In the modern era of fast-paced digital working conditions, productivity control and trust building among colleagues may be a difficult task, in particular when remote work is concerned. As the hybrid and fully remote working teams emerged, the necessity in the employee monitoring software has increased. These tools are not only useful in terms of tracking the work hours of businesses, but they also enhance productivity, offer immediate feedback and accountability.
Nevertheless, there are just too many options to choose the appropriate software, particularly when you are amateurs or when you have a small team to work with. Most companies are afraid to spend money on costly tools when they can begin with one that will allow them to get the necessary features at no cost. TrackLively, a free plan of an employee monitoring tool, is the solution here. However, what do you consider as the best employee monitoring software in the market that is free and useful to your team?
This is a detailed outline of how to select the best free employee monitoring software to use in your company, and a special attention to the distinctive characteristics which make TrackLively a great candidate to the market.
1. Time Tracking and Productivity Insights: The Core of Employee Monitoring
Time tracking is the core of the employee monitoring software. It is important to strictly assess the time employees take to do jobs so that the work should be in line with the organization objectives. But efficient time management is not about timecard tracking. It is about acquiring information about how time at the latter is being utilized.
Essential features to look for in time tracking software:
- Real-Time Time Tracking: It records time spent by employees in real time thus eliminating chances of human error and enhancing time records. TrackLively makes sure that teams are not clocking in but working on the matters that are important.
- Detailed Productivity Analytics: The tool must not only measure time, but should have the insight. The free version of TrackLively provides productivity metrics to enable the managers to identify any inefficiencies or areas that could be improved in terms of how the employees are spending their time on various projects. This information will allow streamline the processes and also makes sure that the employees are working on the most productive tasks.
- Breaks and Idle Time Tracking: Time tracking does not only entail hours spent working. A quality tool will also track the amount of time wasted and motivate the employee to have a rest when necessary. Using TrackLively, managers are able to monitor work patterns, and ensure that employees are not micromanaged by making sure they are kept refreshed.
With TrackLively, your business gets a clear and comprehensive view of how time is being allocated across your team, ensuring that work is being done efficiently and effectively.
2. Activity Tracking with Screenshots: Transparency Without Intrusiveness
Activity monitoring is one of the most important features of employee monitoring software. When working with remote teams, managers need to understand that their employees are not getting distracted and unproductive by checking in regularly. But how do you do all that and be transparent and trustful in one way, as well as hold anyone accountable?
Find the software with the following features:
- Periodic Screenshots: Screenshots offer managers a fast overview of the work being done by employees, without being obtrusive. TrackLively can be used to capture periodic screenshots, so that the employees are not supervised all the time. This characteristic is meant to be open and non-obstructive as it assists managers to check that the time spent by the employees is centered on productive tasks.
- List Protection: Google Chrome has also considered the capacity to track the apps and websites that the employees are using within the work hours. Using TrackLively, businesses will be able to observe the tools that are being used and whether they are contributing positively or negatively to productivity. As an example, employees may use social media or stream services at work. The first step is to be able to tell these distractions so that one remains focused on core-tasks.
As much as it is necessary to monitor activity, it is necessary to remember that the idea is not to invade but hold some accountability. TrackLively is transparent and both the managers and employees have enough information to be on track without stepping over the lines.
3. Ease of Use: Simple Setup and Seamless Integration
A learning curve is one of the greatest frustrations of the process of adoption of new software. Ideally you would want a tool that is easy to use, fast to integrate and only little training is necessary by your team. Find programs that will not make your work more difficult.
The interface with TrackLively is easy to use, and thus, managers and employees can start within a short time. No complex systems or dashboard cockpits. The software is very user-friendly, and is set to be easy to use, which involves only a few minutes to begin monitoring and tracking the productivity.
Moreover, TrackLively also has a perfect fit with other tools that you might be already using, including project management tools (e.g. Trello, Asana or Jira) and communication apps (e.g. Slack). This makes sure the monitoring process does not hypereject any additional friction or dead time into your current working process.
4. Privacy Controls: Protecting Employee Data While Tracking Performance
The most important concerns in employee monitoring software implementation are privacy, both on the side of employees and the managers. It is necessary to monitor performance but at the same time, employees need their privacy and no espionage methods should be used which can be considered an intrusion.
The best employee monitoring software should:
- Give employees control: TrackLively has powerful privacy settings which employees can use to see all data being tracked and provide their free will as to what is being tracked.
- Set boundaries: The software must enable customization of what it is recording, e.g. only track the work-hours, productivity and performance, and leave the personal information undisturbed. TrackLively is such that it ensures that only the required data is taken and the trust between the employer and the employee remains intact.
- Be transparent: The implementation of monitoring software requires communication. TrackLively ensures that there is transparency because an employee is allowed to view their data being tracked and this leads to an organizational culture of trust and not fear.
5. Why TrackLively’s Free Plan is Worth Considering
In regards to free employee monitoring tools, TrackLively is one of the most competitive products because it has one of the most powerful free plans with no hidden costs. Most of the free plans are never unrestricted and may be limited in terms of number of users or features. TrackLively is however free with:
- Real-time time tracking
- Activity monitoring (with optional screenshots)
- Productivity analytics and insights
- Reports generation
This implies that your business receives an all-encompassing monitoring system, even free of charge. TrackLively does not cut corners and provides you with all the necessary to begin enhancing the productivity of your team, unlike other free plans that offer the bare minimum.
Conclusion: Start with the Right Tool for Your Team
It is all a question of whether you can find a free employee monitoring software, which has powerful features, is easy to use and does not violate privacy. TrackLively is a good alternative to companies that want to enhance productivity, automate operations and workflows and make them accountable, and have a free plan that can be expanded with the requirements of the team.
TrackLively provides time tracking, activity monitoring and productivity analytics in one tool that is easy to use and respects employee privacy. TrackLively will be able to make you realize your objectives regardless of whether you are dealing with a small team or a workforce that continues to grow without necessarily straining your budget. TrackLively is the smarter and more efficient way to start monitoring.