How to Pick the Best Time Tracker for Your Business‍

Time remains one of the most valuable resources for every organization. It is the key to unlocking better productivity levels and keeping staff engaged, and every brand wants to get the most out of it. These are the reasons why time management is every manager’s top skill.

Today, it is almost impossible to get the best out of time management without time tracking.

This need to track time and the boost in remote work adoption has increased the demand for time trackers. Allied Market Research reports that the global time and attendance software market will reach $5,312 million by 2030.

This data shows that time tracking has come a long way. It’s now easy to track billable hours, create timesheets, and prepare invoices from one app.

Why is Time Management Necessary?

Time management allows managers to distribute workload efficiently, enhance work quality, and prevent burnout. It also improves an employee’s job satisfaction, boosts output and efficiency and encourages accountability.

However, the best way to get the most out of time tracking is to choose the right time tracker and time management training for your business. This article shows you the essential things to consider and steps to take when making your choice.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Time Tracker

Time trackers are designed for different purposes, developed for different devices, and equipped with distinct features. Therefore, it’s important to look at your business model and process, staff, and other specific needs before making a choice. Below, we’ll cover the questions you must ask and factors you must weigh before choosing a tool.

What’s the Nature of Your Job?

The nature of your job plays a significant role in your choice of a time tracker. Some of these apps cater to simple time tracking activities, while others have robust additional features for complex business operations.

For example, freelancers who bill by the hour can go for a lightweight clock in and clock out a solution that records billable hours and automatically creates timesheets. On the other hand, you need a tool that caters to teams and integrates workflows if you’re outsourcing.

What’s more, you can choose a tool depending on the projects you work on. For example, do you share your project workflows with clients? Are you into development and use platforms like GitHub and Jira? Do you work with project management tools?

You can go for a time tracking solution that integrates your software programs.

Which Devices Do You Use?

Time tracking applications are designed for specific devices. Some are developed for Android, iOS, Mac, or Windows. In addition, some are designed as web applications or browser extensions.

You must look at a time tracker’s supported platforms before choosing one. For example, if you have to track time using your phone, ensure the tool has a competent mobile version.

You should also note that your team members will likely not use the same notebook operating systems. So, going for a solution with Windows and Mac support will be a good idea.

What is the Size of Your Business?

Your company’s size is one of the most significant factors that help you determine the right solution.

Freelancers

As we mentioned, freelancers only need a simple time tracker that can cater to one. That said, you should also consider getting a tool with multiple options like manual and real-time tracking. In addition, you may have to edit time entries and create and export timesheets.

Remote Workers

Remote workers need a time tracking app that allows them to collaborate and account for billable hours to their employers. If you work with a remote team, you might also want features like GPS monitoring and time-zone synchronization.

Small to Large Businesses

The story is different for small to large businesses. For example, some time trackers are equipped with robust enterprise features, while others cater to small to mid-sized organizations.

Small businesses

Small businesses have fewer team members and work with a smaller budget. As a result, they need a reasonably priced time tracking solution with team management and collaborative capabilities. They also need a secure, easy-to-use, and cross-platform tool to support the brand’s entire staff.

Mid-sized organizations

Mid-sized businesses operate with a larger budget and more extensive staff. So, they require a time-tracking solution with robust capabilities that can report business metrics and other vital data. For example, managers should be able to pull comprehensive client and employee analytics.

Large enterprises

Big corporations deal with thousands of workers and have robust needs. Consequently, they need a time tracker with extensive enterprise features. These features include:

• Customizations
• Strong security
• Many integrations
• API Access
• Secure Sign On (SSO)

What is Your Budget?

While every other factor plays a role, your budget can often be the tie-breaker. However, you should understand that you don’t have to spend big on a time-tracking solution. Some fairly priced tools come with every feature you could need.

That said, keep in mind that the more features you get, the more expensive the tool. For example, most time trackers charge per user. So, you have to pay more for every user you add to the plan, although you may get discounts. Also, subscriptions plans and tiers are differentiated by features.

On the other hand, some apps come with flat monthly, quarterly, or annual fees that cover a range of users. Others may offer custom pricing, depending on your needs.

But you can always go for free time tracking software that offers a wide range of features and supports multiple users. Freelancers can easily find a free time tracker that covers all their needs.

What Are Your Needs?

You also have to factor in specific needs that are not featured across every time tracker. For example, you may need to integrate your time tracker with other platforms or applications such as:

• Project management tools
• Collaborating platforms like Google Drive or OneDrive
• CRM solutions
• Payroll software
• Accounting and invoicing software

You may also need features such as:

• Invoicing
• Budgeting and forecasting
• Exporting options (Excel, Google docs, PDF, Excel)
• Client communication
• Onboarding

That’s not all. There’s often the need to collect valuable data to track productivity, measure your staff’s output and capabilities, and assign tasks and shifts more efficiently. In that case, you need a time tracker that reports time spent on tasks, each worker’s usual clock in and clock out details, and how they use specific apps and websites.

Additionally, how you track employees could also be a factor. For example, some time trackers collect sensitive data such as screenshots and keystrokes, and employees are not always comfortable with that. In that case, you may need a time tracker that focuses on ethical monitoring.

What Kind of Workforce Do You Have?

Do you have a fully remote or hybrid team? Or do you use freelancers alongside your core staff? Then you must use a time tracking solution that caters to your workforce.

For example, you may need to monitor your staff and external freelancers simultaneously without having them share the same workspace. Some solutions support this kind of monitoring and allow you to collect the necessary data.

If you use a remote team, you may need geofencing and GPS capabilities to efficiently assign tasks and manage shifts. It also helps you see who’s available and when.

Steps to Take When Choosing a Time Tracker

Now that you know what to look out for, you have to take careful steps before deploying the time tracker.

Consult Your Employees and Stakeholders

If you’re considering a new time tracking application or want to change your existing tool, it would be good to consult your employees and other stakeholders.

For example, you can send out surveys to ask your employees what kind of monitoring they’re comfortable with. You can also ask your clients if they’d like to be furnished with time tracking data and analysis.

Shortlist the Best Options

After checking your business requirements and consulting your staff and clients, compare your data with different employee monitoring software applications. Then, choose the best apps that meet your demands.

After that, you can further vet them by checking the following:

• Customer support
• Pricing
• Ease of use
• Functionality

Sign Up for Free Trials

Before you fully commit to a time tracking solution, it would be wise to run a free trial. This way, you have the opportunity to test what you’ll use long-term. That said, keep in mind that free packages differ as some are more generous than others.

Stick to What Meets Your Business’s Needs

You’ll undoubtedly be spoilt for choice, choosing from many time-tracking solutions and features. To avoid paying for features you may not use, make sure the time tracker you go for covers the functionalities you need with little to nothing to spare.

Author's Bio

Grace Morris is a tech and digital marketing enthusiast who loves to travel and is passionate about learning new emerging trends in digital media and the internet. Her interest in helping businesses leverage their digital authority has led her to a career as a Digital Content Specialist in Traqq. Her next goals include writing a book and becoming an event speaker.