I invested in an employee time clock app a few years ago to improve and automate the time-tracking process. I researched a few options that I thought would work best for my business and ultimately chose a price solution. Boy, was that a mistake!
I quickly learned that selecting and implementing a time and attendance app is critical and should not be taken lightly. In this article, I will review the four most important things I wish I had known before choosing and implementing an employee time clock app. Hopefully, I can save you some time and frustration while doing so!
employee time clock app, go through a trial for it. You may think that watching a video demo and asking customer support questions is sufficient, but I am here to tell you it is not enough. You have to go through a trial to ensure that the solution is user-friendly, can meet your business requirements, and that your employees like using it. Without going through this process in-depth, you may invest in a solution that your employees hate, is incredibly challenging to use, and doesn’t benefit your business.
The good news is that most employee time clock app vendors provide up to a 30-day free trial. During the trial, you can test out all of the different features from different aspects within your company. For example, you should get an accountant, an HR administrator, and hourly employees on trial to ensure it meets your business and users’ needs at every level and department.
Your employees must be on board.
When searching for a time clock app, I didn’t consider how my employees would use it. This ended up being the downfall of my implementation process. Your employees are the ones who will be using the employee time clock app day in and day out, so they must understand why using such a tool can be beneficial to them.
An employee’s benefits can reap from a timekeeper app vary from one business to the next, but there are some benefits you’ll see across the board. For example, time clock solutions can give employees more control over their time-tracking process. They can punch time from their mobile device, request time off when needed without going through their manager, and review their work hours to ensure they’re accurate. Bringing these benefits to light is a great way to get employees on board.
Consistency is key.
I KEPT CHANGING THE RULES when I first implemented my employee time clock app. At first, I only wanted employees to punch time from their computers, but then I opted for a more flexible option – mobile punching. While there is no problem with changing your time-tracking process to be more efficient, there is a problem with doing this frequently. Employees need workplace consistency, which is especially true of the tools they use.
When you’re going through the trial, I recommend outlining your time-tracking process and how you expect employees to interact with your time attendance clock. This would also be a great time to better define your time and attendance policy. Specify how and where you want your employees to punch time. Outline the process of requesting time off. Let them know the repercussions of not following your policy. You and your employees will be better off if you figure out these details before implementation.
It’s not all rainbows and sunshine.
There’s this notion that implementing an online timecard system will work flawlessly every day. But anyone with any software experience knows this is not the case. There will inevitably be issues that arise, some technical and some that occur due to user error, and it’s essential to take on these issues as they appear.
An employee time clock app is an excellent investment for any business. It can increase time tracking accuracy, improve employee accountability and productivity, and reduce payroll errors. However, it is vital to maintain your expectations when using such a solution. It isn’t a magical tool that will suddenly fix all of your time-tracking problems, but it can significantly streamline that process and help reduce costs associated with labor. All in all, it is a worthwhile investment.
