6 Reasons to Adopt Mobile Timecards
6 Reasons to Adopt Mobile Timecards
Traditional timecards are as ancient as they are inefficient, which is the reason why more construction companies are adopting mobile timecards. Manual timecards are subject to human error, dishonest information, and added expenses. Mobile timecards can improve the subcontractor’s productivity, save money and time, and increase accountability and motivation among workers.
Table of Contents
Here are 6 ways that mobile timecards will improve your business:
1. Productivity
Mobile timecards improve productivity in a number of ways. In its simplest form, mobile timecards save the employees a trip from the field to the office, which saves on gas and gives them time to work on productive things.
Delving deeper, mobile timecards can allow the subcontractor to not only know how many hours each employee worked but how many hours each employee worked on what and what was accomplished during the workday. This will increase transparency and accountability and increase productivity overall. Doing this requires the subcontractor to clearly define and communicate daily or weekly goals for the workers to measure inputs (labor hours) versus outputs (meeting the goals). This also improves employee morale and increases their sense of worth by allowing them to achieve a defined goal that they are recognized for. This feeling of accomplishment will keep them motivated day-to-day.
Another issue that mobile timecards can resolve involves productive versus non-productive time. Non-productive time is defined as any time spent in the workday doing tasks that are not moving the project forward. In construction, this can include waiting for or transporting materials, waiting for more information, maintaining equipment, etc. Much of the construction worker’s day is dedicated to non-productive time. It is the goal of the subcontractor to cut this portion of the workday as much as possible because it hurts productivity. Traditional timecards have no ability to track productive versus non-productive time leaving the subcontractor blind to any patterns in unproductivity. On the other hand, mobile timecards can allow the workers to input productive versus non-productive time so that the subcontractor can identify anything that is continually causing delays and take steps to mitigate these issues.
2. GPS tracking
GPS tracking allows the subcontractor to keep track of his team by knowing where they are, how long they spend on each activity and keep track of their hours and breaks. This allows the subcontractor to save on overtime costs and comply with government work regulations. Knowing the location of employees also increases accountability and allows the subcontractor to catch and address any issues in tardiness or productivity.
3. Save money
GPS reporting will not only improve accountability but will lead to more honest and accurate timecards that will save the company money. Similarly, many timecard applications alert the subcontractor when an employee is getting close to hitting overtime, which can allow the subcontractor to avoid unnecessary and costly overtime pay. In addition to this, digitizing the payroll process will save time collecting and manually entering data, which will also avoid human error.
4. Documentation for compliance
Government regulations to protect hourly workers are very strict, especially in California, and all employers of hourly workers must keep a detailed record of hours worked, breaks/lunches, and overtime. A timecard application will automate this process and provide the subcontractor with the necessary information that would be needed in any lawsuit or government investigation.
5. Accuracy
Traditional timecards leave employees to fill them out at the end of the day or week, leaving it up to their memory and best estimations to fill out, which is never completely accurate. Mobile timecards can automate this process and ensure that timecards are accurate and that all documentation is correct. This is necessary for both cost-efficiency as well as government compliance.
6. Can’t cheat the system
Traditional timecards are less reliable and risk fraud. Some employees fill out their timecards inaccurately to cover up tardiness and long or unrecorded lunches. Mobile timecards combat this issue by automatically tracking GPS location so employees cannot inaccurately record their whereabouts. Many employees using traditional timecards also participated in something called “buddy punching,” in which one employee would clock-in another employee who was late or did not show up. This “buddy punching” system made up a total of 5% of total payroll for these absent employees. Mobile timecards eliminate buddy punching by having GPS capabilities, requiring each employee to clock-in on his device, and some even include photo recognition or fingerprint recognition. This greatly improves accountability, and any issues that do arise can be addressed much more quickly.
Conclusion
The mobile timecard can save the subcontractor time and money all while increasing productivity and accountability among his team.
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