What is a time tracking software and what types exists?

24 of February, 2021

Time tracking software or clocking software is making a comeback. Employers are looking for more and more ways to maximize productivity. Additionally, with work from home become increasingly common, tracking the time your employees spend on specific projects becomes more difficult. Time tracking or clocking systems are increasingly used in office environments to analyze the efficiency of their employees.

Time tracking software though come in many forms. This website’s time tracking software is a general time management software that includes various other features related to Human Resources. Others have features that are tailored more other needs.

What is time tracking software?

Time tracking software tracks the amount of hours an employee works. The employee can also track the amount of hours they work on a specific project if they so wish. Employees track the amount of hours they work on by indicating to a program or app when they clock in or out.

Clocking systems were originally designed for factory or shift workers to show they had fulfilled their shift. With digitalization and a shift to more service-based offices, clocking systems are now found in the form of apps.

Why use time tracking software?

Often time tracking software is enforceable by law. Increasingly time tracking is used to avoid overwork of employees, as well as allow for flexible schedules.

Time tracking also allows HR and management to see where employees are at their most efficient. Seeing what projects they work on at what time, and how much time is dedicated to such projects, is essential for analyzing productivity.

Lastly, freelance working use time clocking to monitor the amount of hours they spend on different clients and their projects.

What types of time tracking exist?

Punch time cards, or manual time tracking, is not used regularly anymore. Several other ways can be implemented for employees can indicate their time tracking software.

Employees can clock in through the following manners :

• A digital clock in or clock out system.
• GPS location tracking, which allows you to ensure employees clock in from an area legally covered by regulations relating to where they can work.
• Clocking in via tablet or smartphone, which requires a multi-device app to use.
• A biometric system that records your biometric data to clock you in. These are controversial but techniques of data storage have been developed to ensure that biometric data is not detained.

What is an automated time tracker?

An automated time tracker has your computer tell your employees and managers the tasks they have worked on instead of the other way round. Modern managers perceive manual time tracking as outdated due to only working with time sheets you create.

Working with manual time sheets takes up a lot of space and has more human error potential. Choose an automated time tracker if you need to focus on employee efficiency.

Automatic time tracking can be :

• Partially automated : The automated time keeping system only engages when using a specific account or operating system.
• Fully automated time tracker. This time tracker clocks your employees in whenever they are supposed to start their shift and then clocks them out automatically.

HR is not the only department that can benefit from automatic time tracking. Self-employed or freelance workers can see what they have worked on over an entire day and re-adjust their schedule accordingly with an automated time tracker.