Managing the construction workforce across multiple job sites has its unique challenges. Workers go to various locations, shifts overlap, and manual timesheets often lead to errors and payroll conflicts. Buddy punching, inflated labor costs, and compliance issues stand before construction companies which can affect the profits without a proper time tracking system.
Construction time-tracking software offers a remedy by tracking attendance, verifying worker locations, and producing precise payroll information. The right solution takes away all the guesswork, reduction in time theft, and gives management real-time visibility into their activities across all sites. This guide reviews the best construction time-tracking software currently in the market and weighs different variables on which to focus when making a choice for your business.
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Top 10 Construction Time Tracking Software
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1. Truein
Truein is designed as a time and attendance solution for managing the blue-collar workforces of multi-site construction operations. It tackles some of the unique challenges general contracting, subcontracting, and facility management companies face when labor is spread across multiple job sites.
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Features:
Face Recognition Attendance: Truein uses face recognition technology to mark the attendance. This helps in eliminating cases of buddy punching, where one worker may clock in for another. The system works either via mobile devices or using tablets placed at various job sites, which is good enough for construction scenarios wherein conventional biometric setups may prove to be rather impractical.
GPS Geofencing for Validation: The geofencing attendance feature ensures that workers can clock-in only from predefined locations. Managers draw virtual boundaries around each of the locations, and the system checks the validity of attendance by workers. This prevents clock-in either early or from home, other unauthorized locations, or any other location that is not an approved construction site and serves as proof that the worker was actually present on-site.
Offline Attendance with the Auto-Sync Feature: Construction sites may have poor internet connectivity. Truein records attendance data offline for future syncing when online. Hence there cannot be an instance where workers miss clocking-in due to network issues, nor will the managers ever have incomplete attendance records.
Multi-Site Dashboard: The centralized dashboard provides real-time visibility of attendance across all construction sites. Managers can check who is in at any location and monitor late arrival.
Shift Scheduling and Job Allocation: From the construction labor scheduling standpoint, Truein enables managers to plan shifts, assign workers to specific jobs, set custom attendance policies, and enforce overtime rules, and generate payroll-ready reports.
Mobile and Kiosk-based Attendance: Truein enables workers to mark attendance with their mobile phones using face recognition feature. Companies can also set up a kiosk at construction sites where workers can clock in and out.
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Ideal For: Construction companies that manage contract labor and third-party workers across numerous sites to curb time theft and maintain proper payroll records. This works particularly well for construction companies, general contractors and facility management services
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2. Workyard
Workyard is a workforce management platform for construction and field service companies. The focus of the solution revolves around accurate GPS tracking along with time clock functionality for mobile teams.
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Features:
Accurate GPS Tracking: Workyard employs a proprietary algorithm for tracking worker locations with high accuracy while maintaining battery life. This system will track clock-in locations or anything else; for instance, it is ideal for crews split between different job sites in one day.
Geofencing and Auto Clock-In: Managers can establish a geofence for construction sites so that when the worker arrives, they are automatically clocked in. This reduces manual time entry and helps maintain accurate arrival times without workers having to remember to clock-in.
Job and Project Tracking: Workyard allows workers to clock time against jobs and tasks, enabling real-time job costing so that construction managers can track labor costs by project.
Compliance Management: The software comes with built-in labor compliance rules per state that assist construction companies with managing overtime, break requirements, and worker's compensation regulations. It keeps detailed records for audit and legal requirements.
Payroll Integrations: Workyard integrates with QuickBooks, Gusto, Paychex, ADP, and others. Time data flows straight into payroll, eliminating the need for manual entry and thus reducing the time needed for payroll processing.
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Ideal For: General contractors and field service providers with mobile crews working across multiple locations on a daily basis. Workyard caters to those businesses that need accurate mileage tracking and detailed job costing to ensure their various construction projects can be done profitably.
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3. Procore
Procore is a comprehensive construction project management platform that also includes time tracking capabilities. It is very suitable for big-sized construction projects needing integrated project management.
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Features:
Daily Log Time Tracking: Time tracking with Procore has been developed around the Daily Log feature. A supervisor records all site activities, including worker hours. This then constitutes a complete documentation of site operations, tied to projects, and cost codes on a day-to-day basis.
