Best Time and Attendance Systems 2015

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We know that different businesses have diverse time-and-attendance system needs. We have researched and reviewed dozens of time and attendance systems and came up with the ones we think are best for a variety of business types. Here is a roundup of our best picks and an explanation of how we chose them.

Ready to choose a time and attendance system? Here's a breakdown of our complete coverage:

• Time and Attendance System Buyer's Guide
• REVIEW: Best for Small Businesses
• REVIEW: Best for Small Offices
• REVIEW: Best for Mobile Workforces

Best time and attendance system for small businesses: stratustime

Stratustime offers everything a small business needs in a time and attendance system. The cloud-based system has the most comprehensive time-tracking options we found, as employees can clock in and out via traditional time clocks, computers with Internet access, mobile devices and telephones. The system also manages paid time off, generates employee schedules, monitors overtime hours and integrates with a wide range of payroll services. We were also very impressed with the system's easy-to-use online portal, the company's customer service and the system's affordable monthly cost. Go here for a full review of the Stratustime time and attendance system.

Best time and attendance system for very small businesses: uAttend

The uAttend time and attendance system works perfectly for a very small business. A Web-based system, it requires no special software to load or hardware to install, and is very flexible, letting employees clock in with time clocks, Web browsers, mobile devices and telephones. uAttend's time clocks are plug-and-play ready, send data in real time to the system, include lifetime guarantees, and are among the cheapest we found. Besides being able to log when employees come and go each day, small businesses will appreciate that the system also manages paid time off, can track how long employees work on specific projects and can create office-wide schedules. Go here for a full review of the uAttend time and attendance system.

Best time and attendance system for businesses with a mobile workforce: TSheets

TSheets provides just what businesses with a mobile workforce need from a time attendance system. Besides being able to clock employees in and out with laptop computers, smartphones, telephones, text messages and Twitter, the system also records exactly where workers start and end their shifts, as well as their locations throughout the day. These are critical tools that allow businesses to easily monitor and track their mobile employees. The pricing is extremely affordable, and the customer service is among the best we encountered. Go here for a full review of the TSheets time and attendance system.

Our methodology

To determine the best time and attendance systems, we started by listing all of the vendors that have a good reputation online (i.e., services that were favorably and consistently reviewed by other websites). Then, we interviewed small business owners to discover new ones to add to our list.

We ultimately settled on 11 time and attendance systems to consider as best picks. They were: Acrotime from Acroprint, ClockVIEW from Acumen, Kronos' Workforce Ready, stratustime from nettime solutions, TimeAttend from Replicon, TimeClick from Hawkeye Technology, TimeForce from Infinisource, TimeStar from Insperity, TSheets uAttend from Processing Point and Webtimeclock. (See full list of time and attendance systems and their websites below.)

Next, we researched each provider by investigating its services, watching tutorials and how-to videos, trying out the system when possible, and reading user comments. We also considered the pricing that was listed on these services' websites. After narrowing down the list to eight contenders, we contacted each company's customer service department by phone, and live chat if possible, and posed as new business owners to gauge the type of support each provider offered.

In all, we analyzed each service based on the following factors:

• Cost
• Time-tracking capabilities
• Accrual options
• Overtime monitoring
• Scheduling capabilities
• Available reports
• Ease of use
• Customer service
• Integration options
• Mobile access

Here is a full list of time and attendance system providers and a summary of what each company claims to offer. This alphabetical list also includes our picks for best services.

AcroTime – Acroprint's AcroTime is a Web-based system offered in both standard and platinum versions, neither of which requires the installation of special software. With the system, employees can clock in and out via their computers, biometric time clocks and badge terminals. Features exclusive to the platinum version include the ability to track accruals and a system to schedule time-off requests. acrotime.com

ADP Small Business Time and Attendance  – ADP's Small Business Time and Attendance system is Web-based and offers multiple ways of collecting employee time-and-attendance information, including electronic or online time sheets, badge-card time clocks, biometric time clocks and wireless devices, or via an interactive voice response system. The software automatically adds up employee hours and feeds them directly to the business's payroll and tax solutions. ADP's system allows managers to create work schedules and then track absences, late clock-ins, long lunches and early departures. ADP's solution also allows employees to request and track their time off. The software integrates with a variety of payroll, tax-service and human-resources solutions. adp.com

APS – APS' time and attendance solution is cloud based. It offers multiple options for time tracking, including biometric verification, online time capture and mobile clock-ins. The system's dashboard provides alerts for an instant view of missed punches, time-off requests, and employees who are in or approaching overtime. With the solution, employees can submit time-off requests through the employee self-service site or on their mobile devices, while managers can view potential overlapping time-off requests and available accrual balances, and approve requests all from one screen. apspayroll.com

ClockVIEW – Acumen Data Systems' ClockVIEW is a Web-based time-and-attendance system. The software gives businesses a complete overview of when their employees are working, taking vacation and out sick. Managers can set notifications for when employees take time off. ClockVIEW also allows employees to clock and in and out, submit time-off requests and bid for shifts when other employees call in sick. In addition, the software boasts an instant-messaging feature and the ability to limit when employees can clock in by time of day, employee schedule and location. acumendatasystems.com

