Time and Attendance Blog, Workforce Management Software

Why Time And Attendance In The Cloud?

If you are considering a time and attendance solution for your organization, chances are you’re being bombarded with choices. And, having choices is a good thing. But as you explore your options, one of the most important decisions you will need to make is whether to select a cloud-based time and attendance or one that will be installed locally on your server and workstations within your organization.

The basic difference between a solution installed on your server (or as its commonly referred to, “on-premise”) and a cloud time and attendance is clear: a solution installed on your company’s server is typically managed your IT resource/consultant, while a cloud time and attendance—is provided as a service. This type of deployment brings with it a range of flexibility. For example, cloud time and attendance data is managed centrally by the vendor and is accessed by customers through any web browser (in the Internet “cloud”) including; Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari and Microsoft Edge

Here are some key factors to consider when deciding whether to deploy a cloud time and attendance or one an on-premise.

Cost of Ownership
An on-premise time and attendance usually require large upfront and ongoing investments to purchase and manage the software, hardware, servers, to run it. If, for example your organization does not have internal and/or an experienced IT team that means additional costs that you may not have budgeted for. And, when its time to upgrade, your IT resource has to go through the arduous steps of reinstalling the time and attendance and any customizations that were installed on the previous version.

ATS Time and Attendance in the cloud, initial costs are typically lower, when compared to an on-premise, because the software is configured and deployed using your company’s specific requirements. ATS hosts and maintains the IT infrastructure, thus, ensuring your system is always running with the latest updates without breaking your previously implemented configurations. And, with a predictable, pay-as-you-go subscription model this can make cash flow management and planning much easier for companies.

Why Time And Attendance In The Cloud?

Deployment
Deploying time and attendance requires careful planning and takes time. ATS time and attendance in the cloud, offers superior advantages when compared to an on-premise deployment. In the world of on-premise deployment a company has to install an IT infrastructure, and additional hardware to maintain the application. With ATS time and attendance in the cloud, it can be deployed across multiple regions, provinces, divisions, subsidiaries and countries thus, avoiding associated costs with those rollouts. When you select ATS time and attendance in the cloud, it usually takes 2-4 months of roll out compared to the12 months it takes to implement an on-premise solution.

Always On, Anywhere Anytime
With ATS time and attendance in the cloud that means you gain instant access to a suite of workforce management tools that your teams need to make more informed decisions. The solution provides real-time data that can be accessed via the Internet anywhere at any time. That means that staff at your company can see accurate information on smart-phones, tablet devices and laptops while they travel or telecommute. And, whether your workforce is located in the same building, different locations, or on the other side of the globe — ATS time and attendance in the cloud deployment means you’re all working in unison.

When it comes to deploying ATS time and attendance in the cloud, you can count on ATS for the experience you expect. This agile deployment methodology is combined with innovative cloud computing technology, and deep domain expertise, working with customers across industries and geographies, to streamline your cloud deployment and speed your time to value.

Every business is unique, so taking the time to consider how different your time and attendance deployment options will affect your company is critical. To learn more about deploying ATS time and attendance in the cloud solution, contact us.

Cloud Computing, Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Safari, Time and Attendance, Workforce Management Software

How You Like Us Now? We’re Talking Analytics

Empowering employees to make informed decisions is goal of most organizations. However, without the right tools it’s really difficult to see how these employees can be seen as being empowered. ATS Workforce Analytics is a set of easy-to-use tools that seamlessly combines existing enterprise data, external data, and unstructured big data. Knowing that you need the power of data to help spur decision making is one thing-but having the right tools to extrapolate that right kind of information, within your organization-well, that’s 21 century thinking.

Today’s employee has a pretty good idea of what their company should look like when asked to use data collection terminals for the purposes of tracking their time. They expect these tools be; intuitive, mobile-ready and accompanied by automated processes with real-time visibility. And so, with this in mind, let’s talk analytics, ATS Workforce Management in the cloud encompasses; accrual benefits, absence planning, budgeting and forecasting and– has seamless integration to; payroll, ERP, HRIS and range of other software applications. And, with a solution that’s built on so much flexibility it makes easier than ever, to optimize productivity, eliminate errors and duplicative work thus– ensuring compliance to maximize bottom-line growth.

How You Like Us Now? We’re Talking Analytics

So, if your company truly wants to empower its employees, why not start with a modern day workforce management solution? It’s resides in the cloud, has a suite of best-in-class workforce analytics tools that provides concrete and actionable insights on workforce data to drive your business strategy today and help you plan for the future.

To learn more about ATS Workforce Analytics download a brochure. You can also download a demonstration or sign up for one of our weekly webinars.

Here Are Some Additional Reasons Why You Should Ditch Paper Time Cards

Automating the tracking of employee time should, be a fundamental process within any business. Yet many companies do not track time and instead rely on outdated time tracking methodologies and/or self-reporting to capture time and attendance details. And, since, assumptions and reality do not correlate organizations, that rely on manual time tracking or self-reporting lose significant value by paying employees for time that they didn’t actually work.

Let’s take a look at three reasons to ditch paper time cards:

Lost Time-Some companies refer to lost time as sick days, employee vacations, planned or unplanned absences. However, the occasional 5-10 minutes that an employee either arrives early or leaves late are small increments that can add up significantly throughout the year. Take for example, an employee who comes in 10-15 minutes before her start time and records this on the paper time card or the employee who is habitually late yet jots down that he arrived on time. In both scenarios, you are paying these employees for time that they were not actually working.

