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Time Tracking App

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What is a time tracking app?

Time tracking apps are software that allows organizations to record the working hours of staff more effectively. They often include a digital time clock which ensures accurate attendance tracking. This prevents buddy punching and time theft, which saves businesses money. Time tracking apps also eliminate the need for unnecessary paperwork or expensive devices, saving the managers money. Workers can punch in and out seamlessly on their mobile devices with an app.

Why is a time tracking app needed?

When time tracking is done manually, that increases the chances of human error, time theft and unrecorded employee absenteeism. Accurate and up-to-date time tracking allows for accurate payments. Premium shift scheduling software often provides a time tracking app and gives automatic alerts for incomplete timesheets to correct payment inconsistencies.  Forecasting business costs are much easier to do with accurate scheduling. When team members get paid accurately, that increases employee satisfaction as well. 

Who does a time tracking app help?

Time tracking apps not only help managers prevent time theft but also support fairness in the workplace. By eliminating buddy punching, team members that are always on time are noted for good behaviour and team members who are late do not get away with time theft. This promotes good behaviour in the workplace and a stronger workplace culture.

How much does a time tracking app cost?

The cost of a time tracking app varies, ranging from monthly subscriptions to the number of team members using the app. However, it is an investment that saves managers time and energy to spend outside of admin work. Hyre’s free scheduling platform includes a complimentary time tracking app.

Features of a time tracking app

There are many time tracking app options, ranging from cost-effective solutions to more intricate and expensive solutions. Hyre’s scheduling software includes a time tracking app that notifies staff about upcoming shifts. It sends notifications to team members when their shift is approaching in order to prevent no-shows. This also gives managers real-time information on employee attendance to monitor early clock-ins, breaks, and overtime remotely. The majority of time tracking apps make use of team member’s mobile devices in order to clock in and out. While there can be many bells and whistles to time tracking apps, the most important feature is to have a digital record of employee attendance that cannot be faked.

Alternatives to a time tracking app

More traditional managers may want to limit the amount of technology used in the workplace. Free alternatives to a time tracking app is a manual method of clocking in with pen and paper. Workplaces sometimes use stamps or a card to punch in and out. However, manual time tracking does not prevent time theft. Tradition process also requires the manager to digitize their records later on for payments. It is estimated manual methods of coordinating and tracking employees take managers upwards of 10-20 hours a week.

What are the drawbacks of using a time tracking app?

It takes time and effort to onboard team members to a time tracking app. Fortunately, this process should not take more than 15 minutes. A time tracking app is as easy to use as text messaging or email. Another drawback is that once managers see how easy it is to streamline attendance tracking with a time tracking app, they may want to do the same for other aspects of shift management, including scheduling, timesheets, and payments. Fortunately, Hyre’s free scheduling platform can handle all the time-consuming HR admin tasks.

Other types of time tracking apps

In the context of HR, time tracking apps apply for tracking employee attendance of shift workers. Outside of HR, there are many other time tracking apps that also streamline workflow. For instance, iPhones have time tracking apps that record the amount of time spent on applications. Toggl Track is another free time tracking tool and plug-in that can be used to time a task. Remote teams sometimes use time tracking plug-ins like Harvest in order to manage the time they spend on tasks. The one thing all time tracking apps have in common is they empower the users to better manage their time and work more effectively.

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