Time attendance software is rapidly replacing time clocks and handwritten time sheets in most businesses. The latest attendance programs can help with everything from managing your human resources departments to forecasting budgets. Time attendance solutions can help to eliminate errors and administer payroll and project management staffing requirements more quickly and efficiently.

In addition to installing new software to replace your hourly employee attendance and time-keeping activities, consider time-keeping software for your project managers, salaried executives and outside sales reps. Begin using time and attendance software in a number of ways to make your company more profitable.

1. Use a time attendance system to manage your hourly staff.

2. Use web-based time and attendance software to prevent fraud and minimize errors.

3. Use time attendance solutions to keep track of executives and traveling employees.

Action Steps for Selecting Time Clock Software and Systems
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Make your human resource department more efficient with time attendance software

Rather than spending hours with time cards and preparing payroll statements, use desktop applications that can be updated in real time and generate attendance reports with ease. All managers and human resource staff can view the logs through a web-based or desktop platform and make corrections to their department's use of time as needed.

I recommend: Check out the ample screens offered by software provider Software Techniques to find out how you could integrate the systems for your use. Download a free demo if you're impressed with the samples. Read the detailed white papers published by WorkForce Software in PDF formats to educate yourself on the value of the new programs.

Find attendance program solutions to record proper times for employees

Businesses must pay for overtime and keep track of payroll and attendance records for a number of reason. Keep your company in compliance with federal laws and provide IT solutions that are harder to alter and provide an easier and more effective means of keeping track of your employees and their time sheets.

I recommend: Automate your timekeeping systems from WorkTech with software that also maintains a level of compliance for your company and produces reports as needed. Business Legal Reports brings you the highlights of the emerging issues and development affecting the HR industry and the laws that affect your business. Find specific reports that address each issue, such as required federal deductions.

Stay in touch with attendance programs for mobile employees

Integrate an Internet software system into your company to streamline time-keeping for employees who work outside the office or bill for time. Rather than having to spend time filling out expense reports, quick additions can be added to a custom program that allows your team to save time and resources that used to be necessary for weekly paperwork.

I recommend: Investigate various options available for upgrading your time-keeping operations with programs geared for small business owners by watching a free guided tour of the programs at Datamatics. Check out the easy-to-use options on the web-based time keeping system developed by TimeClock Plus.

Tips & Tactics to Evaluate a Time Clock System

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have employees who don't have access to a computer to log onto and use time attendance management software, consider using a telephone time attendance system program into which they call. The time is then logged into a program and the reports are sent electronically to managers and your payroll department.

Web-based time clocks offer you a high return on investment by tracking the exact time worked by employees – both in and out of the office – while giving both workers and upper management the flexibility and options to check the system from any Internet-enabled PDA, Internet-enabled cell phones, or home-based PCs.

The top three things to know about Web-based time clock systems:

1) Web-based time clock systems save your company money by keeping to-the-minute employee time records.

2) Most web-based time clock systems allow employees to clock in and out from offsite locations, making them the top choice for companies with offsite or traveling employees.

3) Prices for Web-based systems are usually on a monthly basis, rather than paid upfront as a lump sum – a pricing perk that fits many a small business owner’s budget.

Action Steps
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Consider the factors in deciding between various Web-based time clocks

There are many factors to consider before purchasing your Web-based time clock system, including how many employees and locations you have, your Internet access and what additional features you’d like synched up with your time clocks.

I recommend: For a portal to suppliers of employee time clock software programs, visit Business.com’s Time and Attendance Software page. For a broad overview of time clocks, check out Business.com’s Time and Attendance page for several time clock options, including Web-based time clock systems.

Learn about the pricing variables of Web-based time clocks

Web-based time clock systems’ cost is usually charged according to the number of employees on/using the system, and on a monthly fee basis, rather than the upfront (and usually pricey) licensing fee of a traditional time clock or software program.

I recommend: Go to BuyerZone for free, no-obligation quotes for your Web-based time clock systems – all you have to do is answer a few questions about your needs. KnowledgeSum offers several Web-based time clock systems, including their KSum Lite for smaller companies.

Web-based time clocks offer flexibility

If you have offsite workers, including outside salespeople, telecommuters, or employees who travel on business, Web-based time clocks are a wise solution for keeping track of their time.

I recommend: TimeForce allows you to collect, manage, and process time using various options, including their Web browser options: TimeForce: Self Service, or NetClock.

Get automated tracking and approval with Web-based time clock systems

Most Web-based time clock systems offer online pay stub information, exporting of data to other programs, employee scheduling, and interfacing with accounting and other systems.

I recommend: Business.com’s Biometric Time Clock options include those with Web-based capabilities, so check out these vendors to learn more. Then check out GHG’s small-business offering, ASP Time and Attendance.

Web-based time clocks offer freedom to employees and owners

Search Web-based time clocks for one that allows more than offsite clock in and out capabilities, but also lets employees check their own information, and administrators access everything system-wide.

