Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

How will Time and Attendance Biometrics Change in 2103 and Beyond?

The introduction of time tracking biometric technology to companies in 1999 was a hard sell. Some of these companies felt that the use of this technology to track employee hours would give the appearance of “big brother” watching over them, or infringe on employees rights. Of course, that is no longer an issue since many of these companies have come to understand that biometrics for employee time and attendance matches the image of the user (hand, eye, face etc) to a number keyed in by the employee. Once the match is validated, a company has access to real time labour analytics. The concern that some companies and their employees have about privacy issues with the use of biometrics is a valid one. However, the data gathered through the use of an ATS employee time tracking system through biometrics cannot be used by law enforcement agencies. Data is used for the purpose of: tracking employee hours, vacation time and benefit accruals. Once this information is assimilated it is sent electronically to the payroll software to process employee pay.

Today, various types of biometric technology can be found at airports, healthcare institutions, and many border agencies. In fact, some laptop computers come equipped with a finger or eye scanner. To access the laptop the owner is prompted to have his/her eye scanned or put a finger on the scanner. If that laptop is lost or stolen, it cannot be accessed unless the owner is verified through the use of the biometric device. Biometrics has become ubiquitious in everyday society and most private and public institutions have embraced it to streamline their manual time keeping process. In a recent article titled “It’s possible to have both facial recognition and privacy” all indications points to biometrics satisfying privacy concerns, while at the same time, it has helped companies reap its many benefits.

ATS’s scalable time and attendance system is designed for today’s businesses. As companies grow beyond their antiquated, spread sheet time tracking systems, they need a solution that ensures that they receive the most accurate information. ATS workforce management software helps companies collect, analyze and take immediate control of payroll costs, all online and in real time.

To learn more about employee biometric time clocks, go to our website.

Biometrics, Employee Time and Attendance, Time and Attendance System, Time Tracking Systems, Workforce Management Software

Avoid Fruits from the Low Hanging Tree When Making Your Selection

Today, more than ever, companies are keenly aware what type of functionality that need in an employee time management solution. Oddly enough, when shopping for a time and attendance system, these same companies forget their requirements and opt for a solution based on its price. We do agree that price is important but when selecting a time an employee time management solution, it is important to make sure the product matches your requirements. Otherwise, you will be selecting a solution that meets some of your requirements while everything else is blurred by the attractive price point.

Every company has specific needs when it comes to a time and attendance comparison. And, assuming every solution is the same can be costly and present problems when it comes time for implementation. You may have determined that the multiple spreadsheet approach to keeping track of employee hours, vacation and pay policies has become too complicated and time-consuming. It’s important that you get your key operational personnel involved as you assess the needs of your organization pertaining to your time and attendance comparison.

After sales support should be an important element within any time management solution comparison. Look for a company that can prove a level of support that meets your company’s expectations and ask for references that support such claims. All too often companies rely on flashy demos that create an illusion of what’s to come. And when a time and attendance solution is selected is based on flash you are usually buying a bill of goods.

Of course some companies have had bad experiences but, that’s not only with time and attendance. Has your company purchase a CRM, Talent Management or HRIS software based on price? If so, is it still meeting your needs? If not, why? Share your stories, good and bad.

To learn more, go to our website. You can also download a copy of our white paper “How to select a time and attendance solution”.

CRM, Employee Time Management, HRIS Software, Pay Policies, Support, Talent Management, Time and Attendance, Vacation, White papers

The Case for Automating Your Business Process

Although the economy has been showing signs of abating in some sectors, managers are still grappling with the pressure of having to do more with less. In that same vein, the approval of some capital projects are being put on hold until the economy gets back to its pre 2008 state. No one can predict with statistical accuracy where the economy will be five months, much less a year. However, we can say with certainty say that automating your data capture and getting rid of the antiquated timesheets will save your company time and increase workforce productivity.

An ATS time management solution offers the following:

Pay-As-You-Grow – With our solution your business pays for what you need. Our software allows companies to add modules as they grow. There is no reason to pay for something that you might not ever end up using.

