
Product Versions
50 Releases
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Tools & Technologies Used

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Disclaimer: Some data in these case studies may be inaccurate or out of date. In certain cases, AI-generated content is used.