I recommend: Go to the Time Clock eShop for their Web-based time and attendance systems. Owners/managers get a single view into employee data, time cards, time-off requests (approve with a single mouse-click), and schedules through the Web Manager Module. Through the Web Employee Self-Service Module, your employees have the autonomy and ability to view their own information, time cards, and upcoming schedules.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Definitely check out free trial offers or demos before you choose which time clock system you’d prefer – don’t sign up for a subscription until you’ve sampled their product.
• •  Consider Web-based time clocks that allow payroll and scheduling integration, and watch your own time free up so you can spend it elsewhere.
• •  In general, companies should not require salaried employees to “clock in and out” as they do hourly employees, as it tends to lower these upper-level employees’ morale and loyalty to the company.
• •  DO have salaried employees use Web-based time clocks that offer cost distribution capabilities (so you can track the exact time spent – for billing reasons – on separate clients).

Time attendance solutions are available that can help you save both time and resources while tracking the work of your hourly, commissioned and executive employees. Different time attendance software is available for each staffing sector and can be managed by the human resource department in real time. Department managers also can keep track of attendance and create reports with time and attendance solutions.

Reviews of the newest business attendance software can give you insight into what kinds of programs are working best for companies with similar services and products. The latest web-based time and attendance software is proving especially useful for companies with staff that travels. However you incorporate the latest programs, there are a number of ways that you should begin making the most of time and attendance software.

1. Use attendance programs to update your manual timekeeping solutions.

2. Try web-based employee time and attendance software for your mobile operations.

3. Bring in a consultant to assist you in choosing the most appropriate attendance program for your company.

Action Steps
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Investigate various time & attendance software programs to find the best applications

In addition to talking to others who have taken advantage of the latest business attendance software, look online for information that informs you of the kinds of time-keeping programs that are available to make your business more profitable and efficient.

I recommend: Read white papers that explain how you can make the most of the latest time attendance system at TechTarget. HR-Software.net provides educational resources and product reviews of the latest software on the market.

Find mobile applications of time and attendance software

Look for time attendance tracking systems that can monitor employees from place to place for client billing purposes. Other programs can be used with satellite and wireless technology so that employees on the road can easily access their time sheets and expense reports.

I recommend: Compare the costs and benefits of the TimeTrak Systems that can be integrated with mobile Palm devices for employees on the move. Look for updates on the latest mobile time-keeping applications and the multiple uses that you can apply to your needs at ExecuTime.

Bring in a time attendance system program expert

With all the options available today, it may behoove you to let an outsider come in and review your organization to help you select the best time and attendance tracking software for you. It could be worth the investment to pay a consultant to work with your bookkeeping and HR staff to choose the right attendance program so that you can see the results right away.

I recommend: HR Techonology Partners is a consulting firm that will review your operations and get you set up with the best software for your business. WorkPlace Systems has a complete line of consulting services that cover time management systems and other workplace efficiency programs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of the offer from time attendance system program companies for a free demonstration or trial period before you sign on for a lengthy commitment.

Manufacturers supply many levels of software for time and attendance HR personnel. From the basic attendance software to the complex time and attendance analysis programs, there are many options from which to choose.

This software can be used to keep track of employee hours or to analyze your workforce. To narrow down your options or get a better understanding of the software you're using, learn some of the time and attendance terms used with different software programs.

Action Steps
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Multi-Company Support (MCS)

Multi-company support, or MCS, refers to time and attendance software made to share. More than one company can use the software to keep track of time and attendance.

I recommend: Read the definition of multi-company support at Qqest. This payroll software company also defines many other HR time and attendance terms.

Auto populate

Auto populate refers to the way a time keeping software or system fills in information in its records. Software with auto populate features can be set up to keep track of which employees are available at what times. It can fill in many other user-defined options like schedules, pay scales and time changes.

I recommend: Read the definition of "auto populate" at International Time Recorder.

Labor forecasting

Labor forecasting is the process of keeping track of how many employees will be needed for certain positions at a given time. Some pay and time keeping software includes forecasting options to help you manage employee needs.

I recommend: Use the glossary of terms at e-timetracking.com to find out more about labor forecasting and other HR terms.

Employee messaging

Employee messaging refers to features of certain time keeping software allowing an administrator to send employees important information through the system. Software that is connected to a time keeping system or time clock may be able to display important messages to employees when they clock in or out.

I recommend: The Time Force glossary defines employee messaging and explains how it can be used in conjunction with time and attendance software.

Key performance indicators

Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are measurements of how effectively a service or job is being done. The measurement usually uses several factors like workforce numbers and output to determine the efficiency of work.

I recommend: WorkPlace Systems defines key performance indicators and explains how time software can be used to keep an eye on performance.

Real-time

Real-time is simply defined as what is happening right now. The term as it relates to time and attendance software refers to the ability to keep up-to-the-minute attendance records that can be searched and used as they are being updated. In other words, an HR manager can easily log on and see what employees are currently working and when they punched in.

I recommend: Time-Clock Plus explains how real-time attendance works.