Customizable Time Entry Templates: Construction managers can customize time-tracking templates that consist of custom fields for cost codes, project phases, and task categories. This standardization lends itself to uniform collection of data across projects and crews.
Integration with Cost Codes: Proctorβs time entries link with construction cost codes, thereby facilitating labor cost analyses for projects by phase, task, or trade. This capability helps with budget tracking and financial reporting throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.
Mobile Time Clock with GPS: Time entries may be made from mobile devices, whereby the location of the time-entry is verified by GPS. The system stores location data to prove presence on-site during the entry of actual hours.
Workforce Planning Tools: Procore offers scheduling and labor allocation features, enabling construction managers to associate labor needs with projects and verify whether crews are being deployed efficiently.
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Ideal For: Large construction companies and general contractors engaged in complex, multi-phase projects that require time tracking as part of a fully integrated project management, budget tracking, and document control system. It is an ideal end-to-end construction management software.
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4. QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is a time-tracking software that works perfectly within the QuickBooks ecosystem. It is an ideal option for construction companies already using QuickBooks for accounting and payroll.
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Features:
GPS Time Clock: Workers clock-in and out from their mobile devices. QuickBooks Time records GPS coordinates at the time of each entry. This represents location verification and also records where the workers were when they clocked their hours.
Job and Class Tracking: This software allows employees to assign their time entries to jobs, customers, and service items so that construction companies can track labor costs per project and generate job cost reports.
Scheduling and Crew Management: QuickBooks Time includes schedules management functionality that enables managers to create shift schedules and distribute them to workers. Employees receive notifications about schedule changes, while managers can see who is currently clocked in.
QuickBooks Integration: Time data is transferred automatically into QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online, thereby avoiding double entry of data. Listed hours entered in QuickBooks Time are imported from time into payroll and invoicing, thereby creating a complete flow for billing and payments.
Overtime and Break Tracking: System calculates overtime automatically based on the set rules and tracks break time to ensure labor law compliance. The reduction of payroll errors makes sure that the construction company doesn't get penalized for wage violations.
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Ideal For: Construction companies with an established QuickBooks accounting and payroll operation wanting native time-tracking software that can be set up in minutes and allows seamless flow of data between time-tracking, payroll, and invoicing.
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5. Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is a construction time tracking app and scheduling platform that offers flexible clock-in options and keeps detailed records for compliance requirements.
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Features:
Multiple Clock-In Methods: Allows clock-in by PIN, QR code, facial recognition, or password. This flexibility lets construction companies pick the type of authentication that best suits their job site and workforce.
Clock Rules: Managers may set clock-in and clock-out windows, disallow early clock-ins, and enforce minimum shift lengths to prevent padding of working time and ensure workers abide by the schedule they were given.
Detailed Labor Compliance Tools: The software tracks PTO, sick leave, vacation time, and overtime with more than a dozen configurable overtime settings. It helps construction companies stay compliant with state-specific labor laws and keep audit-ready records.
GPS and Geofencing: Buddy Punch tracks worker locations at clock-in and setups geofences around job sites so that workers are only allowed to clock in when inside the designated area. This feature prevents time entries being made away from the site.
Drag and Drop Scheduling: The scheduler allows to drag and drop workers to shifts and locations. Managers can create repeat schedules and change them easily as needs may arise.
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βIdeal For: Small and medium-sized construction companies that require flexible time tracking options while staying compliant. Especially those working in the United States with highly complicated labor laws requiring detailed overtime and break tracking.
1. Scaling your business
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2. Managing Strategies
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6. BusyBusy
BusyBusy is a time tracking and job costing software with a heavy focus on equipment tracking alongside workforce tracking. It is used by contractors who have to monitor both labor and equipment usage.
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Features:
Equipment Tracking: BusyBusy allows construction companies to keep track of equipment hours in conjunction with worker time. This is beneficial when it comes to analyzing utilization, scheduling maintenance, and calculating job costs with labor and machinery expenses.
