Time is one of the most important resources in today business environment, however time is usually misused or not used properly. To the small business, the big business and all in between, having a precise and efficient time-tracking system can enable them increase their output, enhance the project results and the operations are made easier.
But there are numerous time tracker apps in the market, so which is most apt to your business? To select the appropriate time tracker application, you will have to know the specific issues facing your team, the functions that will prove useful in your working processes and the long-term objectives that you are pursuing.
We are going to discuss the main characteristics that should be taken into account when choosing time tracker applications, compare some of them, and assist you in taking a more reasonable choice and making it work according to the needs of your team in this blog.
1. Assess Your Business’s Time Tracking Needs
It is always important to evaluate the time tracking requirements of your business before plunging into searching the different applications. All businesses work in different ways and by knowing how your team functions and what you are trying to accomplish will help you reduce the number of tools to use.
- Remote Teams: In the business with far-flung operations, it is necessary to keep track of time wherever the business is. Find the tools with real-time tracking, activity monitoring and even location-based to make sure employees are on task.
- Freelancers and Contractors: In case your team is comprised of freelancers or contractors, a time tracking application will allow you to count billable hours and join invoicing software.
- Project-Based Work: Companies that have numerous projects to be undertaken at the same time should consider using time tracker applications that provide time tracking on a per-task basis. Having the capability of tracking time spent on various projects will assist in the optimization of resources and other projects will remain on schedule.
- Payroll Integration: When your company does its own payroll, then it is valuable to have a time tracking application that will integrate with payroll or one with an inbuilt payroll processing option.
2. Core Features of Time Tracking Apps
The most suitable time tracker software does not only record time but offers a whole range of tools that enable companies to streamline the workflows and enhance productivity. Here’s what to look for:
Real-Time Time Tracking
The main characteristic of any time tracker is the capability to track time real-time. This guarantees that time records are correct and more recent and it enables the managers to evaluate productivity in real-time.
Why it is important: Tracking in real time is critical to businesses that require real-time information about team activities. It gives one direct access to the time spent on activities, be it client-related projects, internal assignments, or other administrative activities.
What to look for: The majority of the time tracking programs, such as TrackLively, Hubstaff and Clockify, have the ability to track real-time, and thus, employees can easily clock-in and clock-out. The application should also be able to give detailed reports to determine how time is being spent.
Project and Task Tracking
A time tracker application, which enables an employee to record time per task or project, is important in business setups that have a number of projects in progress. This capability assists in the administration of multiple initiatives at the same time and makes sure that time is spent in line with priorities.
Why it matters: It may be a challenge to determine the use of resources in various projects without a task-specific tracking. Wasting time on the wrong activities may lead to the failure to meet deadlines or imbalance of resources.
What to look for: Applications such as TrackLively, Hubstaff and Time Doctor can be used by employees to put in time towards particular tasks or projects and this will enable managers to know which project will need more resources and which task is delaying.
Activity Monitoring and Screenshots
Some businesses need more than just time tracking. They need to ensure that employees are spending their work hours productively and staying focused on tasks. Activity monitoring and screenshots offer additional insights.
Why it matters: This is important because it enables managers to be transparent and accountable as they monitor what one does on their app and which websites they visit and what they see as periodic screenshots. It also assists in identifying non work related things and ensuring there is no distraction without the person being watched over.
What to look for: TrackLively and Time Doctor have optional screenshot tracking and application use monitoring, which will give managers an overview of what employees are working on. These tools provide the businesses with the capacity of tracking productivity without being intrusive.
Idle Time Detection
In businesses where employees are supposed to remain alert whilst at the workplace, idleness is a necessity. This can be automatically configured to monitor an employee when one is not working and remind them to resume working.
Why it matters: Idle time tracking will guarantee that employees are busy and productive within the working hours. When employees have been left idle over an extended period, the managers can step in and offer more help or encourage them to keep going.
What to look for: Hubstaff and TrackLively are tools that offer idle time tracking to assist business establishments to make certain that the logs of time would be precise and that employees would be concentrated.
Reporting and Analytics
The strongest time tracker applications have a high level of reporting and analytics. These tools provide practical information on how time is used and project status and team performance in general.
Why it matters: Reporting features can help businesses make resource allocation, productivity improvements and project timelines decisions based on data. The analytics will enable the time spent to be identified and areas of improvement given.
What to look for: TrackLively, Clockify and Hubstaff all have customizable reporting tools that enable managers to generate detailed reporting on the amount of time they spent on a task, project, or employee. These lessons also assist firms to perform tasks optimally and within deadlines.
Integrations with Other Tools
There should never be time keeping in a vacuum. The most suitable time tracker software is the one that is integrated with other business software, including project management systems, Human Resource software and payroll software.
Why it matters: The combination with other tools will streamline your work and lessen the data entry process that will require you to enter the data manually. It also makes sure that time tracking as well as payroll among other business operations are all tied up and are in sync.
What to look for: TrackLively, Time Doctor and Hubstaff can be combined with popular software, such as Trello, Asana, Slack and QuickBooks, and it is not hard to organize time logs and project updates, communication, and payroll processing.
3. Comparing Popular Time Tracker Apps
When it comes to choosing a time tracker app, there are many great options. Here’s a comparison of a few popular tools:
TrackLively
A powerful free plan is available in TrackLively with the necessary functions such as real-time time tracking, productivity analytics and optional screenshots monitoring. It is a great option when it comes to companies that want easy but effective. Concentrating on the issues of privacy and transparency, TrackLively permits employees to see the tracked information, and businesses enhance the productivity without violating the trust.
Hubstaff
Hubstaff is an all-inclusive employee monitoring tool and has GPS tracking, screenshots, task tracking, and payroll integration. It is suitable in a more advanced team or company requiring more advanced features such as in-depth productivity tracking. Although the free plan offered by Hubstaff is more limited, its premium plans have comprehensive functionality in case of complex requirements.
Time Doctor
Time Doctor provides real-time monitoring, screen monitoring, monitoring app usage and productivity reports. It is very suitable to companies that require a detailed analysis of productivity. Its higher-end plans, however, would be more appropriate in bigger companies, as they offer more features like payroll management and advanced reporting.
Clockify
Clockify is a fully free time tracking platform, which provides the functionality of task management and reporting. It is the perfect choice in the case of a small business or a team that requires a simple and affordable time tracking tool. Clockify can also be used by businesses that require the simplest time registering without the must-have sophisticated features such as monitoring activities or recording screen time.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Time Tracker App for Your Business
The difference between the question of what time tracker app is best to use in your business lies in the requirements of your team and the choice of a tool that would suit your objectives. You can find a time tracking tool that can suit your business, whether it is a basic, free time tracker that fits a small team or a complex one needed by an organization of a large scale.
TrackLively is one of the best alternatives to be considered by companies that seek an easy-to-use, privacy-friendly solution to provide a free plan with the necessary features. You can start time tracking effortlessly or improve your current systems by the help of TrackLively that offers the instruments to maintain the productivity of the team and improve the workflow.
Having analyzed the needs of your business, comparing the most suitable time tracker applications, choosing the tool that will be used by your team, you will be able to plan time better, enhance the performance of your team and achieve your business objectives.