Give Your Employees Flexibility- Get rid of the excel spreadsheet that is being used to track time off and give your employees access with TimeWork Employee Self-Service. With TimeWork employee self-service (ESS), your human resources department empowers employees with ownership of their personal information so they can view and update certain fields without needing help with routine inquiries. Automated workflow and customizable features enable employees and supervisors to manage time-off requests, benefits changes, job details, and training history—anytime, anyplace over the Internet or through your company’s intranet.

Software On-Demand- TimeWork is a robust and powerful solution that is delivered as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) in the cloud, TimeWork unites all components of a company’s workforce into one master system of record to one site or multiple locations across several countries. Companies who adopt our time management solution likes the unique, end-to-end functionality and 365 days a year 24/7 access.

Integration of Data Is at Your Fingertips- With ATS employee time management software, there’s no more need for manfully entering employee hours into multiple systems. Our intuitive solution exports data to a variety of HRIS, payroll, talent management and other accounting systems.

Business Analytics and Reporting- ATS workforce management software delivers real-time financial reporting and analytics that allows companies to monitor personalized key performance indicators (KPIs) and get access to the latest management and financial reports. Diagnose financial issues and quickly take action to drive business performance. Whether you’re a CFO, controller, finance manager or department manager, you can monitor financial measures that are commensurate to your role—through key performance indicators.

It’s clear that businesses can reap many benefits by adopting a time and attendance in a weak economy. After all, if the goal is to streamline process and find efficiencies, one place to start is analyzing how employee data is captured.

To download a white paper on advantages of automating your business with a time and attendance software, go to our website.

Business Analytics, Employee Data, Employee Self Service, Employee Time Management Software, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Software- On-Demand, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Overtime Hours: To Track or not to Track is the Great Debate

Managing, tracking and paying overtime is a challenge for some companies. That’s in part, because these companies do not have the right tools to help them with this issue. Overtime has presented itself as a “hot potato” when not applied accurately. Case in point, litigation in recent years has made many companies take note of the rules governing overtime payments.

Canada’s labour code on hours of work and pay states, in part:
“The standard hours of work are eight hours in a day and 40 hours in a week. The maximum number of hours of work for a week is 48 hours. Certain provisions permit flexibility in applying these standards. As well, special regulations cover certain classes of workers in specific industries such as city and highway transport drivers. However, the Code makes no distinction between full-time, part-time or casual workers.”The quote goes on to say:

“The maximum time a worker may work each week can be exceeded for exceptional circumstances such as emergency work or averaging of hours. However, hours of work provisions in the Code do not apply to those who have management functions, or to members of specific groups such as the engineering and medical professions.”

The above guideline by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada is a good measuring stick that can be used by payroll professionals when determining overtime pay for employees. In addition to this guideline, organizations need to factor in collective bargaining agreements (if applicable), industry type and labour codes unique to the jurisdiction/s in which they operate.

For organizations with several locations in different provinces and/or states, attempting to calculate overtime through an antiquated system can present a herculean challenge. ATS time attendance, and labour management solutions help you increase the speed and accuracy of payroll preparation, improve wage compliance, and optimize a rapid return on your investment.

The ATS time and labour solution shows hours worked in real-time and helps determine when an employee is approaching overtime so you can ensure your company has the right amount of coverage, helping you reduce the costs associated with overstaffing.

3 ways to streamline labour costs and take control of overtime:

Reduce Labour Costs: Control overtime hours while improving efficiencies with employee time capture to reduce manual errors.

Eliminate Technology Costs: With an ATS (SaaS) software-as-a-service time and attendance solution, customers can access the software 24/7 365 days a year through any web browser. Hassles of upgrading software become a thing of the past.

Notifications: The ATS time and attendance solution triggers notifications (including e-mail notifications) in real- time to alert managers of issues requiring immediate attention.

