Can’t choose a clocking system? You don’t have to!

Biometric fingerprint, RFID, web, smartphone app, biometric facial recognition, landline… when it comes to which clocking in machine nowadays you’re really spoilt for choice. Every method has its advantages and disadvantages, with some being more suited to certain working models than others, of course. So how do you decide which clocking system to use? Well, with uAttend, you can enjoy a proper pick and mix selection, by using a combination of as many methods as you want.

Depending on the nature of your business, it may be easy for you to select the right clocking method or methods for your employees. If you have a large number of remote workers, for example, then a wall-mounted biometric fingerprint machine in your office building really isn’t going to be much help when it comes to collecting clocking data. But with uAttend’s range of clocking systems, you can choose one, two, or even use them all, making it perfect for site workers, temporary staff, remote workers and multi-location businesses.

No matter which method your employees use, all their clocking data is collected and sent to your cloud account in real-time, meaning that you can access the information whenever you want to.

So, which clocking system is right for you? They all have pros and cons, depending on your needs. For a more detailed look at each method, you can click on the links highlighted below, but here’s a useful summary of each method, which is a great place to start:

Biometric Clocking Systems are perhaps the most effective way to completely eliminate time theft and buddy clocking. They also leave you in zero doubt that your employee is really where they should be, which is good for your peace of mind. You can choose between biometric fingerprint and/or facial recognition clocking-in machines, some even come with a built-in temperature reader, which is especially important if you’re working in a medical environment, although many companies like to know that sick employees with a fever are not allowed to clock in, before germs spread and your staff fall like dominoes! No actual images of your employees’ fingerprints or face is recorded, however, so there are no data privacy issues for your staff to worry about. Due to their state-of-the-art technology, however, biometric clocking machines, on the downside, are often the most expensive.

For convenience and affordability, it’s hard to beat our uAttend smartphone clock-in app. Free with any uAttend account, the app allows your workers to clock in and out wherever they are, whenever they want, and is a quick and accurate way to both track employees’ attendance and also offer them far greater autonomy, as they can also do other things such as request holidays, view their timesheets, etc from the app itself.

RFID or Proximity Clocking Systems are a trusty favourite, having been around for decades, and are used with either swipe cards or key fobs. Using them couldn’t be easier, employees simply need to approach the clocking in machine with their fob or proximity card and wait for the bleep. RFID machines are often used as a contactless clocking option, which is particularly useful in manufacturing or construction environments where protective gear is often worn and there is a large volume of users. They’re also extremely practical, however employees can (and do) forget or lose their cards or key fobs, which can be both costly and annoying for you as an employer. Buddy clocking is also easier with this clocking method compared to others.