Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

How to Choose a Time and Attendance Solution

Choosing a time and attendance solution is at best, a strategic decision for most businesses. Questions to consider include: can this system grow with our company? Should we start with the basics and add modules as we need them? Will the implementation fit within our timeframe? How robust is this application? Should we go for all the features of the system? All of these questions are normal when deciding which software application will best suit your organizational needs.

The true value of an employee time and attendance system lies in its integration across a company and the data gathered when using it. So why not start with a modern software solution that is able to meet your functional needs? It is a natural to want every conceivable feature and module when in actuality most companies only use a small percentage of the available features. Companies adopting a time and attendance for the first time would be wise to “crawl before you can walk”. If the right vendor is chosen, adding modules should be an easy process.

Here are the 5 strategies to use for getting the right system for your organization:

Stated Objectives- Companies should conduct an internal audit of all processes and policies before choosing a time and attendance system. If your company is small, this can be done by the project manager. For larger organizations, the steering committee can draft a plan.

Project Manager-The implementation of an employee time and attendance solution is as important as choosing the right solution and vendor. The importance of having someone within your organization spearhead the project should not be overlooked. If your company’s objectives are clear and all stakeholders are in agreement, the implementation will yield positive results.

Choosing the Data Collector-The common complaint we hear from some prospective customers, is that their time clock has never worked properly since it was installed. Some companies are so dazzled by the latest features of a software application that they fail to ask the most basic question of a vendor; will this employee time clock work for us? Today, capturing employees’ data has expanded to include: smart-phones, tablets, biometric time clocks and swipe card technology to name a few. Consider your environment and whether your employees will use the technology before choosing an employee time clock.

Informing stakeholders- Some employees view the deployment of a time management system as intrusive. This is particularly true if a company has long tenured employees who might struggle to understand why their hours are being tracked all of sudden. This can be diffused quickly by letting them know the reasons and the enhanced benefits of the system.

Choosing a Vendor-You should have a separate list that contains the criteria your company will use to select a provider. While a vendor who has been around for 100 years sounds nice, that in and of itself, should not be the only criteria by which you choose a vendor. Request the names of at least three companies who you can contact to discuss the product’s functionality and challenges. And if all that matters to you is the cheapest solution, be prepared to deal with software inefficiencies, a lack luster implementation and inadequate after sales support.

Choosing a time and attendance software should be an important decision for your company. Go about the process by “starting small” with a standard software solution the meets your organizational goals. As time progresses and your supervisors get used to the software, add modules to complement your growing needs.

To download the full 13 steps to choosing a time and attendance go to our website. Join the conversation on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Biometric Time Clocks, Employee Time and Attendance System, Smart-phones, Software, Swipe Card Technology

Change: Is Your Organization Prepared to Move with the Times?

Change it has been said is inevitable. Some companies understand this and adapt accordingly, while others hold on hoping the change will not affect them. Over the years numerous studies have been conducted that reveal the benefits of an employee time and attendance system. However, hundreds of companies still remain in the dark ages when it comes to automating the employee time capture.

ATS employee attendance software is ideally suited for mid to large organizations. The solution was created by industry experts and it encompasses the type of functionality that makes costly customizations a thing of the past and allows you to work both smarter and faster.

ATS TimeWork is an easy-to-use time and attendance solution that can be deployed as an on-premises solution, or as a cloud-based application and does not require lengthy or disruptive system changes. TimeWork provides companies with anytime, anywhere access to the information it needs to analyze, monitor, and steer its business, while reducing the time required to process payroll.

Our time management solution includes supervisor dashboards and labour analytics for full integration to planning and forecasting capabilities. This powerful tool puts HR managers, payroll practitioners and supervisors in the driver’s seat to meet organizational requirements rather than using paper-based time sheets, antiquated punch clocks or excel spreadsheets.

If your company is still using spreadsheet to capture employee hours, vacation and other accrual benefits it’s time to switch to ATS employee attendance system.

To learn more, go to our website or contact us at 866.294.2467

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Spreadsheets: Can They Really Help Track Employees Time Effectively?

Cloud-Based Application, HR Managers, Payroll Practitioners, Time Management Solution, Timesheets

A Fresh Approach to Workforce Management Software

Companies in industries of all sizes are under tremendous pressure to do more with less- from streamlining of resources to adopting business practices that provide optimum value for their customers and shareholders. Many of today’s business executives want real-time information that will help them understand the importance of data integration as it relates to workforce management. Our business software allows managers to validate work and pay, and provides a comprehensive financial view of business operations.

The ATS time and attendance solution provide customers with lower administrative and operating costs, it improves customer satisfaction, and enhances the focus on core business activities. Our integrated software suite combines deep industry expertise and a flawless implementation methodology.

Here are few ways Workforce Management Software will improve your company’s business operations:

Attendance Management:
Our workforce management software calculates overtime, premium pay and host of other pay calculations based on a company’s specific requirements. Employee time clocking options include; barcode, swipe and biometric time clocks. Real-time information is sent to payroll and HR systems, providing instant reporting capabilities.

