The Value of Biometric Time Clocks
Accurate attendance tracking has become increasingly more relevant, especially in light of today’s economy. Biometric time clocks offer a secure and efficient way to track employee attendance and ensure accurate payroll information.
Biometric information involves the personal details that distinguish individuals from one another, such as fingerprints, eyes, voice and facial features. Because these features are so unique, biometrics provide a useful way to verify a person. By using biometric systems, businesses can reduce manual data entry errors and improve the accuracy of their payroll records.
How does a biometric attendance system work?
Biometric time clocks help business owners track the number of hours and shifts that employees actually work. Instead of requiring employees to log in using a keycard or a PIN code, which can easily be compromised, staffers can use biometric identifiers to clock in and out using their fingers, eyes, voice or facial features.
Biometric technology minimizes common forms of time and attendance fraud, such as buddy punching, ghost employees and supervisor fraud. Most biometric facial recognition technology works on any device with a camera and can be compatible with iOS and Android devices.
Because of biometrics, employers can dismiss antiquated time clock systems, such as time tracking kiosks or time clock stations. For companies who hire remote employees, such as cleaners or mobile patrol security guards, biometric time clocks make it easier to accurately track employee time clock schedules.
Biometrics also helps overcome language barriers, which are common in the security and cleaning industries. When employees have trouble communicating with supervisors, it can slow down the collection of time punches. With biometric identifiers, there is less of a need to discuss attendance, as employees only need to bring their face to a device with a camera.
Functionality You’ll Want To Look For In a Biometric Solution
Facial recognition
Although biometric attendance systems are available for fingers, eyes, or voices – facial recognition is generally the most secure and can be accessed via a smartphone or tablet with a camera. Employers simply need to have images on file of each employee, while a biometric fingerprint, palm or iris reader requires more equipment.
An added benefit to using facial recognition is for cleaning professionals. Janitors may use chemicals that damage the accuracy of their fingerprints or leave traces of chemicals on biometric fingerprint technology. Clocking in and out using facial recognition technology bypasses the chance of chemicals damaging fingerprint readings.
Mobile technology
Employers who wish to implement biometric solutions will need to find software that is compatible with modern smartphone technology, which most employees will have on hand.
Biometric facial recognition technology recognizes the unique facial features of each employee who is logging in using a smartphone or tablet. Once identity has been confirmed, the punch action can be logged into a database, such as an integrated workforce management solution.
iOS and Android compatible
Roughly 68% of the population uses smartphones. In particular, Google’s Android system and Apple’s iOS are the most used smartphone operating systems by a considerable margin. That means biometric software compatible with both iOS and Android smartphones will be the most beneficial on a job site, as employees will most likely have a combination of the two systems.
Adopting biometric software that works with both iOS and Android systems will make the acclimation process much more efficient and seamless for employees. iOS and Android devices should already have a camera, and employees may already use some form of facial recognition software making the process more user-friendly.
No internet connectivity needed
Biometric technology is highly useful in the field, where it’s easy to access wireless internet. However, it is also useful in spaces where there is limited internet access. In some instances, a janitor’s closet could be two stories underground. Or, a security guard may report to an office building that requires a password before accessing the internet or doesn’t allow access to local wireless networks.
Biometric technology solutions that function without requiring internet access are key when workers fail to gain access to a wireless network. Using the offline mode, employees can still clock in and out of the system. When the device is later able to connect to the internet, as the employee leaves the site or a site device is periodically brought out of the building the data is sent back to a database for supervisors to review.
Location tracking
Geofencing technology is designed to record the movements of a person using satellite signals and when combined with biometric technology, it allows managers to know exactly where their workers are when they clock in and out without being physically present on the site.
Industries with distributed workforces, such as security and cleaning professionals, could benefit from location information, especially when used in combination with biometric time clocks.
The TEAM Software and Findd partnership
Traditional timekeeping solutions are vulnerable to misrepresentation from employees and supervisors. By eliminating instances where employees have to manually punch in and out of work, biometric time clocks increase the chances of accurate time and attendance tracking.
TEAM Software has partnered with Findd to provide access to the latest in biometric time-tracking technology. By collaborating with this recognized brand, TEAM remains focused on addressing workforce management needs to better manage employees.
Other leading commercial cleaning and security TEAM Software clients have already successfully deployed and still use Findd in their operations because the TEAM Software workforce management solution is still their main source for records and employee scheduling information.
Want to find out more? Click here to set up a discussion on how you can put TEAM and Findd to work for you.