Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

Streamlining Payroll Costs Can Help Your Business Grow

It is a well established fact that conducting your business processes on paper will lead to lost in revenue. In fact, blue chip organizations like Aberdeen Group and the Canadian Payroll Association have cited the overwhelming benefits over the years that can be achieved when a company implements a time management solution. ATS TimeWork Time and Attendance enables you to map your various business processes within the system, thereby increasing the productivity of your organization.

The new economy of today demands that rapidly growing businesses adhere to efficient processes – with no room for information gaps. ATS automated time and reduces labour costs by enforcing appropriate paycodes in accordance to a company’s work rule policy. ATS TimeWork Time and Attendance provides a complete integration into your company’s management processes and enable department managers, HR and payroll personnel to access this information within a standardized system.

ATS employee time and attendance can streamline your company’s payroll. By choosing ATS Time and Attendance software, you ensure that your company’s future and existing business processes will never have to rely on antiquated punch clocks and paper time sheets.

ATS Time and Attendance management allows payroll and HR staff to know who is present or absent for their shifts with the use of employee time clocks. Automating your business process helps reduces the administrative time associated with attendance exceptions and employee inquiries — all while minimizing overpayments and compliance risk.

Interested in learning more? Download the white paper on streamlining payroll costs on our website.

Aberdeen, Canadian Payroll Association, Employee Time Clocks, HR, Payroll, Time and Attendance, Time and Attendance Software

How can we Quantify the Benefits of an Employee Attendance Solution?

This is a question we hear all too often. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of having used paper timesheets for so long that a company has not felt the need to change, or their previous experience with a time and attendance system has been less than stellar. Regardless of the reason, it’s justifiable to quantify the benefits of an employee time tracking system and its impact on your company’s corporate culture.

ATS Time & Attendance system is used by North America’s leading organizations. The solution streamlines business processes and automates manual tasks to:

Collect the data you need to make better staffing decisions based on current customer and unforeseen absences.
Provide employees with tools to manage their time at work, including review of paid time off
Automate statutory holidays and define special overtime or premium pay rates
Comply with collective bargaining agreements and local, provincial, state and federal regulations
Reduce payroll costs and calculate overtime/double-time and daily, weekly, bi-weekly and payroll frequencies

With ATS Employee Time and Attendance System You Get:

Employee Self-Service—Provides employees with access to their personal information so they can trade shifts, view schedules, request time off and bid on vacation blocks.
Benefit Accruals—Automate, track and calculate hours earned for vacation, lieu days, vacation and sick days.
Employee Time clocks—Collect and calculate employee time and labour, job changes and workforce metrics.
Workforce Scheduling—Creates schedules to meet forecast business demand by department and job for all employees. Schedules honor complex rule sets involving variables that include: skills, shift rules, minor rules and employee preferences.
Talent Management, ERP, HR and Payroll Interfaces—Integrates ATS time and attendance data with various payroll, HR, and ERP applications human to produce accurate payroll records.
Attendance Management—With ATS Time and Attendance software, your business is transformed into “On the Spot” information that helps managers and supervisors control overtime and keep jobs on time and within budget.
Training and Support— ATS integrated implementation support offers reliable response to technical disruptions and for the maintenance, health and integrity of the system.

Today, more than ever businesses are looking to increase productivity and streamline business processes. Are you interested in making your business more efficient? Download a whitepaper on the benefits of a time and attendance software solution.

You might also like:
5 Ways to Change your Current Business Process with Workforce Management Software
Overtime Hours: To Track or Not to Track is the Great Debate
Adopting Business Automation in the Era of Austerity Measures

Attendance Management, Benefit Accruals, Employee Self Service, Employee Time and Attendance System, Employee Time Clocks, ERP, Payroll, Talent Management, Workforce Scheduling

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

Spreadsheets: Can They Really Help Track Employees Time Effectively?

Many companies track and maintain employee time, hours and other data with spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are also used for creation of pie charts, bar chart and line graphs. Spreadsheets do perform an important role and based on their history will not be going away anytime soon. However, we have noticed that too many businesses rely on this type of tool to track employees’ time and other data for payroll processing. The problem with relying on spreadsheets to handle employee hours is that it comes with inherent risks. Manually keying employee hours into payroll, ERP or HRIS can lead to numerous unintended errors.

Say good-bye to your spreadsheets! ATS SaaS Time & Workforce Management Solutions is a fully integrated software suite that does a great deal more than just track employee time. Our software helps organizations minimize payroll errors and automate time-consuming workforce management processes associated with time tracking, job costing, employee scheduling, attendance and labour distribution.

Solution Benefits:

TimeWork is robust yet flexible enough to adapt to your company’s changing needs
System redundancy provides frequent backups and ensures complete data availability
ATS data terminals provide hours instantly and in real-time and allows managers to review relevant data
System updates at no additional charge to ensure you are in line with technological advances
TimeWork ensures compliance with necessary labour laws while accurately tracking time and attendance of employees
Forecasting and budgeting modules align with company’s objectives
Labour distribution captures activities performed by employees at various departments or jobsites
Absence requests facilitate adequate coverage
Labour analytics provides managers with a variety of workforce data

ATS Software as-a-Service (SaaS) solution automates employee time, labour tracking and scheduling. Companies can access the data at anytime, anywhere and from any web browser.

