Marcus RichardsAll sorts of organizations can make effective use of software designed to track how employees use their time.
As you’d expect, this type of application is produced by all sorts of developers, and so you have quite a variety of choices when deciding which package is best.
So that you don’t get bogged down by indecision, here are some of the features that you should look for in high-quality time clock software.
Basic time tracking and calculating capabilities
As a bare minimum, you should expect your time clock software solution to keep tabs on when employees clock in for their shift, how long they are at the coalface, and when they clock out again.
On top of this, modern solutions will be able to factor in aspects like overtime calculation, which will make it easier to handle payroll duties accurately at the end of each week or each month.
All of this should reduce the amount of administrative work you need to do, and automate aspects of time tracking that might otherwise have to be handled manually.
Advanced authentication
Obviously you want to know that the people who are clocking on or off are actually the employees they claim to be, or else your organization could fall victim to the widespread practice of time theft.
This is all the trickier to achieve in the event that you are managing a remote workforce. As a result, the latest and greatest time clock software packages go above and beyond to authenticate and confirm the identity of employees and sidestep this issue.
Biometric data, such as a fingerprint scanner or a facial recognition solution, can be put to use in combination with time clock software for exactly this reason, which has the added benefit of making it more convenient and quick for employees to use as well.
Reporting functionality
Time clock software invariably generates a lot of data over time, and you’ll want to be able to harness this so those insights can be extracted and decisions informed by your findings.
This is where reporting facilities come into play, as if the information gathered by the app can be converted and compared in an uncomplicated, easy-to-digest way, then you will be able to reap all sorts of benefits as a result.
From drilling down into the costs of particular projects to seeing how attendance levels ebb and flow over time, comprehensive reporting capabilities are a selling point of any software in this market.
Accessibility & intuitiveness
Unless an app is easy to use and can be accessed from a range of devices and locations, it won’t be much good to a modern organization.
As such, you need to explore the user-friendliness of any time clock software service before you commit to using it in the long term. Most vendors will allow you to test out things like the interface and the key features without paying a penny, so seeing how the UI and UX stand up to the rest of the market is sensible.
Integration options
Last of all, look into whether the software you are considering is able to integrate with whatever other solutions form the basis for your business operations today.
This will likely include your payroll software, since tracking and managing employees time will feed into things like salaries, bonuses and overtime, as mentioned earlier.
Ultimately, time clock software has to be able to save you time, so check for features that generate efficiency to help guide your decision and steer you clear of the less suitable options out there.