Job Costing and Cost Codes: It provides construction cost codes for the time and expenses so that they can be credited to a project phase or task. This helps provide detailed insight on labor and equipment resources.
GPS Tracking and Breadcrumbs: Throughout the day, this software tracks worker locations and provides GPS breadcrumb trails showing movement from one site to another. This visibility allows managers to monitor travel time and make sure crews are present at designated sites.
Injury Reporting: Workers' compensation can register immediately when injury reports are filed into the app. From there, it may be a help in keeping construction firms safety-compliant.
Daily Reports and Photos: Field crews can submit daily reports with attached pictures to document progress and site conditions. It serves as a visual record of work done and aids in progress billing and client communication.
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Ideal For: Construction companies that need to track both workforce and equipment utilization, particularly excavation, demolition, and earthmoving contractors who manage expensive heavy equipment alongside labor crews and need detailed job costing.
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7. ClockShark
ClockShark is a time tracking and scheduling software for construction companies and field service businesses. It focuses on providing simplicity and mobile accessibility to crews working on-site.
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Features:
Mobile Time Clock with GPS: Clockshark app allows workers to clock-in or out using their phones with automatic capture of their GPS location. At the clock-in, it confirms whether construction workers are at an actual job site or not.
Job-based Time Tracking: While punching in and out, workers assign time to specific jobs and tasks, providing a detailed account of labor input for each project while assisting with job costing and client billing.
Geofencing: Locations can be virtually bordered around construction sites by managers, where clock-ins are restricted. This stops workers from clocking in from different locations.
Drag-and-Drop Scheduling: The scheduling feature of ClockShark allows assignment of workers to jobs and shifts through a visual interface. Automatic reminders will be sent to workers following the creation or modification of schedules.
Quoting and Invoicing: The software has options for generating quotes and invoices based on recorded labor hours. This is mainly to assist construction businesses in faster billing processes.
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Ideal For: Businesses working on smaller to mid-sized companies within the construction and trades. For instance, an electrician, plumber, or HVAC contractor who needs to simply track time, manage jobs and client billing within one application.
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8. Clockify
Clockify is a free time tracking application with basic time tracking functionality. It targets construction companies on a budget who just want to track time straightforwardly without additional requirements.
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Features:
Free Time Tracking: Clockify is completely free, with unlimited users and basic time tracking features. This plan would make Clockify attractive to small construction businesses or startups who are unable to pay for time tracking software.
Project and Task Tracking: Workers can clock time against a project and task basis, providing some visibility as to how labor hours are dispersed into different construction jobs.
Multiple Device Support: Clockify supports PCs and Macs as well as browser and mobile apps, so workers in construction have the flexibility to choose how they clock time.
Basic Reporting: The software makes simple reports, showing hours worked by project, employee, or time period. It gives a little insight but doesn't get into job costing or construction-specific analytics.
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Ideal for: Very small construction businesses or startups that are tight on budget and need only basic time-tracking functionality. They would be willing to have a free solution without more advanced capabilities, such as GPS geofencing or offline attendance.
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9. Connecteam
Connecteam is an all-in-one work management solution that includes time tracking as well as employee communication, task management, and HR functions. The application is well suited for construction companies in need of a workforce solution.
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Features:
One-Touch Time Clock with GPS: Connecteam's mobile time clock lets workers clock in and out with a single tap. The system records GPS coordinates and can track worker movements in real time during their shifts.
Geofencing Restrictions: Managers can place geofences around the jobsite and restrict clock-ins to approved locations, thereby preventing workers from clocking in prematurely, before arriving at the construction site.
Automatically Executed Timesheets: All clock-in data flows directly into digital timesheets to record total hours, breaks, and overtime. Managers then review and approve those timesheets from the central dashboard before payroll processing.
Roster Planning: Connecteam's scheduling tools give managers the capability to create shifts, assign workers, and notify them automatically. The system keeps track of schedule adherence and raises flags for late arrivals or absent workers.
Team Interaction Features: In addition to time-tracking features, Connecteam offers chat, announcements, and document sharing capabilities, allowing a construction team to communicate across job sites without relying on phone or text.