Easy Clocking – Easy Clocking is a Web-based time-and-attendance system that offers employees the opportunity to clock in and out via time clocks, fingerprint scanners and their computers. Each of the time-clock options works in conjunction with the Easy Clocking time-and-attendance software. The software automatically calculates total hours worked, including overtime, vacation, sick days and holidays. The software is also designed to help reduce employee time theft by applying rounding rules, restricting schedules and eliminating the ability for co-workers to clock other employees in. Additionally, the Easy Clocking time-and-attendance system is built to automate the payroll process by allowing management to transfer time data to all payroll providers. easyclocking.com

EmpCenter – Designed to meet the needs of large and growing organizations, Workforce Software's EmpCenter Time & Attendance is an enterprise-grade, cloud-based solution that captures time and attendance, as well as labor data, and automates complex pay rules, entirely through configuration. workforcesoftware.com

InfoTronics – Infotronics' Attendance Enterprise is a full-featured time-and-attendance system. Attendance Enterprise fits any size organization, since it can easily scale to accommodate the size of your workforce. With the system, you can identify attendance exceptions, such as tardiness and absenteeism, and take action quickly; eliminate unapproved overtime; automate time-off requests and approvals; and correct and approve employee time cards. The systems' self-service option provides employees with timely information in a secure Web browser. There's no need for a time clock, as employees can clock in and out, request leave, and review schedules from any computer. infotronics.com

Kronos Workforce Ready – Kronos Workforce Ready Time Keeping is a cloud-based solution that allows small businesses to fully automate their time-and-attendance information. Employees can clock in and out via mobile devices, computers and time clocks. Workforce Ready can also manage a variety of employee types, including those who are hourly, salaried and contracted. The system has a GPS feature that automatically records mobile employees' locations when they clock in and out. Workforce Ready also gives employees the ability to check their work schedules, review benefit accruals and request time off. Additionally, the software integrates with a variety of other Kronos Workforce Ready applications, such as human resources, payroll and tax solutions. kronos.com

Nortek – Nortek's Workforce is a cloud-based time-and-attendance system that includes time tracking, scheduling options and leave-management functionality. The system tracks time in and time out by Web-based, card-based or bio-clocking devices. Clock punches record the day, time and time zone, and are automatically mapped onto an employee's timesheet to cut down on data entry. Businesses can also define and automate attendance policies and time-off accrual rules based on their own policies. The software gives businesses better insight into labor costs with real-time analytics and integrates with the majority of payroll providers. norteksolutions.ca

NOVAtime – NOVAtime provides complete time-and-attendance and workforce management solutions that are fully equipped with badge time-clocks, biometric time clocks, proximity time clocks and Web-based kiosk devices, as well as integration capabilities with virtually any human resource or payroll application. The system allows supervisors to see who is in, who is out and which employees are approaching overtime. In addition, the NOVAtime Quick Navigator and Dashboard guides users through step-by-step workflows of daily, monthly, annual, payroll and new-hire procedures. NOVAtime offers both cloud-based and on-premise systems. The on-premise systems are designed for companies with more than 1000 employees. novatime.com

*stratustime – nettime stratustime is a Web-based system that provides employees with an online dashboard in order to clock in and out, as well as check their hours, schedules and accrual balances. The system also allows staff members to request time off. A mobile application is also available that lets employees clock in and out via their smartphones when they're out of the office. Additionally, it tracks them via GPS, so managers know where they were when they clock in and out. stratustime also features options for generating schedules. nettimesolutions.com. Read our full review here .

Sundial Time Systems' RealTime Web – Sundial's RealTime Web is Web-based time-and-attendance software designed for companies of all sizes. It offers a flexible mix of management tools, employee self-service and time-clock options. The online self-service portal gives employees access to time records, Web punching and time sheets. sundialtime.com

TimeAttend – Replicon's TimeAttend is a cloud-based time-and-attendance system. With its configurable and intuitive time sheets, the software allows businesses to track time for any employee type. TimeAttend also automates the time-off management process with self-service time-off request capabilities and accrual calculations. To help streamline the payroll process, the system enables project managers to store information about employees' schedules, overtime and pay rates. Additional features include automatic emails and alerts that can be set up to ensure the requests for paid time-off are submitted and approved on time. replicon.com

TimeClick – TimeClick from Hawkeye Technology, an on-premise time-and-attendance system, allows employees to clock in and out from computers across their networks. The system also manages paid time off, has scheduling capabilities and includes nearly 20 different report options. Since it isn't cloud based, there is only a one-time fee and no monthly charges. timeclick.com

TimeClock Plus – TimeClock Plus offers a variety of time-attendance systems, including server-based, Web-based and software-as-a-service options. The TimeClock Plus Web Edition is a browser-based time-and-labor management application that provides employee time-and-attendance tracking on the Web. To use the system, employees open their Web browsers, log on to the designated Web page and perform clock transactions. Many of the TimeClock Plus options also include mobile features that allow employees to clock in and out via their smartphones. TimeClock Plus also offers a Small Business Edition that runs on the business's own network. With this version, employees can clock in and out from their own computers, while managers have access to a "Who's Here" feature that shows which employees are currently working. timeclockplus.com

