OSV And Skizeit Enter Into Joint Venture

The Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) through its holding company and the founders of Skizeit Harald Hattinger and Andreas Sippl have signed an agreement for cooperation in a joint venture.

Digital tailwind for winter sports

The aim of the joint company, “Skizeit Time & Data FlexCo”, is a complete digital solution for Austrian winter sports and the further development of the well-known online platform Skizeit.
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A joint licensing agreement has been in place with Skizeit since December 2019, although Skizeit was launched on the market in 2002. Since then, www.skizeit.at has developed into Austria's most successful ski results platform with over 2000 races, 2.5 million visitors and 18 million page views per year, which is also used by all state ski associations.

The well-known online platform www.skizeit.at is to be further developed in the interests of the entire Austrian winter sports family.

After five years of a successful and mutually beneficial partnership, characterized by a shared passion for winter sports and the constant search for innovative, digital solutions, the establishment of a joint venture is a logical next step for both sides.

"We have the clear goal of making the competition process more modern and efficient for all sports represented in the ÖSV. User-friendly, digital solutions are intended to simplify and reduce the work for state ski associations, clubs and officials so that the main focus can continue to be on the sport," explains Roman Kuss , Head of Association, Member & Innovation Management at the ÖSV.

“What belongs together grows together”

In addition to Kuss, Skizeit founder Harald Hattinger and his long-time business partner Andreas Sippl will also be part of the three-person management team of "Skizeit Time & Data FlexCo". For the two passionate software developers, this joint venture offers the opportunity to further advance the original idea of ​​a "paperless race". "What belongs together grows together," they both say in unison. "Our box of ideas for extensions and improvements at all levels of competition organization and implementation is very full - and with this joint partnership, we can now implement many things in direct exchange with Ski Austria and integrate them into our products in the interests of the clubs and the sport."

Synergies between expertise and technology

In the new joint venture, with a majority stake held by Austria Ski Team Handels- und BeteiligungsgesmbH, the Skizeit product is to be further developed in the interests of the entire Austrian winter sports family. The focus is on reducing administrative complexity, automating important processes and facilitating communication between associations, clubs and athletes. In addition to a simple and clear representation of all sports, digital tools are to be used to bundle and simplify processes in the organization and implementation of events for the clubs and the many volunteers.

In addition to all sporting matters such as the creation of a digital competition application or the simple activation of the FIS code, this "digital playground" should also include a referee administration system and a trainer and instructor database. The community solution "wir.auf.ski" is also a product in the portfolio that simplifies and improves communication between the associations and their members and enables the clubs and their athletes to have a contemporary and always up-to-date external presence.

In addition, “Skizeit Time & Data FlexCo” includes other business areas such as “OnTime LIVE!”. With more than 550 licensees, this program is now the most widely used evaluation software in Austrian skiing. And Microgate is also a competent partner in the field of timekeeping and training and performance analysis.

One theme, two strengths – a perfect symbiosis

The connection with the Ski Austria Group means that decades of expertise in skiing, a strong network and deep roots in Austrian sports culture can be utilized. Skizeit offers state-of-the-art digital tools, data analysis capabilities and an already established infrastructure for the collection, processing and presentation of results and statistics.

With this joint venture, the Austrian Ski Association is setting another milestone in its digitalization strategy – a pioneering step that opens up new and modern paths.