To discuss the benefits of moving from a spreadsheet based time tracking to an automated solution, go to our website.

Absence Request, Employee Scheduling, ERP, HRIS, Job Costing, Labour Distribution, Payroll, SaaS Time & Workforce Management, Time and Attendance

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

Software Implementation: Are All Users Onboard?

It is well documented that software projects fail for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the best laid plans go awry when circumstances beyond stakeholders control arise. Some of the reasons projects fail include: numerous changes during implementation, unrealistic expectations, unclear objectives, incomplete specifications and a lack of resources. Another reason projects fail is a lack of user acceptance. Gaining user acceptance at the start of the time and attendance project increases the likelihood of its success. End-user involvement can ease the difficulty that some organizations face when implementing a new workforce management system.

ATS TimeWork is the industry’s leading SaaS Time and Attendance solution. TimeWork is a robust, a flexible and easy-to-use employee time tracking software. Our solution has a plethora of modules that are scalable for companies from 50 to 100,000 employees. TimeWork streamlines payroll costs and helps companies manage their staffing levels and human resources activities for optimal efficiency.

Solution Benefits:

Save 2-5% on labour costs
Build automated schedules based on various preferences
Intuitive HRIS, ERP and Payroll interfacing allows you to export employee hours, vacation and other accrual benefit information
Employee Self –Service portal allows staff to view schedules and personal time off
Upgrades are done free of charge and will not disrupt your daily operation
Ensure the correct mix of employee skills is on the time clock at all times, making every shift run smoothly
Implement work management policies across multijurisdictional locations
Automatic calculation of overtime, premiums and statutory rules based on company’s specific needs
Manage human resource processes such as regular employee reviews, training and certification, vacation requests, pay increases, awards, and more
Access to vital labour information when you need it — anytime, anywhere
Implementation is done in days and weeks, not months or years

The success of a time and attendance implementation is enhanced when the participation of departments managers who will be impacted, are involved. Moreover, when support, communication, training and cooperation are exhibited they lend credence to influencing user acceptance.

To learn more about our Apex Time Solutions implementation methodology contact us at: 866.294.2467 or go to our website.

Employee Self Service, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Resources Management Systems, Payroll, SaaS Time and Attendance, Software Implementation, Vacation Request

Is Technical Support Aligned with your Expectations?

The lack of proper customer support is an issue in many industries. One of Canada’s most prominent and well known consumer advocates is Ellen Roseman of the Toronto Star. Her many columns highlight some of the Herculean challenges consumers have to overcome with their service providers to get answers. While not all companies have developed a reputation for poor customer service, the ones that do, tend to tarnish the reputation of other companies that operate within the same industry.

Any company purchasing a time management system should expect top notch support. At ATS, we believe providing customer support should be inherent in a company’s corporate DNA. If the company’s executives do not place value in servicing its customers, this attitude will trickle down to the front line employees who provide the day to day technical support. We constantly hear from customers about the difficulties they face in their attempts to get through a support rep. One customer recounted how she was directed to the vendor’s website to download brochures for training on a new module that had been installed a week prior. When the customer inquired, she was told that training is only provided one time only and that was at the original time of purchase. Training for additional modules or new managers came in the form of product manuals that customers had to figure out on their own.

ATS’s robust time and attendance enables companies to control payroll costs. Our solution uses intuitive data intelligence to: track overtime hours, schedule employees, forecast labour and control attendance management. TimeWork integrates with employee data collectors, employee self-service and ERP and HR applications in order to share and gather information.

The flow of information allows you to have up to date labour analytics and add your own constantly changing variables.

Benefits to an ATS Time and Attendance Solution:

Forecasting helps with coverage for scheduling and measuring labour
Employee self-service empowers employees to review worked hours and request time off
Benefit accruals award time off based on an employees work history approvals, reports, and exceptions that require action
Leave Management automates the employee leave process.
Enforces local, state/provincial and federal labour laws easily

To learn more contact one of our representatives and to download a brochure, go to our website.

Employee Self Service, Forecasting, Leave Management, Scheduling, Time and Attendance Technical Support

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

Streamlining Payroll Costs Can Help Your Business Grow

How can we Quantify the Benefits of an Employee Attendance Solution?

A Fresh Approach to Workforce Management Software

Spreadsheets: Can They Really Help Track Employees Time Effectively?

Are Employee Time Clocks Keeping up with the Times?

Software Implementation: Are All Users Onboard?

Is Technical Support Aligned with your Expectations?

Tracking Attendance with the use of Biometrics

Workforce Management Software: Create or Buy?

Top 7 Time and Attendance Questions of 2011

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