Construction Time Tracking

While people rarely think about time tracking, this is one of the vital processes for many industries. Whether we’re talking about transportation, construction, or some other field work, time tracking makes the difference between order and chaos. It is a critical element of payroll management, helping accountants calculate salaries.

Interestingly enough, the first attendance systems date back to the 1700s BC and the Babylonian Empire. Given the sheer size of certain projects, foremen had to use some sort of monitoring to determine how much they owed each worker. Time tracking was also important for sick leaves, lunch breaks, and other work-related activities.

Until recently companies relied on paper sheets to monitor employees’ attendance. Today, we’re lucky enough to have modern construction time tracking software at our disposal, automating the entire process. By combining smartphones, artificial intelligence, and GPS, we can easily determine where each person is positioned on the construction site.

In this article, we’ll talk about time tracking from its earliest days to modern society. Let’s see how this technology evolved and how it helps companies.

History of Time Tracking

Given that this attendance method existed for almost 4,000 years, it only makes sense that it experienced a handful of changes. The fastest advancements came in the last few centuries when the Industrial Revolution kicked in. Having to monitor a large workforce, companies had to adapt quickly.

Anyway, here’s the complete history of time tracking throughout millennia.

  • Paper Systems

Paper, papyrus, and clay board were just some of the materials used to monitor construction site attendance. The great thing about all these materials is that they’re rather light, so supervisors could carry them around. They could monitor the entire process themselves, preventing slacking and time theft.

In the last few centuries, clocking in and out became a common approach for just about any construction business or factory. Employees had time cards which they could insert into the machine to punch their arrival and departure.

Unfortunately, while paper timesheets did reduce managers’ work, now you had to rely on the honesty of your staff. Many workers took advantage of this by using the buddy system effectively robbing the company. To make matters worse, staff and management had to decipher each other’s writing, leading to numerous errors.

  • Time Clock

One of the solutions was a time clock. This technology was invented during the 1880s by a savvy entrepreneur called Willard Bundy. Time clocks quickly became popular all over the country. Each staff member had a unique key that would allow them to “punch in” when they came to work.

  • Microsoft Excel

In the last few decades, computers slowly started taking over scheduling and attendance monitoring. The best thing about software such as Microsoft Office was that it allows you to track time without having to worry about intelligible writing. Furthermore, the use of files significantly reduced paper trail.

Unfortunately, even this system had a handful of flaws. The first problem was that each piece of information had to be entered by hand, leaving room for errors. Staffers also had to get accustomed to the software’s advanced features to get the most out of it.

To make matters worse, Excel was only efficient while you were in the office. Supervisors still had to worry about how they would collect data and deliver it to the accounting department. The buddy system was not yet addressed, and you had to chase around employees to have a full understanding of their site activities.

  • Cloud Software

We finally come to the modern, AI-based time tracking tools. The thing that separates these programs from the rest is that they’re fairly autonomous. They gather data in real time and store it on the cloud. That way, managers can perform comprehensive analysis to enhance efficiency of future projects.

This type of time tracking software is heavily dependent on technology called geofencing. It’s able to create virtual borders around your construction site, monitoring each person, vehicle, and piece of equipment entering and exiting.

A person doesn’t even have to clock in; app on their smartphone or a wearable device will automatically send information to the system. The same technology tracks their movement, showing foremen what they’re doing at the moment. This is not only important for assigning tasks but also ensuring the safety of each person in the construction yard.

Unfortunately, while AI cloud software is the best thing we have so far, it also comes with a few drawbacks. For example, it costs a lot of money to introduce these tools. Wearable devices and trackers can cost thousands and thousands of dollars themselves. The system might also be challenges for rookies.

Benefits of Modern Time Tracking

While some companies are still sticking to the paper cards, most of businesses have already switched to digital, portable solutions. These devices are the future of the construction industry, improving efficiency across the board.

First and foremost, AI software reduces time waste associated with the traditional time tracking. Your employees no longer have to report to managers, and your supervisors don’t have to chase around staff around the construction yard. Every break, every movement is stored in real time allowing for more accurate payroll calculation.

Attendance software is also valuable for process optimization. Managers can use it to track how much time certain tasks would take an average person. This would allow them to make more efficient daily and weekly plans. They can assign tasks based on this scheduling, minimizing waste from activity to activity.

We also can’t neglect the safety benefits these tools provide. They show us when an employee wanders to a restrictive zone. The software sends alerts to drivers when they’re speeding and points out any form of equipment misuse. All of this would ultimately reduce litigation risks while keeping your staff healthier and happier.

Conclusion

Before choosing a time tracking software, we suggest you check out all the options on the market. Some of them have unique features that would be ideal for your business. Others are cheaper and easier to implement into your workflow.