There was a time when workforce management was an entirely paper-based process. Tracking of workers hours was a complicated task and errors in paper-based systems were commonplace. Not only were these system time consuming to manage, but also extremely costly. From incorrectly recorded working hours to inaccurate employee payments, there were many issues that contributed to inefficient processes and these in turn had huge cost implications for many businesses.  

One of the main issues was the ability to accurately track worker movements on site, a key example being the manual clock in and out activity. Asked the question, “were they really on site at 6am”, lateness can be hard to track and even harder to prove, the only means for a management team to check in would be to contact the worker directly, which was never the best way to foster trust or encourage productivity. Without any means of tracking lateness, it is often hard to identify a true cost to the business, but these unidentified costs can really add up.  

Technology Has the Answer  

Thankfully, now technology offers another solution. Simply put, a time and attendance system enables an employer to monitor employees’ working hours – even in real-time – to ensure that schedules are kept to, legislation regarding permitted hours is abided by, compulsory break times are applied and much more. Time and Attendance systems can help a business in many ways, from accurately monitoring employees who are early, late or absent, to tracking production efficiency or even handling high-traffic shift changes more effectively.  

It’s not only fixed workforces that can be managed, Time and Attendance systems continue to evolve with the latest systems going a step further. Specially designed to help organisations manage fieldworkers such as engineers, cleaning staff and maintenance teams. Plug and play time and attendance hardware has become the norm, such as the SIM enabled Nohmad, or GeoConnectMe, a mobile app whereby workers can use their iOS or Android to clock in remotely at the start of each shift, but only once the app has detected them at their set working location.

Look For a Best Fit Solution

Whilst these systems offer numerous operational and cost benefits, they are not faultless. It is important when looking at any system that you undertake a thorough appraisal of your requirements and objectives. Buddy punching for example, can be a common issue with some systems, particularly in large companies whereby a friend could easily register an absent colleague for their shift. In these scenarios, it is good to be aware that there are several options available.  

A biometric system is one option, with some card-based systems prone to buddying, biometric’s rely on our physical attributes, the most impervious form of identity verification there is. Virtually impossible to replicate and completely unique, physical features such as eyes, faces and fingerprints make ideal ID credentials. With some systems, there is also the potential to introduce camera technology. Perfect for card-based time and attendance, where proof may be required to verify the accuracy of clock ins and outs.  

Make Cost and Efficiency Savings With A Time And Attendance Solution  

In terms of productivity, the benefits of Time and Attendance systems are clear. Staff can clock in and out and get on with their days seamlessly, while your HR team can work from accurate time and attendance records without having to manually log them. With API integration into HR and other core systems, TouchStar’s own FastLane middleware is a key enabler to facilitate accurate reporting and effective data management.  

On top of all the operational benefits, digitising your business’s time and attendance management can tighten many processes that add up to real cost savings over time. To find out how a time and attendance solution could fit into your organisation, get in touch with our expert team today.