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How Do iOS Time Tracking Apps Work?
Mobile tracking apps are intuitive to use as most of them use a play/pause button to start and stop tracking work time. Moreover, most apps have a built-in reminder system for starting and ending work. The reminder system sends a notification to the employees right before the start of their shift to remind them to start the tracker or stop it when they’re nearing closing time.
Typically, it’s the managers who set up these time tracking reminders, so employees only have to download the app on their mobile devices and log in. Most tracker apps allow customizable reminders for different things, including starting work, finishing work, changing shifts, taking breaks, etc.
The Advantages of Using iOS Time Tracking Apps
The biggest advantage of iOS time tracking apps is that they are digital, meaning there can be no issues with unreadable penmanship or employee forgetfulness compared to their manual counterparts, i.e., timesheets and spreadsheets. Some other crucial benefits of using iOS time tracking apps include:
Tracking Field Employees
iOS mobile time tracking apps have proven to be a gamechanger for tracking field employees’ work hours in industries such as construction, where employees are often outside of work premises, performing field duties.
Instead of filling out paper timesheets or going to the office to punch in/out, field employees who work on multiple job sites on a daily basis can simply download an iOS time tracking app and track their work hours with ease.
The entire time tracking process takes less than 30 seconds and can be done from any location. The only thing the workers need is an iPhone with an internet connection.
Eliminating Time Theft
Any type of business is susceptible to labor costs, i.e., labor costs can take a big portion out of the revenue. This is why managers look for more precise time tracking methods to avoid paying workers for hours they haven’t actually spent working.
Before time tracking apps, time cards used to be a popular method for tracking work hours. However, time cards left a lot of room for buddy punching, as a worker could give their card to another worker to clock them in or out for the day without being actually present on the job.
With iOS time tracking apps, workers might be asked to provide biometrics like fingerprints or selfies when clocking in and out. These features eliminate buddy punching and ensure that every employee is paid according to the time tracking data from the mobile apps.
Increasing Work Hours Transparency
iOS time tracking apps have GPS tracking features that allow employers and managers to monitor the time of day and the location of employees clocking in and out. Moreover, some iOS time tracking apps may offer geofencing features that managers can use to create a geofence or a virtual barrier and set up digital workspace restrictions.
For example, the geofence may be limited to the worksite where employees need to be present at all times. If they clock in or out outside the geofence (e.g., from a bar across the street), the employer or manager receives a notification for an off-site clock-in.
While this practice might be on the verge of employee surveillance, it’s still legal under Federal Law, although some states might require employers to get consent from employees for live tracking during work hours.
Providing Accurate Report Data
The iOS time tracking apps contain data from employee daily clock-ins and clock-outs that managers can use to compare past and present projects in terms of the overall project progress and employee performance.
The time tracking data is helpful for giving companies insight into how their employees are performing their tasks. It’s also a way for companies to comply with FLSA standards by keeping records of employee work hours in case of inspections or audits.