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Ideal For: Construction companies searching for an all-in-one platform with time-tracking capabilities coupled with employee communication, training, and HR management-especially those companies with large crews requiring more internal communication alongside attendance tracking.
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10. Jibble
Jibble offers a time tracking application, the focus being primarily on facial recognition and project-based time tracking. It has a free plan covering basic functionalities and also paid ones that come with advanced features.
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Features:
Facial Recognition Clock-In: Jibble uses facial recognition at clock-in and clock-out to verify either the worker's or contract's identity somehow. Buddy punching is thereby avoided, ensuring the person clocking in is the authorized employee.
GPS Tracking and Location Verification: The software captures GPS coordinates when workers are clocking in and allows managers to verify whether employees are actually at the right construction site when logging hours.
Project-Based Time Tracking: Workers can enter the project and tasks under which they have recorded their time, so construction companies can track labor costs to the job and issue accurate client bills.
Configurable Break Policies: Jibble enables managers to configure break policies for different employees or projects. The system keeps track of break times so that it can be certain that they are compliant with any obligatory rest times.
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Ideal for: Small contractors and construction businesses with the need for biometric verification, especially facial recognition, to prevent buddy punching but who are on a tight budget. They mostly manage small crews working at a handful of local sites.
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Key Factors to Consider When Selecting Construction Time Tracking Software
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1. Features of Interest for Construction Companies
It will be important to have such a feature as job costing that allows to monitor labor costs spent per project, phase, or a specific position. The time tracking application in use on a project basis greatly assists construction managers in highlighting jobs that are profit making and helps in making accurate future work estimation. Last but not least, the time card apps for construction also need to allow the employees to attribute the hours worked accurately to specific jobs at the time of clocking in.
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2. Mobile and Field Accessibility
Time tracking software should be accessed on mobile phones for field staff and workers in remote sites. Offline attendance becomes important for companies because there will be several construction sites in very remote areas and getting a good network will be hard. With such a feature in place, it is possible to ensure that the worker clock-in and out data at specific times syncs when one reconnects. Workers should also be able to mark attendance on kiosk places at specific construction sites.
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3. Time Tracking Functionality and Accuracy
Choose between individual crew tracking or kiosk-based attendance based on your workforce structure. Face recognition is an ideal protection against buddy punching, while PIN-based systems work when combined with GPS geofencing. The system should accurately track breaks, overtime, and shift differentials. It should also ensure compliance with labor laws. Construction time clock software must capture attendance data reliably regardless of the clock-in method used.
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4. Integration with HRMS
Data synchronization between the time and attendance solution and payroll system should work seamlessly. One of the requirements is that the software should be able to integrate with your HRMS and payroll software like Quickbooks, ADP, Paychex, and others. HRMS compatibility ensures employee records and pay rates stay synchronized. When native integrations are unavailable, the software should export data in formats compatible with your existing systems. API availability matters for custom integrations with proprietary systems.
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Worker Scheduling Feature
The system should support shift planning across multiple sites. Job allocation capabilities assign specific workers to particular projects. This creates clear expectations about who should be at each site. Multi-site scheduling provides a centralized view of labor deployment while allowing insights into individual locations. Real-time schedule updates send immediate notifications when shifts or assignments change.
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Ease of Use
Field staff should be able to check-in and out of work when necessary with almost no learning curve. The administrative dashboard must enable supervisors to verify working hours and prepare necessary documents without questions. Responsive customer support through multiple channels becomes critical when time tracking issues affect payroll or prevent clock-ins during active construction projects.
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Conclusion
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One key distinguishing factor separating a successful construction project from an unsuccessful one is the ability of the project management team to accurately capture time for payroll processing. All the construction time tracking software reviewed are effective in time tracking concerning construction project activities.
The best approach will depend on the kind of team you have, nature of the projects, and the technologies that are already in use. Those operating in different localities are better off with solutions supporting face recognition and GPS tracking.
Evaluate options based on the factors outlined above, and consider starting with a trial period to test functionality with your actual crews and job sites. The construction time clock software that works best is the one your workers will actually use consistently while providing the visibility and accuracy your payroll and project management require.
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