As businesses, it’s essential to think long and hard about the investments we make in our employees. We want to do right by our workers. Still, we also have to make intelligent choices to improve productivity and provide a solid return on investment in monetary and logistics, and workflow. Policies and procedures are essential, but so is the technology that you have in place.
Whether you’re moving from manual team time tracking to an online timecard system or simply updating to a new time and attendance app from an older one, it’s a good idea to think long and hard about what software to choose.
Here are some of the top considerations when choosing a new clock in clock out system.
Implementation and Upkeep Cost
For businesses just starting, one of the most critical factors when updating technology is often the initial cost to set it up, train employees, and get everything rolling. If you’re starting from scratch, switching from manual processes to a clock in clock out system for the first time, then it’s a good idea to plan out your budget carefully to ensure that you choose software that you can afford to implement in full.
The right online timesheet software will have an easy integration process and low overhead for general use. Once you understand the upfront cost for the software and the regular investment necessary to keep things going, you can better decide what software and features are right for your business.
Security and Features
There are a variety of options when it comes to a clock in clock out system. One of the first things to consider once you have an idea of what is affordable is the type of security you want. There are different clock in methods using other technology. For instance, some software only requires a simple PIN for employees to clock in. This is quick and easy to use but is less secure than software that uses biometric technology.
It is also essential to decide whether you want fully web-based software that stores employee records and data in the cloud or if you want something attached to the local system. There’s also the question of accessibility. Web-based software is typically able to be used from nearly anywhere, thanks to smartphone devices. In contrast, localized software is usually accessible from company devices such as physical time clocks or company computers.
If your business has a large number of remote or off-site workers, then it might be a good idea to opt for a cloud based time clock over other options. Similarly, if you want more control over access to the time clock system, then using a localized job clock is likely the better choice.
Payroll and Logistics
Lastly, it’s important to consider what else you want your software to do besides just track employee time and attendance. One of the biggest headaches for businesses is figuring out how to manage teams of employees and make sure they’re doing their jobs. Along with this is making sure everyone gets paid in a timely fashion. These are two problems that can be solved with the right clock in clock out system.
Many types of software can actively track employees’ productivity through things like recording their activity on company computers or tracking their location data using GPS technology.
There is also the addition of payroll integrations which take timekeeping data and use it to calculate payroll. This allows your payroll department to simply and easily process all employee time clock data to ensure paycheck accuracy and quick delivery. These features can save time and money and boost overall productivity.