Human Resources Management:
ATS human resources module includes: employee self-self, vacation planning calendar and benefits administration. Our solution is both flexible and scalable and is offered as a cloud application or an on-premises employee time management solution.

Business Intelligence
ATS Business Intelligence provides companies with the information necessary to streamline payroll and improve data accuracy. With an intuitive dashboard your managers can create schedules and navigate the visual workflow to route work tasks for exceptions and instant approvals.

An ATS software solution enables you to align with your workforce and business strategies. Learn more about ATS Workforce Management Software on our website.

Attendance Management, Biometric Time Clocks. Business Intelligence, Employee Time Clocks, Overtime, Premium Pay, Workforce Management Software

Are Employee Time Clocks Keeping up with the Times?

Since the invention of the mechanical time clock in 1888, companies have used various types of time clocks to track employee hours. While the changes in time clocks have not been as fast as smart phones and tablet PCs they have made significant strides. There are still companies, today who use the traditional time clocks that come equipped with a paper time card. When these paper cards are inserted into the time clock, it punches a hole in the card that represents time in, out and other data that’s relevant to the company. Although the fundamentals of employee time tracking remain the same, time clocks have evolved.

Today, verifying employee record of work comes in several forms that include: barcode and proximity, hand geometry, fingerprint, facescan terminals, online/web timesheets, telephones and smart phones and magnetic badges. The functions performed by today’s time clocks range from job costing and schedule reviews to departmental transfers. When combined with labour management software, these clocks store data for the calculation of overtime, premiums and various work policies.

In some cases, time clocks may not be conducive to the needs of an organization. For example, it might be easier for employees who travel frequently to punch in and out, check their schedules and request time off through their cell phone. A construction company might also find it easier to use a mobile time clock for employees that travel to different job sites. Companies with remote health care workers might find it easier to use telephony. Phone punch or telephony allows employees to punch in and out from any telephone- all guided by voice prompts.

ATS time clocks facilitate complex attendance and job reporting, including hours worked, breaks, tardiness and absences. These time clocks provide real-time query capabilities and an accurate picture of your employees’ attendance and absences.

For more information on employee time clocks and workforce management software, visit our website.

Barcode Time Clocks, Biometric FaceScan, Biometric Time Clocks, Biometric Time Clocks Toronto, Employee Time Clocks, Hand Punch, Hand Punch Time Clocks Canada, Magnetic Time Clocks, Proximity Time Clocks

Tracking Attendance with the use of Biometrics

The use of biometric technology has gained widespread notoriety in many vertical industries. While there are different types of biometric terminals, they all use a common theme. Some of the ways in which biometrics are used include: security/access control, time and attendance, finger scanning to access laptops and other devices. Biometrics is based on authentication techniques that rely on physical characteristics. The data process of an ATS biometric time clock mirrors that of a barcode or magnetic swipe clock. The big difference is that the authentication process of the biometric unit prevents workers from clocking in for each other. Essentially, when using biometric time clocks, employees have to be onsite to punch in and out.

ATS biometric technology automates processes, reduces payroll and complies with government and collective bargaining agreements. The combination of our time and attendance software and biometric time clocks helps companies to: schedule the right coverage, track employee performance, comply with corporate directives and align long-term workforce planning and daily operations with your business strategy.

If your company decides to use biometrics, it’s important to figure out what type of biometric device will work in your setting. For instance, a fingerscan reader might be sensitive to elements in a fish packing plant, whereas a hand punch unit or facescan might excel in those areas. ATS account executives have a wealth of experience with biometric technology and can guide you towards a solution that meets your operational goals.

To learn more join our user group on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter for product updates. To view a demonstration of ATS products or for an onsite visit, go to our website.

Barcode Time Clocks, Biometric Face Recognition, Biometric Time Clock, FingerScan Reader, Iris Scan Biometrics

Workforce Management Software: Create or Buy?

In a recent conversation with the VP of a distribution chain, we found out that their in-house software had been created by one of their IT personnel. Since this person left the company three years ago it has become a nightmare trying to maintain the product. Before you decide to create your own software consider the following:

1)       Are there people on staff who understand the nuances of time and attendance?
2)       Which member of your team is going to maintain the software once it has been created?
3)       Who is going to be responsible for keeping up with: federal, state and provincial legislative policies that must
           be be adhered to in business automation software?
4)       If the creator of the software leaves the company how is that software going to be managed?
5)       Are you able to create import files for time clocks and other third-party applications like payroll, HR or ERP?

