To run an efficient construction business, builders and contractors need the tools to ensure work is being done on remote jobsites. Because construction often involves geographically dispersed project teams that work entire shifts on remote jobsites, time tracking technology in the cloud can help ensure manhours—and therefore, dollars and cents—are not falling through the cracks of an operation.
Now more than ever, connected devices such as smartphones and tablet computers are making their way onto construction jobsites. There are multiple software solutions that can make these hardware tools even more useful by providing means for employees to clock in or out electronically, and in some cases, tracking their movements via GPS technology embedded into these devices..
One example is the PocketClock/GPS solution from ExakTime, Calabasas, Calif. The company recently added new functionalities to its mobile time-tracking app, including biometrics and equipment tracking. The solution is available for a range of smartphones and tablets, including the iPhone and iPad, as well as select Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile devices..
The company’s unique “FaceFront Biometrics” is a photo-verification feature that uses a device’s front-facing camera to snap a photo as an employee clocks in or out, therefore holding employees accountable for being where they needs to be at the appropriate times..
Equipment tracking can be a huge benefit for builders and contractors to locate their assets and call up a history of their equipment’s movement in the field. In the case of ExakTime’s PocketClock/GPS software, users can track GPS location in realtime..
In addition to the time-clock capabilities, the solution enables on-the-job construction professionals to capture pictures, notes, and voice recordings from the field and send the data back to the office..
Another provider of time-clock services for the construction industry, Replicon, Calgary, Alta., announced its new solution, CloudClock, which is entirely cloud based. Together with the company’s Web-based time and attendance application, CloudClock eliminates the need for manual time keeping among construction professionals.
Replicon says its solution allows employers to instantly validate time clock punches, simplifying the process and guaranteeing accuracy. The CloudClock features a color touchscreen with a built-in camera that captures employee “punches” and creates a photo “audit trail” to keep employees honest. The company says managers can review, adjust, and approve employees’ hours in realtime..
By automating and simplifying the process of collecting employees’ time and attendance data, construction companies can run a more efficient operation and keep a closer eye on their bottomline.
