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Stop Wasting Time and Money: Find a Timekeeping Solution That Actually Works for You.

At some point in time, many small to mid-sized business owners grapple with timekeeping and payroll headaches. Costly payroll errors, the risk of not complying with labor laws, time theft, and spending too much time tracking employee hours–they all take a toll on your peace of mind and bottom line. Choosing a good automated time and attendance system can resolve or even eliminate the pain points you’re experiencing with manual or semi-automated timekeeping methods. Here are some things to keep in mind while looking for the right solution.

Recognizing the Pain: Why Your Current System Isn’t Cutting It Anymore

If you’re reading this, you probably know your current timekeeping approach is outdated and isn’t working all that well for you. Relying on manual, semi-automated, or disparate systems can be downright painful. Inefficient processes can lead to duplicate data entry, calculation errors, and hours wasted tracking down information. Did you know that more than half of the U.S. workforce has experienced a problem with their paycheck during their career? Payroll errors are costly and can lead to employee dissatisfaction. Research has shown that it only takes two payroll errors before employees start looking for jobs elsewhere.

Beyond payroll headaches, manual methods make it hard to enforce work and pay rules consistently, increasing the risk of compliance issues with labor laws. Time theft, whether intentional or accidental, also costs organizations money. Automating can help tackle these problems head-on.

Getting Started: Defining Your Needs and Goals

Before you dive into researching systems, the first step is to understand where you are now. This involves reviewing your existing timekeeping processes for all employees. Take particular note of specific problems you’re experiencing that automation can solve, such as unacceptable payroll error rates or high administrative costs. Interviewing department heads, payroll staff, and even employees can provide valuable insights too.

Next, you need to define your goals for automation. What value do you expect the solution to deliver? Consider both direct savings, like fewer payroll errors and faster processing, and indirect savings, such as improved labor management and compliance. Those goals will guide your selection process. If you need a little help to gain clarity on your goals, consider the following:

• Data collection methods: How will employees punch in/out (time clock, web, mobile, etc.)?
• Ease of use: The system needs to be widely adopted, which starts with being simple to learn and operate.
• Reporting and data visibility: What information do managers and stakeholders need for better decision-making? Look for capabilities like configurable dashboards and real-time reporting.
• Specific software features: Consider pay rule application, exception management (like missed punches), attendance tracking, and leave management.
• Mobility and self-service: Can employees and managers access the system and perform tasks on the go? Can employees view schedules, request time off, or check accruals themselves? These features can significantly improve employee engagement.
• System integration: Will it connect seamlessly with your existing payroll, HR, or ERP systems? 
• Security and data integrity: How will your data be protected?
• Configurability and ease of ownership: Can you easily configure work and pay rules yourself? How much internal IT support is needed?

Evaluating Your Time and Attendance System Options: Doing Your Research

Once you know your requirements, it’s time to research and evaluate vendors. Pre-recorded marketing demos can be a good starting point, but you’ll want to look beyond those. Ask vendors to demo scenarios based on your specific needs and workflows. Comparing time and attendance system features and costs is crucial.

Don’t just evaluate the software; evaluate the company too. Consider their experience, reputation, and customer support. Check out peer reviews on sites like G2 or Software Advice. Remember, you’re choosing a partner who will support you through implementation and beyond.

Smooth Sailing: Implementation and Beyond

After selecting a vendor, the focus shifts to implementation. A good vendor will provide a plan outlining the process steps and timeline. Key phases typically include upfront planning, configuring the system to meet your needs, data preparation, testing, and training your employees and managers on how to use the new system. Getting employee buy-in for the new system is important for successful adoption.

Meet Workforce Go

Thinking about taking timekeeping to the next level and streamlining your HR processes? Workforce Go offers a human resource management platform designed to help you achieve better business outcomes by controlling labor costs, increasing workforce productivity, minimizing compliance risk, and creating an exceptional employee experience.

Workforce Go’s time and attendance solutions simplify payroll by streamlining the entire process, from punch to paycheck. This means no more error-prone duplicate data entry, no manual paychecks, and accurate payroll every time. 

The platform can handle data collection from various sources like time clocks, web entry, and mobile devices, even with geofencing capabilities. Managers gain real-time visibility through intuitive dashboards and receive automated notifications to help them manage in the moment, staying ahead of issues like overtime or missed punches. Employees benefit from easy access to timesheets and schedules, and user-friendly options for time entry and managing time-off requests via a portal or mobile app.

With Workforce Go’s integrated solution, you can have timekeeping, payroll, HR, and talent management in one unified system. This provides a single source of truth, driving efficiency and simplifying workforce management.

Ready to Transform Your Timekeeping?

Automating your time and attendance can dramatically reduce administrative overhead and free you up to focus on driving business goals. If you’re ready to move past the frustration of manual processes and gain control over labor costs and compliance, an automated system is the answer.

Download our Buyer’s Guide and Checklist now and start your journey toward successful time and attendance management.

If you’d like a deeper look into Workforce Go’s powerful time and attendance management tools, contact us today to schedule a demo.