# The Importance of Employee Time Tracking: A Beginner’s Guide
As businesses continue to evolve with the rapidly-changing technological landscape, processes that were once manual and paper-based are becoming digitized. One such process that has undergone significant transformation is employee time tracking.
The rise of mobile and desktop-based time tracking applications is revolutionizing the way employers monitor their employees’ work hours, especially in remote and hybrid work environments. This post offers a beginner’s guide to the importance of employee time tracking, including the benefits of using a digital solution and the top five time tracking apps available.
## Why Should You Care About Employee Time Tracking?
Research suggests that people are spending 4.2 hours on apps on a daily basis [TechCrunch]. This reflects a growing trend in the use of digital apps, as they have become ubiquitous in every aspect of our lives. It is therefore essential for businesses to embrace digital solutions for processes like payroll.
Traditional employee time tracking using pen and paper or an Excel spreadsheet is prone to mistakes and inaccuracies. Employees adding a few extra minutes before or after their shift or buddy punching can cost businesses significantly in lost profits. In fact, wage and time theft costs businesses billions of dollars annually [Statistic Brain].
By adopting time tracking apps, businesses can ensure that employees are accountable for their time and prevent costly errors resulting from theft. The following section reviews the top five employee time tracking apps.
## The Top 5 Employee Time Tracking Apps
1. Connecteam
Connecteam is the number one employee time tracking app, thanks to its super-intuitive and accurate features. The Connecteam system allows employees to clock in and out with a GPS time-stamp, which helps to track their location in real-time. The app also provides the option to geofence specifically from where your employees can clock in and out, preventing time theft.
Connecteam’s time tracking feature is comprehensive, including automatic reminders for employees to clock in and out, warning employees when they reach their maximum limit for work hours, and the ability to lock timesheets to prevent changes. The app also offers a time clock kiosk, which allows employees to clock in and out from a fixed station, even without their smartphones.
Pricing starts at $39/month for up to 50 seats, and there is a 14-day trial, as well as a forever-free plan.
2. Jibble
Jibble offers employees the ability to clock in and out easily from their desktops, mobile devices, Microsoft Teams, or Slack. To prevent buddy punching, the app enables “Selfie” verification when employees clock in and out. Jibble also assists with payroll by providing weekly or monthly views of timesheets, enabling businesses to monitor productivity and performance.
The pricing is $1.50/user/month, and there is a free trial and a free plan.
3. Toggl
Toggl’s app allows employees to clock in and out and continue tracking their hours seamlessly, even if they take a break. If an employee forgets to clock in, Toggl sends a reminder. The app also enables manual entry of hours and integrates with over 100 other apps. Businesses can filter reports to locate current projects and how many hours are spent on them. Reports can be downloaded in CSV, PDF, or Excel format.
The pricing is $18/user/month, and there is a 30-day free trial and a free plan for up to five users.
4. When I Work
When I Work has a user-friendly app that can be downloaded onto employees’ smartphones. The app also has the option to use a time clock station, where employees can clock in and out via a designated iPad or computer. The app prompts employees to clock out if they forget to do so, and the app also records GPS time stamps. The time clock and schedule can be exported to other apps like Quickbooks and Square.
Pricing is $2/user/month for up to 100 users, and there is no free trial, but there is a free plan.
5. Quickbooks
Quickbooks enables employees to clock in and out even without Wi-Fi or cellphone coverage, and it records GPS time stamps. The app also allows employees to attach photos for more detailed reports, and businesses can oversee time tracking activity and approve time off.
Pricing is $180/month for the advanced plan, which is designed for more than five users, and there is a 30-day free trial.
## The Bottom Line on Employee Time Tracking
Time tracking helps businesses reduce costs, discrepancies in hours worked, and boost engagement. Efficient tracking can improve productivity, and when employees are happy, customers receive excellent service. Therefore, using a digital time tracking solution ensures accurate staff payments, reduces headaches, and minimizes cheating.
In conclusion, businesses that transition from traditional time tracking systems to digital apps will reap rewards and enjoy the benefits of streamlined and effective payroll management. Finally, investing in the right employee time tracking solution provides an avenue for businesses to ensure compliance, accountability, and productivity.
