Electric Attendance Systems are the most basic employee time clock on the market today. These systems, also called mechanical manual time clocks, have a slot where employees place their paper time card for punch times to be printed.
If you're looking at Electric Attendance Systems for your business, I'd usually recommend Acroprint's heavy duty models for construction sites. These clocks use a typical wall outlet for power. However, some models are available with battery or solar power such as the Acroprint SP125 Solar Powered Time Clock.
The Icon Time TL-300 Electronic Time Clock would be best suited for factory floors where it can remain stationary. This particular clock can be purchased for less than Acroprint's heavy duty models, and has some pretty cool features. For loud areas, it includes a "Signal Control" which is a built-in relay which allows for connection to an external horn or buzzer to signal beginning and ending shifts. The design has been specifically tailored for time accuracy with timecard punches. Between the electric coil technology it uses and the auto-detect feature, which syncs real-time for updated date and minute, this clock is best suited for companies that rely on accurate time keeping in loud environments.
The main downfall of using Electric Attendance Systems is their vulnerability to "buddy punching" (also known as "ghost punching" and "proxy punching"). Employees who are running late, leaving early, or not working that day may have a friend stamp their card for them. This means your company may end up paying employees for time they have not actually worked. Overall, I would not suggest these time systems especially for employers with more than 20 or 30 employees because of buddy punching issues, upkeep required with new ink ribbons and the time required to import employee time records.
For companies which use ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks or other payroll systems, there are much better systems available at your disposal than manual time clocks. For example, check out the Pyramid TimeTrax EZ Swipe Kit, which can export to your payroll system. It will even calculate overtime automatically for you. Automated Attendance Systems will usually appear in the form of swipe stations using swipe badges or keypads for keying in an employee number.
Keypad stations tend to be less expensive overall, since they do not require companies to purchase additional accessories. Icon makes a good-looking and user-friendly keypad station which allows managers to access data through devices such as PDAs or cell phones. This station, the Icon Time RTC-1000 Employee Time Clock, automatically adjusts missed punches and alerts managers of overtime. Tracking overtime can be difficult with manual time systems, but automated alternatives take care of these issues for you. Although keypad stations can be less expensive, the swipe stations require employees to swipe their particular card for time-in and time-out recording. This requirement reduces the "buddy punching" to which Electric Attendance Systems and Keypad terminals are susceptible.
For companies looking to rid themselves of buddy punch issues entirely, Biometric Attendance Systems are the best option. Acroprint makes stations which scan either a hand or fingerprint. The Acroprint TimeQPlus Biometric Time Clock & Attendance System uses fingerprint scanning as the primary method for clocking in and out, but it may also be used as a keypad station. Swipe stations help reduce buddy punching, but employees may lose their swipe cards. By using biometric stations, employers do not need to purchase accessories, and then worry about employees losing those accessories. For complete reduction of buddy punching, I'd recommend checking out handpunch stations like the Acroprint HP-1000 Biometric Time & Attendance Terminal which requires employees to enter their ID number then place their hand on the scanner for recognition.
As a security-minded individual, I recommend biometric stations and swipe stations as an alternative. Since biometric stations can be pricey, the financially-concerned part of me recommends swipe stations and keypad terminals. That's me. Now, what is best for you?
Check out the following systems if...
You need a mobile terminal for moving between work sites:
If you're looking at Electric Attendance Systems for your business, I'd usually recommend Acroprint's heavy duty models for construction sites. These clocks use a typical wall outlet for power. However, some models are available with battery or solar power such as the Acroprint SP125 Solar Powered Time Clock.
The Icon Time TL-300 Electronic Time Clock would be best suited for factory floors where it can remain stationary. This particular clock can be purchased for less than Acroprint's heavy duty models, and has some pretty cool features. For loud areas, it includes a "Signal Control" which is a built-in relay which allows for connection to an external horn or buzzer to signal beginning and ending shifts. The design has been specifically tailored for time accuracy with timecard punches. Between the electric coil technology it uses and the auto-detect feature, which syncs real-time for updated date and minute, this clock is best suited for companies that rely on accurate time keeping in loud environments.
The main downfall of using Electric Attendance Systems is their vulnerability to "buddy punching" (also known as "ghost punching" and "proxy punching"). Employees who are running late, leaving early, or not working that day may have a friend stamp their card for them. This means your company may end up paying employees for time they have not actually worked. Overall, I would not suggest these time systems especially for employers with more than 20 or 30 employees because of buddy punching issues, upkeep required with new ink ribbons and the time required to import employee time records.
For companies which use ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks or other payroll systems, there are much better systems available at your disposal than manual time clocks. For example, check out the Pyramid TimeTrax EZ Swipe Kit, which can export to your payroll system. It will even calculate overtime automatically for you. Automated Attendance Systems will usually appear in the form of swipe stations using swipe badges or keypads for keying in an employee number.
Keypad stations tend to be less expensive overall, since they do not require companies to purchase additional accessories. Icon makes a good-looking and user-friendly keypad station which allows managers to access data through devices such as PDAs or cell phones. This station, the Icon Time RTC-1000 Employee Time Clock, automatically adjusts missed punches and alerts managers of overtime. Tracking overtime can be difficult with manual time systems, but automated alternatives take care of these issues for you. Although keypad stations can be less expensive, the swipe stations require employees to swipe their particular card for time-in and time-out recording. This requirement reduces the "buddy punching" to which Electric Attendance Systems and Keypad terminals are susceptible.
For companies looking to rid themselves of buddy punch issues entirely, Biometric Attendance Systems are the best option. Acroprint makes stations which scan either a hand or fingerprint. The Acroprint TimeQPlus Biometric Time Clock & Attendance System uses fingerprint scanning as the primary method for clocking in and out, but it may also be used as a keypad station. Swipe stations help reduce buddy punching, but employees may lose their swipe cards. By using biometric stations, employers do not need to purchase accessories, and then worry about employees losing those accessories. For complete reduction of buddy punching, I'd recommend checking out handpunch stations like the Acroprint HP-1000 Biometric Time & Attendance Terminal which requires employees to enter their ID number then place their hand on the scanner for recognition.
As a security-minded individual, I recommend biometric stations and swipe stations as an alternative. Since biometric stations can be pricey, the financially-concerned part of me recommends swipe stations and keypad terminals. That's me. Now, what is best for you?
Check out the following systems if...
You need a mobile terminal for moving between work sites:
- Pyramid TimeTrax Mobile Swipe Kit
- Swipe Terminal
- Great for service contractors or construction work sites
- Acroprint BP125 Series Battery Operated Time Recorder
- Manual Terminal
- Great for construction work sites
- Acroprint HP-1000 Biometric Time & Attendance Terminal
- Biometric Terminal (HandPunch)
- Great for small - medium sized office work sites
- Acroprint TimeQPlus Biometric Time Clock & Attendance System
- Biometric Terminal (Fingerprint)
- Great for medium sized office work sites
- Pyramid TimeTrax EZ Swipe Kit
- Swipe Terminal
- Great for small - medium sized office work sites