To learn more about our time and attendance solutions including automated overtime tracking methodologies, go to our website.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Labour Costs, Overtime, Payroll, Time and Attendance Solution

SaaS has become a Game-Changer in the World of Time & Attendance

Cloud computing has become ubiquitous with many things ranging from music, books and just about any other application that can be accessed through the web. In fact, cloud computing has become so prevalent that some people are not aware they have subscribed to it. Of course moving to the cloud can be challenging. ATS Cloud Time and Attendance solution stands out because of our deep expertise and superior accountability when it comes to protecting the integrity of our customer data.

Choosing the right time and attendance vendor is fundamental to achieving the full advantages of an on-demand solution. Here are key considerations to take into account in choosing a provider:

Security
Some providers claim they have “web-based” or “web-native” software which requires an expensive server which may not part of your budget. That’s not true cloud. Of course, some companies have IT departments and prefer to host the application, but the whole point of true cloud computing is to ease the burden on the customer. Reduce your risk by making sure you ask your vendor the tough questions and understand their proven performance with other companies.

Savings
Some companies start off thinking about the cloud by comparing service provider rates. Without a doubt, one of the advantages of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is that upfront fees are less than what you would expect to pay when purchasing an on-premise solution.

Deployment
True SaaS should be deployed in a few weeks not many months. Of course, some companies have complex requirements but since the software is not installed on your company’s server and desktops, the process should be quick and seamless.

Fancy Features
Yes, we have them as well, but prefer to focus on the fundamentals. The goal should be on the configurability of the software as it relates to your company’s requirements. Once that’s established, everything else should follow.

Pay for What you Use
One of the advantages of a subscription based application like ATS Cloud Time and Attendance is that you only pay for what you use. For customers interested in additional models that means a product with scalability.

Still not sure if cloud time and attendance is the right solution for you? Contact an ATS account executive. You will be pleasantly surprised at the savings, speed and flexibility available to you.

ATS Cloud Time and Attendance, Cloud Computing, Software-as-a-Service, Web-Based, Web-Native

Is Cloud Computing the Reason for the Demise of some Traditional Services?

April 25th, 2012 | Posted by Apex Time Solutions in Cloud Based Time Management Solution | Hosted Time and Attendance | Web-Based Time and Attendance | Workforce Management Software - (0 Comments)

The recent news of Rogers®, a Toronto business and one of Canada’s largest telecommunications company, closing its video rental business came as little surprise to many. When Blockbuster closed shop in 2011 many analysts predicted that the ability to download movies and TV shows through the cloud with NetFlix and Hulu would see more video stores going by the wayside. When we launched our cloud computing SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solution several years ago, we solicited feedback from our customers. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority citing 24/7 access and quick implementation as the top reasons for choosing this offering.

ATS cloud computing software application is a secure and resilient solution that can be deployed to organizations of all sizes. Our SaaS time and attendance is delivered in real-time and ensure businesses can operate their workforce management in the cloud with complete confidence

Why Choose SaaS (software-as-a-service) Solution?

The product is dynamic, scalable and is delivered as a service through the cloud making it the most sustainable approach to providing an employee time tracking solution
Customers enjoy huge capital investment savings, a high ROI and access to the 365 days a year 24/7
The database is backed up daily and companies get guaranteed performance with 99.9% uptime
Upgrades are free and automatic. You get access to the latest features and technologies
Our SaaS (software-as-a-service) application has a shorter turn around

If you are still not sure how to get started using a cloud technology workforce management software contact, our account executives. We have deep expertise in business management software methodologies and customer support is second to none.

To view our solutions go to our website or you can contact us by phone.

Employee Time Tracking, SaaS Workforce Management Software, Software-as-a-Service

The Power of the Cloud

Here at Apex Time Solutions, we often wax poetically about the advantages of cloud computing software solution and for good reason. When we launched this software model a few years ago, the plurality of our customer’s response was overwhelmingly positive. On-premises or client server solutions have been the choice of businesses for decades. With no substantial upfront fees, large and small organizations are finding that a SaaS time and attendance model are often easier for corporate budgets to absorb.

