It is critical for all organizations to track time and attendance. Every cent spent on labor counts to enhance business productivity. An automated system helps companies across all industries improve operations and save money.
No matter the chosen method, this task is not something that can be set aside. Some industries are adopting cloud-based options, despite much trepidation about security and data losses.
All departments within a company are affected by the effectiveness of attendance software. A primary goal for this type of system is to maintain a productive, efficient and cost-effective workforce.
For these reasons, other industries are looking for alternatives to the risks that come with tracking attendance in the cloud. One solid solution at the top of the list is on-premise attendance software.
With on-premise software, your company can:
• Handle employee data internally
• Control the system
• Control window of time to resolve issues
• Direct when security patches are applied
• Customize the system
Optimizing the workplace becomes more challenging as companies continue to become more dynamic. Yet, having on-premise attendance software does not limit employees to coming into the office just to clock in. Mobile devices mean employees can work outside the office. This can be at home, in remote offices or on the move.
While this enables your company to be more flexible and effective, it can also make keeping track of work time problematic. While you determine the best software solution for attendance purposes, remember to add employee value proposition to the list.
Employees Want to Know: What’s in it for Me?
It began as a great idea for companies that wanted to know what employees need to be most effective at work. Whether it involves hiring a consulting firm or distributing perfunctory surveys, employers are curious to know why a highly talented person would choose to work at their company? The answer might be simpler than some expect.
Often, the focus on choosing an attendance software system is what benefits it brings to the employer. Naturally, accurate tracking of employee time offers many benefits for employers. You get an easier, faster and more accurate way to process payroll. Department managers have a tool that helps them better control labor costs.
These are necessary business practices, but overlooking the benefits of time tracking for employees should not be overlooked. Employee resistance to a new time and attendance tracking system can have opposite effects to what you want to achieve.
Before long, resistance slows down adoption of the software. This can reduce any time or cost savings you hoped to gain. For the implementation of a new on-premise attendance system to succeed, your employees must be on board.
The key is communicating to employees the value in embracing the attendance system. Few things irritate employees more than getting shorted in the paychecks. Correcting the problem takes effort and time, which could mean not receiving the correct amount until the next payday.
Therefore, the first benefit for employees is major. An automated attendance system provides more accuracy in calculating employee pay. Employees are happier when they are paid on-time or when time-off requests are approved without delay.
Another way to show employees that an attendance system is in their best interest is giving them access to their information. Most programs allow employees to check their hours and view schedules. You will also save time in the human resources department by giving employees this self-service feature.
Time and Attendance Systems Make Good Business Sense
No longer tracking your employees’ work hours manual is not the only benefit to having an attendance system in-house. You have direct access to track labor distribution and job costing.
Department managers can look at key performance indicators such as hours and wages, scheduled/working status and employee counts. Such financial insight extends to setting business goals and making strategic decisions to improve your company’s competitive edge.
On-premise attendance software provides real-time information where information about breaks and PTO calculations are accurate. Connect the system with company policies and you can prevent users from entering inaccurate data. This type of assurance improves reporting and compliance.
Whenever employees work overtime, the system can automatically calculate the hours. Data gives managers oversight of how many hours each employee works to ensure there are no budget overruns. For employees who receive different rates of pay, managers are not left trying to complete those calculations manually.
Benefits of an On-Premise Solution
There are many benefits to using an on-premise solution for tracking attendance. Being able to control company and employee data is important. You will have peace of mind from knowing this infrastructure is in-house.
Additionally, on-premise software means you can have a dedicated IT staff to support the system. Maintenance and disaster recovery plans are within reach. You are not worried about where your company’s place in line with other customers that an offsite tech company manages.
An on-premise attendance system also offers flexibility in adjusting how the system operates internally. Being able to customize the system gives employees options for adjusting work hours, leave and overtime.
The ease of tracking employees time with an on-premise solution trumps what some have experienced with cloud-based systems. Yes, employees may have an easy way to mark their status at work, but this could lead to fraudulent time and attendance entries.
Any internal system prevents this type of fraud by requiring all employees to be present at their scheduled work time. No one else can mark their attendance. This option does not compromise employee value proposition because workers will appreciate the freedom of being able to track their own time.
On-premise attendance systems may cost slightly more than cloud-based solutions upfront. However, the added security features and reliability in functioning as needed makes it worth the investment long-term. Also keep in mind that once you make the purchase, you are not renewing it like you would with cloud systems. This can make them more reasonably priced in the long run.
Many organizations follow trends of using hosted attendance software. This might help them, but ultimately, you must decide what will help your company. The benefits of an on-premise time and attendance system give you control over when, where and how data is used to help your company meet its business goals.
