You have a lot of choices when it comes to tools to add to your business tool box.
If you have hourly employees, one of the most important utility programs you can own is time and attendance software.
Time and attendance software takes the uncertainty out of tracking your employees' time and can greatly simplify the job of the payroll department.
In turn, you can save money through new efficiencies and increased productivity.
The concept behind time and attendance software is simple.
These specially designed databases are developed in order to track and record time that is entered in via a time clock.
Many of today's programs come bundled with an electronic clock that will capture your employee time via a fob attached to the employees key ring or bar code scanning technology.
For example, an employee is issued either a key fob or a bar-coded card that can be scanned as your employees start and end their day.
This information is then accessible to the payroll department either through download or directly via the network.
Your payroll department then uses the data to process pay checks.
To make things even better, many time and attendance software packages integrate directly to some of the more popular payroll software systems.
If you are currently processing time and attendance information manually, then an automated system can save you a great deal of time and money.
If you are already using an automated system but an older one it may be time to look into the newer systems.
Today's systems are more streamlined and reporting is designed to meet the needs of today's business.
So what exactly should you look for when you are considering a new time and attendance software solution? Of course, you will want to consider price but that may not be your first concern.
Unless you want to invest in new hardware, your system should run on the operating system you have installed.
Most people have access to Microsoft Windows so Windows based systems are a good place to start.
Next, you want to make sure that the system you select will be easy for your employees to use-both the employees who will be using the time and attendance software for clock in and clock out and for your payroll staff.
You also want to make sure that the information on time and attendance that you are currently storing can be uploaded into the new system.
Many packages come bundled with an electronic time clock.
This can be a very cost effective solution since you know that your time and attendance software and your clock will be fully integrated.
This can make installation and implementation a snap.
Regardless of which time and attendance software solution you choose you will find that keeping track of your employee's time through an automated system can save you a great deal of time and money.
You no longer have to rely on the honor system or complicated manual keying.
Once your time and attendance software is up and running you'll wonder why in the world you waited so long.