20 Aug How To Buy A Web-Based Time Clock For Your Small Business
Understanding Time Clock Categories
Let’s start at a high level and outline the categories of time clocks. Knowing what is available is the first step in understanding what you need.
Time clocks for small business come in a wide range of types and styles. Small businesses use them to track time and attendance data. Time clocks allow employees to “clock in” and “clock out” from their work schedule. Employee time clocks track employee starting and ending shift times. They also track start and end times for breaks and meals.
Time clocks are important for small business because they help keep accurate records. They also protect against potential lawsuits and payroll audits. Time clocks are essential in an automated system and can save more money than they cost.
Here’s a review of web-based time clocks for small businesses:
Web-based Time Clocks
Web-based time clocks provide access to clock in features through a web browser on a computer. Small business employees can clock in from any desktop on the internet. Employees login through a secure web page. Each employee has a unique identity for login.
Employees enter starting and ending times for their work period. Web clocks usually run in the background while an employee works. Employees must start or stop the clock for breaks or end-of-work periods.
How Does A Web-based Time Clock Help My Company?
Web clocks have a lot of advantages for a small company. The first is convenience. Web clocks are convenient because you can access them from any connected computer. Convenience provides more options for employee work routines. Employees can work from home, at remote locations, or in flexible locations at the office.
Another advantage is cost. Web clocks are software-based and run in the cloud. Web clocks are available to large groups of employees at little incremental cost.
Cloud-based web clocks provide central oversight, too. Employees can log in from almost anywhere. Managers can view statistics and run reports from a central login. This is true for many modern time and attendance clocks, but particularly so for web clocks.
The most popular advantage for a small business is mobility. Web clocks offer mobility options for distributed workgroups. If your company has employees working from home offices, the web clock solution is for you.
What Are The Cons of Web-based Time Clocks?
One drawback of web-based time clocks is that employees sometimes forget to clock out. This is common for many kinds of time clocks, but a particular problem for web-based time clocks. Employees must build reminders into their routine to ensure accurate clock in/out times.
Another common drawback is identity confirmation. But this is an inherent problem in virtual commuting. Web-based time clocks can’t confirm identity. Small companies must trust that employees are reporting accurate work hours.
These are minor drawbacks to the convenience of web-based time and attendance. The low cost is a significant advantage.
Who Uses Web-based Time Clocks?
Small companies who have distributed workforces use web-based time and attendance.
Telecommuting companies with remote employees such as a software company use web-based clocks. Employees who work from home are able to clock in from their desktops. Decentralized workgroups include small manufacturing companies that rely on home-based employees.
The software company Automattic has over 230 employees working in 29 countries. Every one of them works from a home office. If your company is like Automattic, WebClock is a good solution for you.
Web-based time clocks are a service offered to Payroll Partners clients for just a few dollars a month. We can get you up and running with a timekeeping solution in minutes. Contact us today to book a demo.