There numerous benefits to purchasing workforce management software. Some of these include:
1)       The software contains numerous pay and work rule policies.
2)       The time and attendance software algorithm can be configured to suit any collective bargaining agreement.
3)       Software updates are created automatically by software engineers at no additional costs.
4)       The import utility allows for payroll interfaces to any third-party payroll application.
5)       The software can be accessed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
6)       Back-up is done daily and is available on demand.
7)       Changes to new shifts, overtime and other pay policies can be done in seconds.
8)       The software has integrated modules that include: employee self-service, points and incidents,
overtime equalization, job costing, and forecasting.
9)       Complementary data collectors include: biometric facescan, fingerprint readers, proximity time clocks, online time sheets, iPad, and smart phone time entry

The decision to create or buy, a time management software should be given careful consideration. In some instances, competitive advantages exist if you have the internal resources and the time to create your software.

To learn more about workforce management software go to our website.

Forecasting, Job Costing, Overtime Equalization, Payroll, Time and Attendance Software

Many people tend to use the end of the year as a time of reflection. We, at Apex Time Solutions, decided to compile of a list of questions received from businesses over the past 12 months. In some cases, these questions came from companies who were unhappy with their time and attendance vendor. We also received several calls from prospective customers who were using manual time sheets and wanted to understand the benefits of automating the attendance process at their organizations. This list is not exhaustive. It represents a small fraction of the many queries we received during the course of this year.

1. Do you offer support across different provinces and/or states?
Yes. In addition, we also provide support in different time zones. When selecting a vendor, make sure they can not only answer this question but have customers who can attest to this as well. Support made it to the top of the list because this question came up numerous times from prospective customers.

2. I am told fingerprint readers are better than other biometrics, is that true?
Based on our experience that’s false. The data collector (employee time clock) should be recommended based on your company’s needs. There is range of things that should be taken into consideration when deciding on which data terminal will work best for your company.

3. Can we implement payroll, ERP and time and attendance at the same time?
We would not recommend a company implement several modules or different systems at the same time. Each product requires its own project plan and testing. The implementation of business automation software should be given careful consideration and all the facts laid bare prior to deployment.

4. Would you recommend web-based software over an on premises solution?
That depends on a company’s corporate culture and internal resources among other things. Recommendations are made based on a the needs of a company.

5. Can your system interface to our payroll software?
This question is usually followed up by: “Are you sure, your software is compatible with our payroll application?” We have created interfaces to 300 plus payroll HR and ERP systems. Today’s software applications have import utilities that allow for interfacing to third-party programs.

6. How fast can you implement our system?
There are many variables to consider prior to deployment of workforce management software. Once we have a full understanding of your needs, we will be in a better position to give you a timeline.

7. If there is a certain report we want, can you build it?
Absolutely! We have no shortage of expert programmers who can build any report you want. We do, however; recommend that customers first browse through our library of reports as it may already exist within our software.

The ATS Time & Attendance manages absences and accruals, streamlines payroll integration and eliminates time fraud/buddy punching. For more information about workforce management software go to our website.

As the year comes to a close we would like to take this opportunity to wish our customers a Happy New Year!

Employee Time Clocks, Web-Based Time and Attendance Software, Workforce Management Software

Employee Facial Recognition: A Revolution in Timekeeping

Over the years we talked to a lot of businesses and also helped many of them solve a variety of time and attendance problems. One of the most common problems we hear about is buddy punching. Of course, buddy punching is nothing new. It is the practice of one employee punching in/out for his or her colleague.

So, the question becomes, how do you eliminate this practice in your organization? The ATS Biometric Facescan is a robust time tracking device that reduces payroll fraud. When combined with TimeWork ATS’s leading edge time and attendance solution, the Biometric Facescan helps reduce labour costs and manage your resources.

ATS FaceScan Biometric Time Clock Features:

Scans employee face and records time in less than 1 second
High-Sensitivity CCD Camera with IR
Non-intrusive and non-contact verification process
Operating environment temperature: 0-50°C
Multi factor authentication

Benefits and features of ATS TimeWork:

Cost savings through means of tracking employee attendance and eliminating human errors
Business automation reports that covers all aspects of attendance, absence, and overtime
Labour analytics data that enables an organization to analyze and forecast its workforce requirements
Automated and accurate payroll calculations
Up-to-date real-time information in an easy to use format
Employee self-service capabilities that enables managers and employees to access up to the minute information
Tracking of employee punch data through various data terminals including: Barcode and magnetic swipe clocks, fingerprint time clocks, proximity time clocks, biometric hand punch data collectors smart phones and tablet pc’s

The ATS solution gives you the tools necessary to capture employee time data, automate mundane processes and integrate with payroll and human resources applications. The results are reduced administration time and increased workforce productivity. ATS state-of the art facial recognition technology extracts real-time data and stops budding punching in its tracks.

For an onsite demo, go to our website or contact us by phone.

Biometric Face Recognition, Facial Recognition Software, Facial Recognition Time Attendance System

How to Choose a Time and Attendance Solution

A Fresh Approach to Workforce Management Software

Are Employee Time Clocks Keeping up with the Times?

Tracking Attendance with the use of Biometrics

Workforce Management Software: Create or Buy?

Top 7 Time and Attendance Questions of 2011

Employee Facial Recognition: A Revolution in Timekeeping

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