Ditch the Manual Time Tracking-If your company is using an automated time and attendance yet, have spreadsheets or another manual time tracking system, you are likely using the wrong solution and are missing out on significant benefits. The right time and attendance system should capture; employee vacations, statutory holidays, overtime, it should be scalable and eradicate all manner of manual time tracking.

Here Are Some Additional Reasons Why You Should Ditch Paper Time Cards

Data Integration-In addition to the other benefits, the ability to send employee hours seamlessly to your payroll software should be one major factor in migrating to an automated time and attendance. It is next to impossible to continually use manual time tracking and come up with accurate results. An automated time and attendance solution removes the arduous tasks of having to count employee hours each week and then key them into spreadsheets, thus, your company will benefit because it’s now paying for time worked, which can translate into higher revenues and profits.

Not sure if there is value to automating your manual time tracking methods? Download our Return on Investment (ROI) calculating or a demonstration. Both can help build a solid business case.

Employee vacations, Overtime, Sick Days, Statutory Holidays, Time Tracking

Removing The Complications Out Of Employee Time Tracking

We at ATS continually espouse the benefits of an automated time and attendance, but we have also stressed that it does not have to be a complicated process. And, while it’s true that an organization with multiple locations, different collective bargaining agreements, and its adherence to regional and federal work rules can increase the complexity and amount of time it takes to install such a system, sticking starting with the basics can make a world of difference.

Here three simple rules to follow once you have decided to deploy a time and attendance:

Reports
Find out which reports are most important to you. For example, if you need a report that shows which or how many hours employees worked on a; daily, weekly and monthly basis, this should suffice as a starting point. Other simple reports may include; exceptions, overtime, daily time in and out and, a few payroll reports to ensure you have the proper information before exporting employee hours to your payroll, CRM, ERP, HR or talent management software. This, however, is not to suggest, you should not explore the full library of reports within a time and attendance system, or look for a solution that has the capability to provide analytics and Big Data tools to support your organizational growth.

Employee Time Clock
When deciding which time clock to use, think about your organizational philosophy and, more importantly, your actual work environment. Would biometric face recognition be better suited or would or a proximity or magnetic time clock avail itself as the better option? These are considerations that should be given once you decide which time and attendance to deploy.

Project Manager
Traditionally this role has fallen to the IT manager or consultant. But, in actuality, HR and/or the payroll practitioner and to some extent, finance personnel are responsible for the management of employee time tracking. So, would it not make sense that such a project be headed by one of these individuals? That’s not to say the role of IT is less important, it just means that the very people who manage the daily tracking of employee hours would know more, than anyone else, about your company’s time and attendance requirements. And, so, it stands to reason, that their role when choosing a solution should be elevated- in short, they are the ones that should be your project managers, with the understanding that they seek assistance and/or guidance from other departments including; IT and other operational managers.

Whether you are moving from paper time sheets to an automated time and attendance solution or merely upgrading to a new solution, removing the complications will help the deployment go a bit smoother.

To learn more about ATS Time and Attendance solutions, go to our website. And to register for one of our weekly webinars, contact us.

Analytics, Big Data, Biometrics, CRM, ERP, HR, Payroll, Time and Attendance, Time Clock

How To Quantify The Benefits Of A Workforce Management Solution

Companies using an outdated workforce management solution not only fail to take advantage of the latest technology advancements and functionality, but they also run the risk of relying on an unsupported and an increasingly unreliable system-thus, making their entire business vulnerable.

Using a reliable and modern workforce management solution has many benefits. However, in order to quantify the benefits of such a system, you first have to know what to look for. ATS workforce management solution can help you in different areas.

Here are three benefits of an ATS Workforce Management Solution that will deliver immediate results to your business:

Paper Reduction
ATS Workforce Management Solution will reduce the cost associated with creating and distributing paper timesheets. Cost savings result from:

Direct savings from reduced paper, printing, and distribution costs
Indirect savings from time spent handling paper timesheets

Paperwork Transfer
A big expense with a manual time tracking systems is that of transferring timesheets from one person to another. For example, the employee needs to get blank timesheets from the HR or payroll department. They fill out the timesheet and walk it over to their manager. The manager signs the timesheets and walks them to the payroll department. A very conservative estimate of the direct time spent on simply transferring the paper timesheet around would be 2-3 minutes per employee each pay period.

Improved Data Quality
Manual timesheets must be keyed into a computer in order to be processed for payroll. Whenever data is keyed into a computer from a hand-written document, errors will be made. These errors can cost you in many direct and indirect ways:

Incorrect pay. How many employees complain if they get overpaid? If even a small number of employees keep their overpayments, it is costing plenty. And when employees get underpaid and complain, issuing a new paycheque or adjustment is costly.

Without accurate information, you lose the ability to perform useful decision support. Payroll is the biggest controllable expense in most organizations. You should have accurate information about hours worked, and departments worked in, to support your decision.

To read the complete white paper on the benefits of an ATS Workforce Management Solution, go to our website. And, to download a demonstration or to register for one of our weekly webinars, go to www.atimesolutions.com

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How To Quantify The Benefits Of A Workforce Management Solution

Human Resources, Payroll, Workforce Management Solutions

How You Like Us Now? We’re Talking Analytics

Here Are Some Additional Reasons Why You Should Ditch Paper Time Cards

Removing The Complications Out Of Employee Time Tracking

How To Quantify The Benefits Of A Workforce Management Solution

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