TimeForce II– TimeForce II from Infinisource is a cloud-based system designed to manage employee time and attendance. It gives businesses of all sizes the ability to easily and accurately collect and organize their employee time data. The system keeps track of the time employees work, as well as their holiday pay, overtime, and other time-and-attendance records. Employees have the option of using a Web browser or a simple time card to clock in and out. The TimeForce system offers an array of features, including time-off request notifications, time-off denial notes, time-card error alerts and role-based security options, which control what each employee is able to see and access. There is also a mobile application that allows employees to punch in and out via their smartphones. mytimeforce.com

TimeIPS – TimeIPS is a comprehensive computerized time-and-attendance system that includes software and optional hardware that work together to track and report on labor, jobs, projects, benefits and schedules. TimeIPS can be run on a business's server or hosted at TimeIPS. Employees can clock in and out via TimeIPS' Network Clock, which provides immediate visual feedback on employees' hours worked and available nonovertime hours remaining. Employees can also use a telephone system, as well as their computers or mobile devices, to clock in and out. Additional features include the ability to calculate overtime and track sick and vacation days. timeips.com

TimeStar – Insperity's TimeStar is a Web-based time-and-attendance system that automates time-keeping and scheduling tasks. The software allows employees to clock in and out from any computer or mobile device. In addition, the company offers a badge-based time clock that captures time data on-site with the swipe of a badge. With the software, employees can swap shifts, review PTO balances and make scheduling requests. TimeStar also lets managers easily approve or deny employees' requests to switch shifts, leave early and take time off. To help cut down on expenses, TimeStar will send managers alerts when employees are nearing overtime conditions so they can make scheduling changes if needed. The system also provides real-time labor analytics in order to control payroll costs. insperity.com

TimeStation – TimeStation is a time and attendance system that's quick to set up and easy to use. It runs on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with a front-facing camera. Using the Fast-Scan technology, employees can punch in and out in less than a second, and because TimeStation runs in the cloud, there are no software programs or servers to maintain. Managers can see who's in, and run time and attendance reports anytime, anywhere. With the self-service portal, employees can review their activity, clock in and out, run reports, and create or edit time entries. Managers have full control over which functionality each employee has access to. www.mytimestation.com

TimeTrak – TimeTrak offers several time-and-attendance system options, including a software-as-a-service solution that captures and calculates employee time, eliminates paper time sheets and time cards, and alerts employers when employees are tardy or absent. With the system, employees can clock in and out via their computers, while supervisors can manage time off to ensure vacation days or sick time isn't taken when not available. The solution is available on a monthly basis with the "pay as you go" option. timetrak.com

TimeTrex – TimeTrex's time-and-attendance module tracks and monitors employee attendance in real time, from anywhere in the world. The system offers a variety of ways to track employee attendance: time clocks, Web browsers, smartphones and touch-tone telephones. With the system, businesses can set up an unlimited number of accruals to automatically track employee vacations, sick days or banked time. Employees can also see their own accrual balances. www.timetrex.com

*TSheets – TSheets is designed as a way for businesses to both track and manage employee time. With the software, employees can clock in and out on their desktop or laptop computers, as well as from their mobile phones. There is also a GPS option that lets businesses automatically see where its mobile employees are starting and ending their days. In addition, TSheets lets employees clock in and out in real time, enter their time manually, and allocate time to custom fields, projects or tasks. The system allows administrators to manage an employee's time off, sick days and holidays. Additional features include overtime alerts, time-sheet approvals and the ability to see which employees are working at any given time. TSheets accounts can be configured to be DCAA and DOL compliant. tsheets.com Read our full review here .

*uAttend – Created by Processing Point, uAttend is a Web-based time-and-attendance system that allows employees to clock in and out from time clocks, Web browsers, mobile devices or telephones. The software tracks vacation, sick days and holidays; prevents employees from clocking in or out early or late to earn overtime; and gives managers the ability to see which employees are working at any given time. The software also easily integrates with nearly all payroll-processing systems, such as QuickBooks, Paychex, ADP and Sure Payroll. uAttend offers subscription options for businesses with workforces ranging from fewer than nine employees to more than 100 employees. uattend.com Read our full review here .

When I Work – When I Work is a cloud-based time-and-attendance system that has both time-tracking and scheduling features. Use a desktop, laptop or tablet as a fixed clock-in terminal, or give employees the option to clock in from their iPhones or Android phones. Attendance alerts remind managers and employees when they forget to clock in or out, while overtime alerts help manage labor costs. The scheduler tool allows you to view the entire week's schedule and move shifts easily from person to person or day to day. wheniwork.com

 

Are you time-and-attendance system provider that would like to be added to this list and possibly considered for our next round of reviews? Please feel free to contact Chad Brooks at cbrooks@purch.com.

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