Whether your business is currently using a punch clock or you've simply outgrown your time station, choosing the right time clock can be a challenge. Businesses need to consider security, cost, and sustainability. The right time clock can save money and decrease payroll errors. Consider these factors to find the perfect time clock for your business.
Security
In some industries, security is a top priority. Healthcare and government are just two sectors that require additional safeguards to prevent the wrong person from accessing information and that security needs to start from the time their employees clock in. A biometric time clock is the perfect option for companies that value security. Biometric time clocks require employee presence through fingerprint or hand print verification, eliminating buddy punching as well as unauthorized entry. If security is a top concern, researching a biometric time clock may be right for you.
Proximity
Job location is just as important as security for companies choosing a new time clock system. Depending on where employees work can vastly change how they clock in. Companies that have employees at multiple sites, like construction or cleaning services, aren't well served by a traditional time clock since they require more flexibility. A smart phone based time clock can provide that flexibility as well as accuracy for easier payroll. Using their own smart phone, employees can clock in at their job site and managers can monitor GPS coordinates to ensure employee accuracy. If you have employees at multiple locations or moving between locations, a smart phone based time clock system may be the right fit for your business.
Size
Time clocks are beneficial for companies of all sizes, but size impacts which system works best. For small businesses, a simple time clock workstation can save time during payroll and require little training to implement. Its low cost and easy maintenance, making it perfect for small business.
Larger businesses need multiple workstations and a digital time clock system may be a better choice. This system can be installed across an organization and doesn't require much hardware or space. Instead, discrete time clocks can be integrated throughout the workplace and a large number of employees can scan their badge to clock in and clock out. While this system is more susceptible to buddy punching, it reduces the need for training and payroll corrections.
Planned Growth
Successful businesses grow, and planning for that growth is essential. No business wants to buy a time clock system today and have to replace it one year down the road. Smart business owners take future growth into account when picking the right time clock system. Some systems, like workstation time clocks and biometric time clocks, throttle usage by requiring employees be at a specific location at a specific time whereas others can expand as needed, like phone or web based time clocks. If you anticipate growth this year or in the future, it's worth considering how your time clock will factor into that growth.
Cost
Factoring cost into the time clock equation can help businesses find the perfect time clock without unnecessary cost. Workstation based systems are more expensive for businesses because they require dedicated hardware. On the back end, these systems are usually more robust at preventing time fraud, which can counteract the additional cost. Web or phone based time clocks require less upfront cost but may result in more time theft which will cost your business in the long run. If you're looking to upgrade your time clock system, remember that upfront cost isn't the only cost to your business.
