How to choose the right time clock for my business?

Installing a time management solution for your company is one thing. The effectiveness of this tool must also be taken into account. It is effectively useless if it is not accompanied by the right software capable of meeting all the expectations of its users. In order to choose the right model, here are some tips.

1. A time clock, why?

Identify your real needs

A clocking software must be able to use all the information necessary for the proper management of a team. It must also simplify all administrative tasks, i.e. automate the recording of data so that there is no longer any need to do it manually. The information that the software collects must correspond to your activity and the size of your company:

  • Is the employee’s geolocation important at the time of clocking in?
  • I have mobile employees, does the system allow data to be recorded during a trip or will it be only on the company’s premises?
  • We are 15 employees, I will be able to check if the clockings are made by the right person, so a system that doesn’t involve biometrics will do the trick

It is advisable to choose a time clock software that is scalable, accessible and easy to use

Not all companies have the same expectations. The time management software must be chosen according to the company’s specific organization.

Here is a list of expectations that you might have, depending on your needs:

  • I want to automate the calculation of overtime hours
  • There are too many misunderstandings about time off, work is poorly distributed during an employee’s absence, I want a system that allows me to clearly display time off in order to best distribute tasks.
  • The person in charge of human resources wastes too much time recording the hours of each employee, I lose a lot of money because of this. I don’t want her to have to waste any more of her time doing this
  • I trust my employees, I don’t want to have a more expensive system that has to use some part of their body to identify them.

In this way, you will be able to narrow down what system you want to use:

  • For example, some are easy to use, others are more sophisticated and allow you to manage overtime, part-time work, and many more things. Some can also handle compensators, WTRs (Work Time Reduction), and time-off requests.
  • Digital and mechanical time clocks are designed for small businesses because they require manual operation. The biometric time clock, on the other hand, is more sophisticated and will be preferable for a very large company. This system provides greater security in controlling the identity of the person who is clocking in and limits access to certain areas of the company premises

2. The goal of my time clock

Determine your expectations

3. Match your budget to your needs and expectations

As mentioned above, the size of your company, the features you need and the additional features you want to integrate will determine the price of the system you use. It is then necessary to determine if your expectations are compatible with your budget.

For example, a biometric system will cost more than a mobile application but does not target the same needs. It will be used instead in very large companies that cannot check people’s identities or their access to the premises, while the mobile application will be used instead for companies with employees who are constantly on the move