ATS SaaS time and attendance software has the ability to grow with the evolving needs of companies. The flexibility of our software solution allows it to integrate easily to Talent Management, HRIS, Payroll and ERP applications. ATS SaaS time and attendance saves on the server costs and IT personnel, both of which are typically required when deploying an on-premises solution.

Benefits of the ATS SaaS Time and Attendance:

Unlimited support
Rapid deployment and scalability
A lower cost of ownership reduces the complexity with the ATS SaaS time and attendance model
Our solution delivers embedded business intelligence that provides unparalleled access to labour analytics and reporting
Free software updates are painless and transparent
Daily managed backups
Multiple models like employee self-service, human resources information system, forecasting and attendance management can be added with ease

The ATS integrated software solution helps you manage your workforce and track employee time and attendance more efficiently. When combined with employee data collectors, our solution delivers embedded business intelligence that provides unparalleled access to enhanced reporting and labour analytics.

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

Attendance Management, Business Intelligence, Employee Self Service, HRIS, Labour Analytics, Payroll, SaaS Time and Attendance, Talent Management, Time and Attendance On-Demand

Is the Once Mighty PC on a Downward Spiral?

A recent article by Gartner on how cloud computing is becoming the preferred option for many businesses and consumers caught our eye. Detractors to this report and others like it lament that people, by nature, are slow to change. While this argument holds credence, it’s clear the tide is changing, albeit slowly, towards cloud computing technologies like; hosting music on the cloud and Software-a-Service (SaaS) time and attendance solutions.

The report by Gartner is titled “Personal Cloud Will Replace the Personal Computer as the Center of Users’ Digital Lives by 2014”. In this report, Gartner espouses the virtues of today’s trend in cloud computing. One of the strongest points in this article states the following:

“Today, mobile devices combined with the cloud can fulfill most computing tasks, and any tradeoffs are outweighed in the minds of the user by the convenience and flexibility provided by the mobile devices. The emergence of more-natural user interface experiences is making mobility practical. Touch- and gesture-based user experiences, coupled with speech and contextual awareness, are enabling rich interaction with devices and a much greater level of freedom. At any point in time, and depending on the scenario, any given device will take on the role of the user’s primary device — the one at the center of the user’s constellation of devices.”

ATS’s ability to embrace innovation while simultaneously adapting to changing trends means, customers can deploy a solution without the additional costs associated that’s inherent in client-server installations. ATS SaaS time and attendance is hosted and maintained securely via cloud computing technology at one of our data centres.

To learn about the advantages of deploying a web-based time and attendance solution, contact one of our representatives or go online to view a demo.

Cloud Computing, Hosted Time and Attendance, SaaS Time and Attendance

Daylight Savings Time: How Are Your Employees Coping?

Over the years, a great deal of money and resources has been spent studying the challenges that daylight savings time presents, to the general public. While some argue the change affects shift workers more than others, the havoc it wreaks on the lives of many people who miss an hour’s sleep is undeniable.

An article by the CanadianUnderwriters.ca says, “More than half of male drivers report getting enough sleep during the time change, which is good news, since they tend to have a higher crash risk.”

A contributing psychologist to the article goes on to say, “The change in our sleep cycle can cause unique dangers on our roads as some drivers will feel more fatigued than usual,” said Dr. John Vavrik, a psychologist with ICBC.”

The argument for and against daylight savings time in the 21^st century will go on. The online petition by End Daylight Saving Time remains resolute in their claim that DST does more harm than good to humans biological system.

Companies that operate in the non traditional 9-5 industries can opt for solutions that allow employees to punch in and out using their tablet PC, Smart phone or through a web browser. The use of these tools takes the place of employees having to report to the office on a daily basis. ATS software for tablet PCs, Smart phones and online time tracking is GPS enabled and tracks the location of the in and out punch by the employee.

ATS Workforce Management Software is designed for organizations in a variety of industries. Our integrated time and attendance system delivers deep insight into all areas of an organization’s work rule policy promoting better efficiency and more fiscally sound labour decisions.

For more information or to download a copy of our time and attendance brochure, go to our go to our website.

Daylight Savings Time, Time and Attendance, 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